Great variety for 2022 with street circuit as well as iconic tracks and events for highly competitive Mazda championship
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (August 6, 2021) – During IMSA’s annual ‘State of the Series’ event, held at Road America, the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires unveiled its 2022 season schedule. For its second year under IMSA sanctioning, Mazda MX-5 Cup has once again composed a schedule full of iconic tracks and prestigious events.
The 2022 season is similar to this year with two key differences: the series will return to Road America once again next year, but will be part of the NASCAR Cup event weekend rather than the IMSA event, and the series will also make a return to VIRginia International Raceway.
“It was important for us to remain at high-profile events while still hitting all those driver-favorite tracks,” said Mazda Motorsports Program Manager Jonathan Applegate. “Events like the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the NASCAR Cup weekend at Road America and Petit Le Mans ensure we are providing our partners and teams with value. Plus, bringing back tracks like VIR and Watkins Glen International makes the series a popular choice for drivers.”
After a phenomenal debut with IMSA at Daytona International Raceway in 2021, the 2022 MX-5 Cup season will return to the World Center of Center of Racing and will once again open at Daytona International Speedway, January 27 – 30, as part of the Rolex 24 at Daytona event.
The series then stays in Florida and returns to the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with IndyCar in March. It is the only temporary street circuit on the 2022 calendar.
MX-5 Cup is back at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and back with IMSA May 13 – 15. After a brief hiatus from the MX-5 Cup schedule, Watkins Glen International is back. The series stays with IMSA as part of the Six Hours of the Glen weekend.
From there, it’s on to Road America where the MX-5 Cup teams will be paddocked alongside NASCAR’s best. The series will be part of the huge NASCAR Cup weekend, July 1 – 3. The journey from Watkins Glen to Road America is the only back-to-back event of the season.
VIRginia International Raceway returns to the MX-5 Cup schedule August 26 – 28. A favorite among drivers and fans alike, VIR has hosted some legendary MX-5 Cup races in year’s past but has not been on the series schedule since 2016.
The 2022 season wraps up at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta during Petit Le Mans, September 28 – October 1.
Continuing the format from 2021, every event on the 2022 schedule is a doubleheader, for a total of 14 races.
| Date | Location | With |
| January 27 – 30 | Daytona International Raceway Daytona Beach, Florida | IMSA |
| March TBA | St. Petersburg street course St. Petersburg, Florida | IndyCar |
| May 13 – 15 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio | IMSA |
| June 23 – 26 | Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York | IMSA |
| July 1 – 3 | Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | NASCAR |
| August 26 – 28 | VIRginia International Raceway Alton, Virginia | IMSA |
| September 28 – October 1 | Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia | IMSA |
*all events doubleheaders
About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. Mazda-powered grassroots champions earn a Mazda scholarship to advance their career. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion earns a $250,000 scholarship.
Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.
