Source: Star Mazda Championship
The Star Mazda Championship is the only open-wheel racing series that not only provides a high-profile launching platform for young drivers on the way up, but also an arena for the skills of more mature drivers in which the competitive flame still burns brightly.
Every driver in the race is in competition for the best finish, the most points and the biggest share of the almost $1.5-million prize fund, but there are also 'races within the race.'
Every Star Mazda Championship race field includes drivers racing in the open series (which includes every driver 16 and up) as well as Expert (30 to 44 years old) and Master (45 years and older) series.
Beginning with the first race of the 2008 season at Sebring on March 14, the Expert and Master Series winners will join the top-3 open series finishers on the podium for presentation of trophies, media interviews and the traditional 'hat dance' photos session and spraying of champagne.
"The Expert and Master Series have always been a valuable part of the Star Mazda Championship, but it's always been a kind of low-profile thing with part-time 'gentlemen racers' competing against each other," says Star Mazda Championship President Gary Rodrigues.
The top three finishers in each series, Expert and Master, will participate in a year-end bonus fund that will pay $10,000 each to the first-place Expert and Master, $5,000 for the second-place finisher in each class and $2,500 for the third-place finishers.
The Star Mazda Championship is the only open-wheel racing series that not only provides a high-profile launching platform for young drivers on the way up, but also an arena for the skills of more mature drivers in which the competitive flame still burns brightly.
Every driver in the race is in competition for the best finish, the most points and the biggest share of the almost $1.5-million prize fund, but there are also 'races within the race.'
Every Star Mazda Championship race field includes drivers racing in the open series (which includes every driver 16 and up) as well as Expert (30 to 44 years old) and Master (45 years and older) series.
Beginning with the first race of the 2008 season at Sebring on March 14, the Expert and Master Series winners will join the top-3 open series finishers on the podium for presentation of trophies, media interviews and the traditional 'hat dance' photos session and spraying of champagne.
"The Expert and Master Series have always been a valuable part of the Star Mazda Championship, but it's always been a kind of low-profile thing with part-time 'gentlemen racers' competing against each other," says Star Mazda Championship President Gary Rodrigues.
The top three finishers in each series, Expert and Master, will participate in a year-end bonus fund that will pay $10,000 each to the first-place Expert and Master, $5,000 for the second-place finisher in each class and $2,500 for the third-place finishers.