Local Drivers Compete During Pirelli World Challenge / Mazda Road to Indy Weekend
September 8, 2015 by Mazda Raceway Laguna SecaMONTEREY, Calif., Sept. 7, 2015 — Four competitors with local ties will be competing in four of the 10 different classes of sports car and open-wheel racing during the Pirelli World Challenge and Mazda Road to Indy this weekend, Sept. 11-13, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Pirelli World Challenge Bryan Heitkotter, of Fresno, will be driving the No. 05 AE Replay XC Nissan GT Academy Nissan GT-R-GT3 in the GT category, the top class of Pirelli World Challenge's seven classes of racing. He's currently 10th in the season point standings. Back in 2010 while laid off from work, Heitkotter followed his dreams of racing in a somewhat unusual way by signing up to participate in the online Nissan PlayStation GT Academy. He bested more than 53,000 virtual participants to become the academy's US champion in 2011 and earn a ride in a real race car. He hasn't looked back since, racing professionally throughout the United States and internationally, as well. Mike Hedlund, of Woodside, will be driving the No. 65 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia in the GT category. He currently races professionally part-time in the series. Hedlund started his racing career on a more traditional route, earning his SCCA license in January 2011 and earning a class win and third overall in his first race just two months later. He finished first and third in the 2011 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge races at Mazda Raceway and raced fulltime in the 2013 American Le Mans Series GTC class. Hedlund, too, has competed internationally as well as extensively throughout the U.S. Jeff Huber, of Menlo Park, will be driving the No. 06 TRG-AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the GTS category. Huber has been racing sports cars for the past 15 years after growing up racing just about anything with two or four wheels. His day job is as an engineer and executive with Google. A total of 13 drivers from California, and at least one in each of the seven classes that make up the Pirelli World Challenge, will compete this weekend at Mazda Raceway. Mazda Road to IndyKyle Kaiser, 19, of Santa Clara, is seventh in the 2015 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Powered by Mazda driving point standings driving the No. 18 InterVision/NetApp/Juniper Networks for Juncos Racing. The series rookie spent the previous two seasons in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, finishing seventh in the 2013 point standings and sixth last season. Kaiser has earned six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 14 starts this season. Neil Alberico, 22, of Los Gatos, is second in the 2015 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, just 29 points out of the lead on the strength of a season-leading four wins, 11 top-10 finishes and two pole positions after 14 races. Alberico is in his second season of the Pro Mazda competition and drives the No. 3 for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. He raced the 2012-2013 seasons in the Cooper Tires USF2000 class, finishing seventh in his rookie season and championship runner-up in his sophomore year before moving up the Mazda Road to Indy Ladder.
Trending News• RM Sotheby's Announces Further Incredible Competiton And Rally Greats Coming To Monaco On 10 And 11 May
• BONHAMS|CARS SPRING STAFFORD MOTORCYCLE SALE ACHIEVES £3 MILLION WITH AN INDUSTRY-LEADING 95% SELL THROUGH RATE
• VinFast officially signs agreements with 12 new dealers in the US
• Niki Lauda's Nürburgring Helmet – A Symbol Of Sporting Bravery And Determination – Comes To Bonhams|Cars Miami Auction
• Enhanced Audi A3 Sportback and Saloon: UK pricing and specification
Advance ticket sales for the Pirelli World Challenge/Mazda Road to Indy, Sept. 11-13, are available until Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. Gate prices take effect after that. Hospitality and parking sales will end on Monday, September 7, 2015 at 4 p.m. After 4 p.m. on Sept. 7, only General Admission and Paddock Tickets are available to purchase online and print-at-home (Ticket Fast) on chosen event date before 7 a.m. All Premier and Reserved Camping must be ordered by phone. Call the Ticket Office at 831-242-8200. Advance tickets range from $35 for a Friday-only ticket to $90 for a three-day General Admission &Paddock ticket. Children 12 and under are free with paid adult. VIP suite packages and camping sites are also available. For more information, log on to www.MazdaRaceway.com or call 831.242.8200.
Previous post
