MAZDASPEED Races on ESPN International

The Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda includes racers from around the world. Both series are a part of the Mazda Road to Indy and have attracted the best young racers from not just from North America, but Europe, South America, and all parts of the globe.

Mazda has teamed up with ESPN International to allow their home fans to follow them better with a total of 13 hours of racing scheduled to be broadcast in 2012. ESPN's International Networks reach more than 62.1 million homes in over 178 countries and territories, including Africa, Australia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and New Zealand.

"In past years we've had upwards of 20 different nationalities represented on the racetrack with our various MAZDASPEED development series. Now, thanks to a agreement with ESPN International and Carolinas Production Group, those countries can watch their best racers compete to move up along the Mazda Road to Indy" noted Jim Jordan, Alternative Marketing Manager, Mazda North America.

Rick Benjamin's Carolinas Production Group will handle production and distribution of the content with Rick being joined on the broadcasts by IZOD IndyCar driver, and Mazda alum James Hinchcliffe, along with Todd Lewis in the pits.

"We at Carolinas Production Group are thrilled to have ESPN International on board to carry the 13 telecasts showcasing the Mazda Road To Indy during 2012. We'll feature all 10 weekends of Star Mazda action, plus action from 5 weekends of racing in USF2000. We know how popular these key open wheel formulae are world-wide, and we can't wait to get started at St. Pete in a few weeks highlighting the amazing talent in these two series."