Three Drivers Added To MINI Lineup For Mazda Raceway

MINI John Cooper Works Team has fine-tuned its lineup for Saturday’s event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with three additions joining Remo Ruscitti in the two-car lineup.

MINI’s top-of-line John Cooper Works debuted in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Street Tuner (ST) class in the most recent event at Sebring International Raceway. Competing without the benefit of testing, Ruscitti and Dan Clarke finished 19th in the No. 37 while Lukas Johnson and Stephen Simpson placed 28th in a car that turned a wheel for the first time in qualifying.

Since the March debut, Indianapolis-based LAP Motorsports had the opportunity for fine-tuning the two cars in additional to its first test. For Mazda Raceway, Ruscitti returns to the No. 37, joined by Zack Meyer, while Wei Lu and Glenn Nixon will pilot the No. 52.

“We tested for the first time last Tuesday at Putnam Park,” said team owner Luis Perocarpi. “It was a very successful test.”

Ruscitti and Meyer were joined by Clarke and Simpson at the test.

Ruscitti ran the full ST season in 2014, finishing 11th in the championship for Autometrics. The highlight of his season was a victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

A native of Toronto, Meyer ran in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in 2012-13, running for JDC MotorSports. His best finish was fourth at Toronto and he placed sixth in the 2013 standings. Last year he took the next step on Mazda’s Road to Indy, running in Indy Lights with Team Moore Racing, with his best finish fourth on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

 “I knew Zack from running with JDC,” Perocarpi said. “He finds our program interesting and exciting, and he feels he has the potential to make a career in sports cars.”

The No. 52 car will also feature a pair of Canadians who both raced MINIs in the World Challenge. Nixon won a TCB race at Road America, while Lu also competed in the Ferrari Challenge.

MINI will have an expanded presence at this weekend’s event, including a car corral and parade laps.

Perocarpi plans to continue building his program throughout the season.

“Our third car is almost done,” he said. “The car should be ready for Watkins Glen if we have drivers.”