By alley - Oct 10, 2017, 1:53 PM ET

Elivan Goulart: Chasing another championship

Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car A racer has found success with the Global MX-5 Cup car and is running second in the driver standings

Elivan Goulart took an NC MX-5 to the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car A championship. He started his title defense with that same car, but he and team S.A.C. Racing soon realized the ND Global MX-5 Cup car was the one to have as the class progressed.

With two races left, Goulart is second in the points, trailing by 12. The good news is that first in the standings is his teammate, Matthew Fassnacht, and as a result of their dominance in 2017 – four wins and 14 podium finishes combined – S.A.C. is closing in on the team championship and Mazda has a virtual lock on the Manufacturers Championship in the class.

"It's the best of both worlds, because the team overall is running really well," Goulart says. "We've had some really strong results. Matt's had some wins, I've had some wins and we're both looking pretty good in the points."

The doubleheader finale takes place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Oct. 15-16, with two races on that Saturday. The racing in the class has often been fantastic, and newcomer Kenny Murillo Jr., who brought his team to the series four races ago and scored victories in the last three, has only added to that. Goulart expects no less at Mazda Raceway.