Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda to test at Cooper Tires Winterfest

BRASELTON, Ga  (December 14, 2011) – The Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda will kick off the 2012 racing season alongside their compatriots in the USF2000 series at the two-event Cooper Tires Winterfest in February.

Cooper Tires Winterfest will take place at Sebring International Raceway and Palm Beach International Raceway during the first week of February. The Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda will conduct a six-race series while the Lites teams will enjoy extensive test time during the four day on track event.

The event will give teams and drivers an excellent opportunity to shake down their equipment ahead of the 60th Mobil 1 Presents the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. With updates to the Élan DP02 chassis highlighted by an improved Mazda MZR engine for Lites 1 cars and new West Race Cars aerodynamic packages available for Lites 2, the four days of on track activity will be most welcome.

“Cooper Tires Winterfest 2012 at Sebring and Palm Beach presents a unique, cost-effective opportunity for our Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda competitors to shake-off the winter rust and get down to business with their new 2012 updates,” said Steven Sewell, Director, IMSA Development Series. “Ample track time at two challenging, geographically local circuits in a seven-day stretch should set the stage for an exciting 2012 championship.”

“Thanks to Dan Anderson and the USF2000 Championship for providing a great venue and track time for the Prototype Lites,” said Chris Pantani, Cooper Tires Director of Motorsports. “Having back-to-back series organized tests becomes the perfect scenario for the Prototype Lites teams to test and get ready for the 2012 season opener at Sebring.”

Cooper Tires Winterfest gets underway on February 6 and 7 at Sebring and concludes February 11 and 12 at Palm Beach.

The Prototype Lites mission is two-fold: present an opportunity for semi-professional race car drivers to compete in a world-class environment while also providing an avenue for drivers to move up the ladder into the LMPC or LMP classes in the American Le Mans Series Presented by Tequila Patrón. The series is divided into two classes: Lites 1, featuring the Élan DP02 chassis powered by a 230hp 2.0L Mazda MZR engine; and Lites 2, utilizing the West WX10 and WR1000 chassis, with a Kawasaki ZX10R motor.

Visit http://www.prototypelites.com/ for complete Winterfest schedule information.

 

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2012 Cooper Tires Winterfest

Sebring International Raceway

Tentative Event Schedule – As of 10/31/11

Drivers Meeting Times TBA

Monday, February 6th

8:00 am - 8:50 am  Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

8:55 am - 9:45 am GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama/GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin

9:50 am - 10:20 am  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Practice

10:25 am- 11:25 am  Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

11:30 am - 12:30 pm GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama/GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin

12:30 pm- 1:30 pm Lunch

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Qualifying

2:10 pm - 3:00 pm Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

3:10 pm - 4:10 pm  GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama/GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin

4:20 pm - 5:00 pm  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Race 1

 

Tuesday, February 7th

8:00 am - 8:45 am GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama/GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin

8:50 am - 9:35 am Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

9:40 am - 10:10 am Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Practice

10:15 am- 11:15 am  GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama/GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin

11:20 am - 12:20 pm  Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

12:20 pm- 1:20 pm Lunch

1:20 pm - 2:00 pm  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Race 2

2:10 pm - 3:00 pm GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama/GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin

3:10 pm - 4:10 pm Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

4:20 pm - 5:00 pm  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Race 3

 

Palm Beach International Raceway

Tentative Event Schedule – As of 10/31/11

Drivers Meeting Times TBA

Saturday, February 11th

8:00 am - 8:20 am  Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

8:25 am - 8:55 am Star Mazda Testing

9:00 am - 9:30 am Indy Lights Testing

9:40 am - 10:10 am  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Practice

10:20 am- 10:50 am  Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

10:55 am- 11:30 am Star Mazda Testing

11:35 am - 12:10 pm Indy Lights Testing

12:20 pm- 12:50 pm Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Qualifying

12:50 pm- 1:50 pm Lunch

1:50 pm - 2:20 pm  Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm  Star Mazda Testing

3:25 pm - 4:10 pm Indy Lights Testing

4:20 pm - 5:00 pm  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Race 1

 

Sunday, February 12th

8:00 am - 8:30 am Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Practice

8:35 am - 9:05 am Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

9:10 am - 9:55 am Star Mazda Testing

10:00 am- 10:45 pm Indy Lights Testing

10:55 am- 11:35 am  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Race 2

11:45 am - 12:25 pm  Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

12:25 pm- 1:25 pm  Lunch

1:25 pm - 2:10 pm  Star Mazda Testing

2:20 pm - 3:05 pm Indy Lights Testing

3:15 pm - 3:55 pm  Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Race 3

4:05 pm - 5:00 pm Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda