Red Bull Global Rallycross (GRC) and MJP Racing (MJP) have announced a partnership to develop the GRC Platinum class, which will run a one-design rallycross vehicle and will launch in 2019.

The announcement also included news about the inaugural European GRC series (GRC Europe), which will complement the already-established series run in North America (Red Bull GRC Americas). Each series will hold between eight to 12 events in the 2019 season, with the top finishers from each series competing in a final GRC Champions Cup event.

The new Platinum class vehicle will utilize a tube frame chassis that is lighter and "more agile" than current Supercars, with a higher displacement engine. By standardizing the chassis and using an engine with significantly greater longevity, both initial purchase price and running costs will be substantially lower than today, says GRC officials.

“Our goal is to open up the competitive landscape to make it more accessible for drivers and teams to participate and showcase their driving skills. Plus, the addition of the GRC Champions Cup will bring together the best drivers from both continents to crown the ‘King of Rallycross’," Red Bull GRC CEO Colin Dyne said.

The first demo race of the Platinum class cars will be held at the 2018 Red Bull GRC season finale in Lydden Hill, United Kingdom over the October 27-28 weekend.

Announcements will roll out over the next several months with more details on both the GRC Platinum class car and format, along with the GRC Champions Cup. For more details, contact info@redbullglobalrallycross.com.

MJP Racing has participated in the World Rallycross Championship since 2015 and was the most successful non-manufacturer backed team with Timo Scheider and Kevin Eriksson in 2017. In-house design and production of the GRC Platinum Series vehicle will take place in MJP Racing’s new 65,000 sq. ft. facility in Austria.

The chronicles of American sports are chock full of great signings.

Remember when the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired free-agent pitching ace Randy Johnson following the 1998 season? Over the next four years “The Big Unit” would go on to collect four straight National League Cy Young Awards alongside a World Series title in 2001.

And who could forget Shaquille O’Neal leaving the Magic Kingdom for the Magic Castle (it’s an LA thing, Google it) upon hitting the open market in 1996? Shaq would spend the next eight years contending for NBA titles—and winning three—while simultaneously bickering with Kobe Bryant over whose jersey was the bigger seller.

I’m not even kidding. There’s an entire Wikipedia entry dedicated to the “Shaq–Kobe feud” and, remarkably, this tidbit is included.

But I digress. The point here is that quality talent has a way of improving the fortunes of teams that compete in a variety of different venues. Which brings us to the March 2018 issue of PRI Magazine—and a trio of new bylines we’re proud to showcase in our pages.

A top freelance journalist for the last decade-plus, Los Angeles-based Bradley Iger has contributed feature stories, tech articles, car reviews and event coverage for the likes of Hot Rod Magazine, Power Automedia, Autoweek and more. Prior to that he was editor-in-chief of Winding Road Magazine, where he covered sports cars and motorsports for an enthusiast audience both in print and online.

Beginning on page 24, Bradley’s meticulously sourced report on key drivers and future developments in performance piston design is a must-read, providing up-to-the-minute information and analysis from leading suppliers such as CP-Carrillo, JE Pistons, MAHLE Motorsport, Wiseco and many others.

We’re equally fortunate to count ace freelance writer and photographer Mike Magda among our newest contributors. Based in South Dakota, Mike has authored stories for dozens of top publications in the automotive, racing, powersports, and technology fields. His past editor credentials include turns at Truck Trend, Chevy High Performance and Hot Truck magazines.

Mike’s comprehensive update on the state of 3D printing provides an in-depth look at current applications, various types of processes and technologies in use today, how companies are utilizing different techniques and materials to increase efficiency, and much more. Trust me, you’ll definitely feel smarter after reading this piece, which starts on page 66.

Rounding out our impressive triad is Texas-based InGear Media chief Todd Ryden. In addition to published works in an array of enthusiast magazines and websites, Ryden’s book credits include “How To Build High Performance Ignition Systems” as well as an assist in revisions of “How to Rebuild the Small-Block Chevy” and the “Chevy Small-Block Interchange Manual”.

Makes sense, too, because prior to establishing InGear Todd was director of the Street Performance Group at MSD Performance in El Paso. So he knows a thing or two about motorsports, which you’ll discover by way of his well-researched and highly informative reveal of the myriad retail sales opportunities—and strategies—in race fasteners and tie-downs, which kicks off on page 94.

PRI has had the honor of working with a number of exceedingly skilled and dedicated contributors over three decades of publishing. And many of them, particularly those who were with us in our infancy, through the years came to feel less like contractors and more like, well, family.

As for Bradley, Mike and Todd, we’re confident you’ll enjoy their submissions in conjunction with this month’s editorial package. And to our newest additions we say, “Welcome to the PRI crew…and we’ll see you all at Judy’s house for Thanksgiving dinner!”

(Photo courtesy of the NHRA).

Tickets for the 16th annual NHRA Motorsports Museum Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance are on sale now to the general public. The event benefits the NHRA Motorsports Museum, an independent non-profit educational museum located in Pomona, Calif. and will take place June 14–16, at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky.

The three-day gathering will feature 1/4-mile nostalgia nitro drag racing, displays of cars of numerous makes and models, a sprawling vendor area, and the well-known Cacklefest that will conclude the weekend.

During the weekend, Nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Cars will also compete for NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series points.

New for the 2018 event will be a Show ‘N Shine Street Legal Drags on Thursday Night, a Reunion Honoree Celebration at the National Corvette Museum Friday evening, and jets cars in heads-up racing action featuring Marine Corp Veteran Dwayne Hill vs. two-time world champion Elaine Larsen.

Tickets for the 16th annual NHRA Motorsports Museum Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance are $25 for a single-day ticket and $65 for a three-day pass. For more information, to purchase tickets, or register visit here.

Preparations for the 2018 season of racing in the Lucas Oil Modified Series presented by MAVTV are underway.

The 13th season for the series will consist of 11 races, 10 that count in the Hoosier Tire West point standings and one that doesn’t, but does offer the possibility of a nice payday.

Hoosier Tire West, a partner since the formation of the series, has added $10,000 to the points fund paid to the top 15 drivers, bringing that total to $25,900. All the added money will go to the drivers finishing second through 15th in the standings.

Downforce Racing Products has stepped in to sponsor the series Rookie of the Year competition and SpillVak has joined the series by sponsoring the SpillVak Triple Crown.

The Triple Crown is a series of three races in Bakersfield, Calif. on June 30, Irwindale, Calif. on Aug. 18 and Las Vegas on Nov. 17, that will pay $1,000 to the driver accumulating the most points. Lesser awards will be given to the second through fifth place finishers.

For a list of the complete 2018 schedule, including title and presenting sponsors, visit here.

The former Orangeburg Dragway, which announced it would reopen as South Carolina Motorplex in January, announced a multi-year agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).

This agreement means racers at the 1/8-mile facility will have the chance to participate in the IHRA Summit SuperSeries, a $200,000 program that is said to be the World Championship for over 8,000 Sportsman racers.

New owner Jeff Biegun purchased the track last November and immediately announced plans for a series of upgrades. There is a new tower in place and work has been done to the track surface. Other upgrades—either finished or in the works—include a new timing system and scoreboards, 2,000 feet of concrete walls and several fresh coats of paint.

The staff is also working on a number of other spectator amenities including ticket windows and concessions. In addition, they are clearing off more of the 314-acre property for other racing venues and to create more room for special events like swap meets, concerts and flea markets.

Impact Racing, Inc. and MasterCraft are moving its Southern California operations from Santee, CA, to Irvine, CA, in an effort, company officials are saying, to provide better customer service and deal with the “ever-changing” needs of its customers.

Located inside the Sparco USA facility at 1852 Kaiser Ave., the new location is said to provide better access to a broader range of customers located in the Southern California region. The move, expected to be complete by March 1, 2018, does not affect operations of its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility located in Indianapolis, IN.

The companies also announced the addition of Jimco Racing as the authorized Impact and MasterCraft MWD in the San Diego region.

Jimco is located at 9426 Wheatlands Court, Santee, CA 92071, just one block from the original Santee location. In addition to providing a large selection of inventory, Jimco will also provide or facilitate all of the same services as Impact does, including helmet wiring and servicing, custom suit and dye sublimated shirts, and custom window nets.

Jimco joins several other Impact and MasterCraft Safety dealers in the San Diego region, including Off Road Warehouse (ORW), Race Ready, SRD, AutoFab, and 4Wheel Parts.

Holley has announced the addition of a Truck Grand Champion class for future LS Fest events, beginning with LS Fest West in May and carrying on through LS Fest in Bowling Green this September.

Truck Grand Champion competitors will be required make at least one pass on the drag strip and run three autocross laps, two 3S Challenge laps, and one lap around the road course.

According to Holley, the number of trucks at each event continues to grow each year, prompting the competition. The Truck Grand Champion class winner will take home a $1,000 payout, a plaque and a Grand Champion jacket.

The Grand Champion competition at LS Fest is for participants who want to test their abilities across multiple event segments. Drivers are encouraged to bring a vehicle that not only goes fast but also "brakes great" and stays planted in the corners.

For the full breakdown of rules for this segment of LS Fest competition, visit here. For more information on Holley LS Fest events and to register, visit here.

Bradley Stevens will now be in charge of weekly programs at 34 Raceway, a 3/8-mile, semi-banked clay oval in Burlington, Iowa.

Stevens has purchased the track from Jeff and Amy Laue. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and newly-sanctioned Mach-1 Sport Compacts run Saturday nights at the Southeast Iowa speedplant.

The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season begins April 7 and continues through Sept. 29.

“We’re going to do everything we can to get families to the track,” Stevens said. “We’re going to be really keen on prices with a family pack deal and we’ll run four classes every week and two others every other week. We won’t have an intermission unless we absolutely need one so we can run a smooth show and get everybody home at a decent time.”

Modifieds, stock cars, Northern SportMods and non-sanctioned 305 sprint cars are on weekly programs at 34. Sport compacts and mod-lites will alternate Saturdays, while a local truck class follows a limited schedule, usually in conjunction with special events.

Modified points earned at 34 figure in IMCA’s Side Biter Chassis North Central Region, stock car points in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region.

The Mazda Road to Indy (MRTI) USF2000 $200K Scholarship Shootout will continue for a third successive year in 2018, extending its reach to include 11 countries, where 20 champions of junior open-wheel and karting series from around the world will join together for the December event.

Launched in 2016, the MRTI $200K Scholarship Shootout brings together talent from select junior level open-wheel and karting series from around the world with the best-of-the-best vying for a slot on the first step of the MRTI driver development ladder, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. That event then offers the opportunity for drivers to progress all the way to the Verizon IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.

Drivers between the ages of 14 and 25 (by September 30, 2018) will be eligible to earn an invitation via a network of official feeder series in both North and South America as well as Europe, Asia, Australasia and, for the first time, the continent of Africa.

The dates and location of the Scholarship Shootout will be confirmed later this year.

The winner will secure an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Ireland’s Keith Donegan, who will contest this year’s USF2000 season after claiming the Scholarship title last December, and Florida’s Oliver Askew, who won the shootout in 2016, went on to win last year’s USF2000 championship and, in 2018, will compete on the middle rung of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.

“The level of interest in the Scholarship Shootout from around the world is incredible, and we are excited to welcome three new championships to the program,” said Kyle Kimball, manager of operations for Mazda Motorsports.

Performance suspension company BILSTEIN has named Aaron Morey its new head of motorsports in the US.

In this position, Morey will implement strategies across the various motorsports segments to increase the company's market share growth. He will also lead the motorsports team as BILSTEIN continues to develop and release its latest in shock technology.

Morey has more than 15 years experience in motorsports sales and marketing leadership. Most recently, he served as director of sales and marketing at Keyser’s Port City Racing, where he led global sales for the leading aftermarket suspension manufacturer.

“Aaron’s experience in motorsports leadership is impressive,” said Steven Beaty, president of Aftermarket and Motorsports, thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN of America. “With a proven record creating and implementing motorsports sales strategies, Aaron is a valuable addition to BILSTEIN’s motorsports team.”

A motorhead from an early age, Morey started slot car racing at age four, and by the time he was seven, was racing 1/18-scale gas cars across the Midwest.

At 11, he was competing in the World Karting Association, and at 13, started racing BMX bikes, winning more than 160 events over three years and climbing to second in the US rankings.

At 18, he raced an UMP Dirt Modified car on local circle tracks, and over the next 17 years competed in everything from the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, sprint cars and the USMTS Modified Tour.

“What I enjoy most about my career is the competition,” Morey said. “I love winning and hate finishing second. Working in the motorsports industry, you’re always looking for the wins every weekend and using those wins to grow sales.”