With champions of select junior level open-wheel and karting series from around the world all vying for a $200,000 scholarship from Mazda to enter the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2017, MAXSpeed Entertainment and Rotax MAX Challenge racing will be represented by the champion in one of the most hotly-contested classes in the US Open series.

MAXSpeed President Richard Boisclair stated: “After a phenomenal experience with Andersen Promotions and the Mazda Road To Indy over the last two years with our Driver Advancement Program, I am happy to see our partnership continue in 2016.

“Skills learned from karting are the basis of racing, and it's where many great champions in motorsport get their start. Our US Open series champion is sure to represent karting and our entire MAXSpeed program well at the Shootout.”

The Shootout, set to take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on December 6-7, will feature a knockout-style format with the winner taking home the Mazda scholarship money to begin the first step of the Mazda Road To Indy.

“We are excited to have the Rotax Senior MAX class field vying for an entry ticket to the Shootout,” said Michelle Kish, COO of Andersen Promotions. “There is a lot of talent in this very competitive category and we will be watching their progress over the course of the season to see who will be crowned champion and join us in December.”

The US Open series gets underway next week, April 21-24, for the first of three rounds at CIK-certified track NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana. The second round will be held at Utah Motorsports Campus in June, with the finale set for at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, November 1-5.