F2000 Graduate McAleer Wins MX-5 Cup
Braselton, GA - After starting from second in the final race of the 2012 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, former F2000 driver Stevan McAleer, from Scotland, went onto win and clinch the 2012 Series title.
The 28-lap race saw 18 official lead changes, according to a press release issued by SCCA Pro Racing, with McAleer’s No. 28 Blue Mercury Capital/Numerix/CJ Wilson Racing MX-5 averaging 93.728 mph in the 71.12-mile race.
McAleer ran in the 2010 edition of the F2000 Championship Series, landing on the podium a number of times for The Racehouse in a Van Diemen, and nearly winning at Lime Rock Park.
“I got into a rhythm and I felt the car was quick,” McAleer said, following the win. . “I dropped back a little bit mid-race, and it ended up that they started their usual fighting ... I actually didn’t see the checker! I heard about a flag coming out, but I swear it looked like a blue flag. I actually looked in my mirror, I was like ‘why am I getting a blue flag here?’ But to end the championship with a victory is unbelievable.”
McAleer finished the year with Champion and Rookie of the Year honors with three wins, two second places and three third place efforts in eight races.
“The guys have been talking about it, even some of the guys from a few years ago, they said this is quite possibly the toughest season they’ve had in the MX-5 Cup,” the 2012 Champion said. “We knew right from the get-go that we were obviously a contender at Sebring, but we also knew that it was always going to tighten up and all the guys were coming. We just tried to be as fast as we could and be somewhat sensible on some passes. You win championships with podiums, podiums, podiums, and I think that’s eight of 11 podiums.
“We didn’t even know if we were going to make Sebring. We scraped some funding together to get the first race, and it’s just unbelievable. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. My Dad is here, and my younger brother. My Dad’s pretty good luck – he’s been here twice and now we won here, so maybe I’ll bring him along next season!”