Hanna Zellers is the first female signing in the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Cup: the 25 year old American sports car talent joins Hixon Motor Sports - a team that has historically provided opportunities to female racers in the spectacular Mazda one make series.
A series that has often shine a light on talented female drivers in their rise up the ranks of North American sports car racing, the Mazda MX-5 Cup now has its first officially confirmed woman on the grid of the upcoming season.
The highly-successful Hixon Motor Sports team has in fact announced its first driver for the 2023 season and, having historically lined up several female racers, the team owned by Bryan Hixon and managed by Shea Holbrook will rely on another talented woman: Hanna Zellers is in fact set to join the team for a full season in the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires.
“I am excited to be joining the reigning Team Champions, Hixon Motor Sports for the full 2023 MX-5 Cup season" - commented Zellers. "I have been competing in different series for the past few years, lastly IMSA Prototype Challenge, and I have been working really hard to keep competing within IMSA."
"To be racing under the IMSA banner in a single-make, single-driver series is nothing short of a dream come true", Zerllers continued. "I have raced at several of the circuits that the MX-5 Cup will compete at in 2023 and feel more ready than ever, and I cannot wait to kick off the season with the first two rounds at Daytona!”
Hanna Zellers has several years of motor racing experience under her belt, including the IMSA Prototype Challenge in 2022, where she finished tenth. But, alongside LMP3 machinery, she also has experience in single-seaters, touring cars, GT cars: the American had in fact previously made appearances in TC America in 2019, World Racing League across 2020 and 2021, and Formula 4 US in 2018.
Zellers will be supported by Corum Watches and 74 Ranch Resort- as well as by Lyn St James' association Women in Motorsports North America.
Hixon Motor Sports had an amazing season in 2022, claiming several titles: Team of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Vice Champion (both with young star Connor Zilisch), Mechanic of the Year, the Spirit of the Mazda Award and the Move of the Year - with Selin Rollan.
Hanna Zellers is the first slot of the team's line up, who will aim for more success and accolades in 2023.
“Our first signee for 2023, our first female driver, plus our first contender for the 2023 MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year is now locked and loaded for a new season of competition", Team Owner Bryan Hixon stated. "Hanna joins our program with experience and knowledge and is driven to excel and win."
"She is aggressive on the track and that is needed in the close quarter MX-5 Cup", Hixon - a strong supporter of female drivers - continued. "We have a big year to follow up on, and I think Hanna will be able to slot into our program and have immediate success."
"We hope another female enters the full season so that Hanna can go after the new prize money for women race-by-race where at least two women must be in the race to chase after the fastest female on the official results to win a new prize in 2023 thanks to Mazda.”
The season will start early in January as support for IMSA at Daytona International Raceway from 25th to 27th January.