Happily & Most Importantly, A Sponsor Was Acquired

Laguna Seca getting another awkward name with WeatherTech sponsorship 

But here's why floormat alliance is a good thing for the track 

According to the Monterey Herald, and also reported by Autoweek, Laguna Seca is getting a new title sponsor and as a result, a new name. The track is currently known by the official name of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, a less-than-elegant name that goes away soon because Mazda is ending its sponsorship on March 31. The newspaper reports that the new sponsor is WeatherTech, and the new name, arriving on April 1, adds a word: WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca.

It seems that those in charge of the track are happy with the deal, though. The Monterey Herald reports the deal is for five years of sponsorship at a cost of $5 million and that it's about two-thirds of what Mazda was paying. But the newspaper also reports that the track won't be providing the same track access that Mazda needed, and it may attract other automakers to the track when the track's name isn't partly that of a competitor.

(AutoBlog.com)

Watching A Thing Of Beauty In Its Natural Habitat

A 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL puts in some work at Laguna Seca.

(Jalopnik.com)

This Is Something I'm Going To Keep An Eye On

France family poised to take over Laguna Seca operations

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca could be in for a big change. The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula, a non-profit that's managed the iconic race track since it was built back in 1957, may be out, as officials from Monterey County, CA announced they're in negotiations with International Speedway Corporation, the company owned by NASCAR's France family.

The county "has been exploring options for the management of the raceway to ensure its long-term success," Asphalt and Rubber reports. According to the website, the track has struggled with attendance at big-name events, and lost its MotoGP race after the 2013 season. Selling Laguna Seca is not as simple as keys and cash changing hands, though.

The track currently sits in a public park that's owned by the county, and any sale would be subject to an open session where the general public could weigh in, and that's not exactly a good thing, A/R reports. According to the website, despite the car-crazy atmosphere that the city of Monterey plays host to during its eponymous Car Week, many citizens of the seaside town aren't too fond of the track.

(AutoBlog.com)