F-MAZDA: 2007 champions West Coast series crowned

Cumming and Weaver Capture West Coast Championships at Mazda Raceway

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca saw Star Mazda West Coast Series Champions crowned on back-to-back weekends with Vancouver, British Columbia resident Chris Cumming capturing the Pro Formula Mazda title during the American Le Mans Series race weekend, while Fresno, California native Bill Weaver locked up the Standard Formula Mazda crown at the San Francisco Region SCCA Double Points finale.

"The West Coast title was my goal from the start of the year, so it feels great to get it," Cumming explained. "I've got the thank the team at World Speed, particularly my mechanic Patrick Bradford, as well as my coaches from Standing Start, Grant Ryley and Mikel Miller. Working with everyone has been a lot of fun and I'm already looking forward to next year!"

Cumming recorded five victories to edge out Formula Mazda Challenge Champion Patrick O'Neill, who came into the event with what appeared to be an insurmountable lead but was excluded from the results by Star Mazda Championship officials for driving infractions during the event. O'Neill would finish second in the championship with Dave House wrapping up third place with a second place finish in the finale.

While the Pro Formula Mazda drivers were battling back and forth for the points lead, Standard Mazda drier Weaver was the class of the field, winning every race he entered for his championship run. The season finale would be a memorable one for Weaver as brake problems cropped up during the race.

"I lost my brakes about half way into the race. I had to pump the pedal to have any brakes at all and even then it was marginal. With about 7 or 8 minutes to go, two cars got together cresting the hill in turn 1 and caused a full course yellow. I had been able to put 5 or 6 lapped cars between Derry O'Donovan and myself at that point but without brakes I knew he would be on my butt if we actually got the green," Weaver revealed. "Fortunately for me, the clock ran out before they were able to get the mess cleaned up and we finished under yellow. I can honestly say that this was the first time I was happy to finish a race behind the safety car."

Stew Tabak would earn second place behind Weaver with a steady run of podium finishes to close out the season while newly crowned Mazdapalooza Champion Shawn Westerhoff would finish third in the points battle.

-credit: www.formulamazdachallenge.com k