CME 2012 [Archive] - TorontoMazda3

Jrponline

02-02-2012, 06:09 PM

(TORONTO, ON // FEBRUARY 2, 2012) – Anyone who has attended the Canadian Motorsports Expo over the years will know that the CME stage is always a busy place in terms of celebrity appearances, autograph sessions and interactive expert forums. For the 6th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo, Mazda Canada Inc. will be the presenting sponsor of this high-profile property.

The Mazda Stage will be in action all three days of the CME, playing host to world-famous racing personalities like 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship runner-up Carl Edwards, Canadian IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe, two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champ and safety expert Randy Lajoie, legendary NASCAR team owner / engine builder Robert Yates and many others.

The Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News takes place February 10, 11 and 12 at the International Centre, adjacent to Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

Mazda Canada’s sponsorship of The Mazda Stage reflects the importance the company places on motorsports, especially grassroots road racing. Mazda’s high-profile at the CME will extend well beyond the stage, as it will also host a 20’ x 20’ booth featuring the Mazda2 B-Spec prototype (right), which will be eligible for participation in the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC). Also in the booth will be a modified 2010 Mazda3 GT driven by Quebec automotive journalist Jacques Deshaies in the CTCC’s Touring Class.

Mazda will also make significant news at the CME. At 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon (Feb. 11) on the Mazda Stage, Mazda Canada President Don Romano and John Doonan, Director of Motorsports for Mazda North American Operations, will unveil an exciting new program underscoring Mazda’s commitment to supporting motorsports in Canada.

Soon after that announcement, starting at 3 p.m. in the ‘Peel’ Seminar room, Mazda will present “Sponsorship / Marketing 101 for Racers.” The one-hour free seminar, hosted by John Doonan, Dean Case (MAZDASPEED Motorsports Communications Officer, Mazda N.A. Operations), Jim Jordan (Manager of Alternative Marketing, Mazda N.A. Ops.) and Jim Bowie (Brandrenaline, Inc.) will explain the difference between ‘sponsorships’ and ‘partnerships,’ and how today’s racers need to develop their off-track skills more than ever before.

“Mazda Canada is proud to partner with the Canadian Motorsports Expo to support the continued growth of motorsports in Canada,” said John Doonan. “Mazda’s motorsports roots run deep – from being the first and only Japanese manufacturer ever to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans to being the title sponsor of one of the world’s most demanding road courses, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – and we’re looking forward to kicking off the Canadian racing season at CME.”

Speaking about The Mazda Stage and Mazda Canada Inc.’s participation at the 6th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo, the CME’s Mike Galipeau said, “We are very happy to welcome Mazda Canada as the presenting sponsor of the Mazda Stage. Their branding on the stage will appear in almost all of the photos and videos taken at the show. And we’re especially excited that Mazda Canada will be using the show to make news about their Canadian racing program, as well as to educate racers on what it takes to be successful in the competitive off-track pursuit of marketing partners. ‘Sponsorship / Marketing 101 for Racers’ will be an incredible opportunity for CME attendees to learn from experts who can make a big difference to their programs.”

For a full listing of events on The Mazda Stage and in the Peel Seminar Room, visit: www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com/?page_id=30.

ABOUT MAZDA CANADA: Celebrating its 44th anniversary this year, Mazda Canada Inc. is the distributor of Mazda vehicles in Canada. The company is a subsidiary of Mazda Motor Corporation which is based in Hiroshima, Japan and was established in 1968.
Mazda Canada’s head office is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, with regional offices in Montreal, Vancouver, and Richmond Hill. A Mazda Parts Distribution Centre serving all of Canada is located in Mississauga, Ontario. Mazda Canada employs 140 people across Canada at these locations. Mazda Canada has partners across the country and around the world. As of January 2012, there are 165 independently owned, franchised Mazda dealers across Canada. Mazda Canada belongs to the Mazda Motor Corporation family of distributors, research centers, and affiliated companies that span the globe. Visit www.Mazda.ca for more information.

ABOUT THE CME: The Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News is a three-day celebration of Canadian racing that runs February 10, 11 & 12, 2012 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road in Mississauga, Ontario (Canada)). In addition to booths and racing vehicles representing the entire spectrum of Canadian motorsports, the show is loaded with seminars and forums to entertain and inform racers and fans alike. Celebrity drivers will be at the CME to sign autographs and meet the fans. One of the special themes of this year’s CME is the CASCAR Reunion. Please check the show’s website (www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com) for news, updates, schedule information and more. For more information on exhibitors, seminars, conferences, special events and guests, visit www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com, call 416-962-7223 or email info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com.