Breaking news
IMSA
Former Mazda boss Doonan named IMSA President
The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced today that John Doonan has been named the next president of the sanctioning body effective January 1, 2020, with his first day on the job scheduled for Monday, Oct. 21.
David Malsher-Lopez
Edited: Oct 15, 2019, 8:40 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Doonan, previously the director of motorsports for Mazda North America Operations where he developed the overall strategy and managed Mazda’s motorsports programs in North America.
As IMSA president, Doonan replaces Scott Atherton who recently announced his retirement at season’s end.
Under Doonan’s charge, most recently and famously Mazda partnered with the legendary Joest Racing in the summer of 2017 to run its pair of RT24-Ps, and this year the partnership bore fruit, Mazda Team Joest scoring three consecutive wins.
This IMSA program represents the pinnacle of the Mazda Road to 24, a program that provides ladder system for drivers from grassroots racing to the top level of sports car racing in North America. The scheme is similar to the Road To Indy ladder, which Doonan also oversaw Mazda sponsoring from 2011 to 2018.
Ed Bennett, IMSA CEO, said: “John is a fantastic choice to become our next president, to build upon the momentum of our just-completed 50th anniversary season and take our sport to the next level. He is respected, well known in our paddock, and brings a strong passion for motorsport that will greatly benefit everyone involved.”
Doonan himself observed: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime and dream opportunity after attending IMSA races since I was young boy.
“I am very humbled and truly honored to have the opportunity to join the IMSA team and I’m really looking forward to making a positive impact for our sport, our partners and our industry.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Auberlen: 23 years with BMW “I wouldn’t trade for anything”
Next article Ford IMSA outcasts in the frame for WTR drives
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
David Malsher-Lopez
Alex Zanardi: The man whose name is a synonym for “hero”
IndyCar
IndyCar
Alex Zanardi: The man whose name is a synonym for “hero”
Remembering Michele Alboreto: F1 ace, Le Mans winner and a good man
Formula 1
Formula 1
Remembering Michele Alboreto: F1 ace, Le Mans winner and a good man
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
IMSA
IMSA
Laguna Seca
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
Latest news
Zane Smith fined $50,000 by NASCAR for ramming Carson Hocevar after Phoenix Cup race
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
15 min
Zane Smith fined $50,000 by NASCAR for ramming Carson Hocevar after Phoenix Cup race
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
FIA expects F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to continue as planned
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 4 h
TDS Racing doubles down on IMSA program with two-car LMP2 return
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
5 h
Why Isack Hadjar doesn’t like F1 sprints anymore
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe