Scholarship prizes and awards totaling more than $2.3 million were distributed during last night’s Championship Celebration banquet at the Monterey Plaza Hotel following another hugely successful Mazda Road to Indy season which concluded this past weekend at nearby Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Just shy of 300 people attended the banquet including more than 30 drivers representing 12 nations from around the globe

Alessandro Latif might not have concluded his rookie campaign in the fiercely-disputed Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in the manner he had been hoping, but the rising young British star nonetheless left Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with plenty of cause for encouragement.

Will Owen, driver of the #23 Juncos Racing machine finished his 2015 season of the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires on the podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Starting from third on the grid, a collision on the first lap of the race allowed Owen to slip into second position. Championship winner, Santiago Urrutia and Neil Alberico were able to take advantage of the re-start and push Owen back to fourth place. With only two laps to go, Alberico spun, allowing Will to move back up to third and secure his spot on the podium.

Canadian Garett Grist secured a weekend sweep at Mazda Raceway, propelling Grist from sixth to third in the title chase and allowing his Juncos Racing team to clinch the coveted Team Championship in style

Garett Grist scored an accomplished victory for Juncos Racing but a second-place finish for Team Pelfrey’s Santiago “Santi” Urrutia was enough to clinch the title