FARA aims to bring thrill of pro racing to the Grassroots level

We spent last weekend at Sebring International Raceway watching dozens of Spec Miatas race for cash prizes while a professional announcer gave a play-by-play of the action. But this wasn’t IMSA or SRO. Instead, we were at FARA USA’s first event at this iconic track, one the organization says is a sign of things to come. 

“Why do I need to spend so much to get recognition?” That’s the question David Tuaty, one owner of FARA, asked before he and Jose de las Casa took over the Miami-based sanctioning body in late 2022.

Long known for open-wheel cars and exotics, FARA has since pivoted to a much more Grassroots field, full of Miatas, BMWs and wishbone Hondas sharing the paddock with LMP3 cars and other exotic track builds. Organizers have also expanded the series geographically, branching out from FARA’s roots at Homestead-Miami Speedway to add three Sebring events in 2024. 

The goal, as David explains it, is to bring Pro Racing’s experience and showmanship to all racers. And that’s actually what brought us down to Sebring, as we wanted to see the newest class: Pro Spec Miata, a series for spec Miatas. FARA explains the class’s goal as follows: 

To live out every racer's dream: racing with a live video stream so loved ones can watch, be interviewed as a race winner, or win a feature money race. We are offering the possibility to be recognized for accomplishments in one of the most difficult series in all of racing.

And sure enough, each race was professionally announced and live-streamed, and thousands of dollars in prize money was awarded at the podium ceremony. 

Judging by the number of SCCA and NASA stickers we saw spread across the field of 37 Miatas, we’d say there’s demand for the series. And we’re excited to watch it grow over the next few years. You can see the 2024 FARA calendar here.

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