Mazda, after years of success with the now-discontinued GT-class RX8 in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, will be back in 2013 with a new car in the series’ new class. The Japanese carmaker will make a racing version of the Mazda6 powered by a 400-bhp SkyActive-D diesel for the new-for-2013 Rolex GX class.
Mazda made the announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show, while unveiling the 2013 Mazda6 street car.
“We have been eager to announce this car for months, but had to wait until the production car was revealed,” said John Doonan, Motorsports Director, Mazda North American Operations in a press release. “This is not a pure race engine; it is a production block SKYACTIV-D. We’re excited about having our newest engine powering our newest car.”
The new race car was developed in conjunction with SpeedSource, one of the most successful of the Mazda RX8 teams with wins in the Rolex 24-hour race and in 2008 and 2010 as well as a GT class win in 2010.
“The SpeedSource engineering team, working with the Mazda engineers, have been flat out for months on engine development,” Noonan continued. “We’re happy to report that the engine is meeting the performance targets for both power and endurance—that means 400+ hp for over 50 hours, with an engine that includes a very long list of production Mazda parts.
“This is not a pure race engine; it is a production block Skyactiv-D. We’re excited about having our newest engine powering our newest car.”
The new car will debut at the 2103 Grand Am Rolex 24 on Jan 26. Tickets to the event are available through the Grand-Am website.
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