lcruz64
11-18-2005, 04:00 PM
MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development announced Thursday that it has expanded its Grand-Am racing series partnership with SpeedSource, Inc. to develop a new GT-class Mazda RX-8 for the 2006 season. SpeedSource won the 2005 Grand-Am Cup Sport Touring class driver’s, team and manufacturer’s championships with a modified 2-rotor RX-8 production car (pictured).
The more radical Grand-Am GT cars are essentially silhouette racers. The RX-8, for example, will feature a Riley Technologies-developed tube frame chassis with a six-speed EMCO sequential transaxle and a carbon fiber RX-8 look-alike body developed by Downing/Atlanta. The car will be powered by Mazda’s three-rotor 20B rotary engine.
A turnkey GT racer from SpeedSource will set you back about $280,000. MAZDASPEED will also carry the Downing/Atlanta body panels and the 20B race engine. MAZDASPEED promises a “lucrative” contingency program for RX-8 GT racers.
[Source: Mazda]
<img src="http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/3060000000054473.JPG?0.7460927842055036">
This is the first public view of the MAZDASPEED RX8 Grand Am GT-class racecar that we reported on yesterday. The picture of the 2005 ST-class car at right gives you an idea of the extent of the changes. The most obvious feature, of course, is the all carbon-fiber bodywork, clearly visible in the picture above. Aside from the weight savings from replacing the stock panels, the new body allows the builders to optimize the body shape for aerodynamic efficiency and downforce, while allowing for the wider track and wider wheels and tires of the GT version. Another very visible change in the aero department is the monster wing allowed under the GT rules.
More manufacturer support for GT road racing in North America. It’s a good thing!
[Source: Mazda]
<img src="http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/3060000000054587.JPG?0.20626810794241068">
The more radical Grand-Am GT cars are essentially silhouette racers. The RX-8, for example, will feature a Riley Technologies-developed tube frame chassis with a six-speed EMCO sequential transaxle and a carbon fiber RX-8 look-alike body developed by Downing/Atlanta. The car will be powered by Mazda’s three-rotor 20B rotary engine.
A turnkey GT racer from SpeedSource will set you back about $280,000. MAZDASPEED will also carry the Downing/Atlanta body panels and the 20B race engine. MAZDASPEED promises a “lucrative” contingency program for RX-8 GT racers.
[Source: Mazda]
<img src="http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/3060000000054473.JPG?0.7460927842055036">
This is the first public view of the MAZDASPEED RX8 Grand Am GT-class racecar that we reported on yesterday. The picture of the 2005 ST-class car at right gives you an idea of the extent of the changes. The most obvious feature, of course, is the all carbon-fiber bodywork, clearly visible in the picture above. Aside from the weight savings from replacing the stock panels, the new body allows the builders to optimize the body shape for aerodynamic efficiency and downforce, while allowing for the wider track and wider wheels and tires of the GT version. Another very visible change in the aero department is the monster wing allowed under the GT rules.
More manufacturer support for GT road racing in North America. It’s a good thing!
[Source: Mazda]
<img src="http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/3060000000054587.JPG?0.20626810794241068">