Photo by: Art Fleischmann
Mazda racers like the feeling of being in Kansas. The Mazda teams made their first ever visit to Kansas Speedway a night to remember taking wins in both the Grand-Am GX and the Continental Tire ST races.
With their seventh straight Grand-Am GX class win the SpeedSource Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel team extended the manufacturers championship points lead for Mazda over Porsche. The win also closed the gap in the drivers’ championship with Mazda racer Joel Miller in second behind Porsche racer Jim Norman.
The SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine in the all-new Mazda6 is a true production-based engine. The engine is 51 percent stock by parts count, and 63 percent stock by weight. Mazda chose this path as it is the most honest way to demonstrate the quality, durability, and reliability of Mazda cars.
Earlier in the evening, the i-Moto MAZDASPEED3 team of Taylor Hacquard and Derek Jones scored their first Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge ST class win. The win was the fourth of the year for Mazda who is in a tight three-way battle with BMW and Honda for the manufacturers’ championship. Five Mazda teams are in the top-ten in team points.
John Doonan, Motorsports Director, Mazda North American Operations: “If someone had told me coming into the season that we would win seven races in a row, I would have never believed it. What a thrill to get lucky number seven and the fifth of the season for the VISIT FLORIDA Mazda6. I could not be more proud of this SpeedSource team, the two young products of the Mazda young driver ladder system – Joel and Tristan, and the reliability of this Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel.
We continue to have some drive shaft issues which is what hurt the #70 car tonight, but as we continue to turn up the performance of the engine in preparation for 2014, we will continue to learn. This program was about learning and developing from day one and to be leading the manufacturer’s championship with two races to go is truly a special accomplishment for Mazda and all of our partners.”
Joel Miller, Co-Driver #00 Mazda6: “The #00 had a plan coming into today's race which we executed for the win. This is a challenging track with so much time spent on the oval. We were at full throttle 70% of the time. Our Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel performed again under these conditions which brought home our seventh victory in a row for the team, and my fifth this year. My teammate did a great job in the first stint, and I am very grateful to be part of this development program with SpeedSource. Big thank you to our supporters VISITFLORIDA.com and everyone at Mazda.”
Tristan Nunez, Co-Driver #00 Mazda6: "Our VISIT FLORIDA car was outstanding tonight. With the reliability of these clean diesel monsters we can concentrate on getting a good setup on the car. The Speedsource crew once again gave us an all-around fast and consistent race car. I learn so much from Sylvain Tremblay every race weekend, and I look forward to each race with confidence.”
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