-
Home
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: GX Goes Green
Inside the new-for-2013 category and its contenders for this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona...
The 2014 Mazda6 is among the entries in the new GX class, which debuts this weekend at Daytona. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
History will be made in more ways than one this weekend at Daytona, as GRAND-AM’s new GX class makes its debut alongside the established Daytona Prototype and GT categories.
Not only will it mark the first time since 2004 that the Rolex Sports Car Series will feature more than two categories, but the experimental-type class will see the first-ever diesel-powered car compete at Daytona International Speedway, or in GRAND-AM for that matter.
READ: Q&A with Sylvain Tremblay
While having ended its run with the rotary-powered RX-8, Mazda has shifted its focus to the new SKYACTIV-D powerplant, a four-cylinder production turbo diesel engine that will power a brace of redesigned Mazda6’s this year.
Headed up by longtime partner SpeedSource, Mazda was the first to announce a program for the GX class last year and heads into its debut race with three of the new-bodied RX-8s, looking to re-write the history books.
"For all of the people at SpeedSource, and myself personally, it's rewarding to see the new car run, that was built [almost] from the ground up,” said Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan. “No one's ever done diesel here at the Daytona International Speedway before. No one's ever run the Rolex 24 with diesel. No one's ever done a four-cylinder production engine diesel for racing. It's awesome."
Work began transforming the Prep 2-built RX-8s immediately following last year’s Rolex Series season finale. One of the biggest changes, according to Doonan, was the lengthening of the chassis by six inches, along with a new drivetrain, fuel cell and other components to accommodate the 2.2-liter production engine.
Sporting an all-new look with the Crawford-built bodywork, Doonan says the clean diesel-powered car is expected to produce a 30 percent better fuel mileage compared to their previous-generation RX-8, but will run at a reduced fuel capacity as a result.
Mazda’s competition this weekend will come in the form of Porsche Caymans. While not necessarily featuring cutting-edge technology, or even being manufacturer-blessed, the German-built cars have been made eligible to compete in the new class.
Headlining the entry is Napleton Racing, operators of the popular Cayman Interseries, which has updated is World Challenge class-winning Cayman S to GX specifications for the race.
“We have seen some success on track with our Caymans and the challenge of a 24 hour race is definitely intriguing,” said team owner Ed Napleton. “Racing is still relatively new to me but I have heard about the unique nature and daunting challenge of 24 hour races right from the beginning. It is going to be a fun adventure.”
The car, run by general manager Ron Barnaba and team manager Mike Colucci, bring a wealth of experience to the program, having both previously worked at Brumos Racing. And with a solid lineup of David Donohue, Shane Lewis, Dr. Jim Norman and Nelson Canache, the No. 16 entry is considered a pre-race favorite.
Lewis grabbed the inaugural pole position here on Thursday.
Two other Caymans in the field come from Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competitor BGB Motorsports, and Rolex 24 stalwarts Bullet Racing. Both teams are running slightly different variations of the mid-engined sports car to the Napleton entry, making the competition even more intriguing.
While the Caymans showed the upper hand at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 pre-season test, Mazda’s three-car effort doesn’t lack any talent, with IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe and sports car ace Marino Franchitti joining Jonathan Bomarito and SpeedSource team principal Sylvain Tremblay in the No. 70 entry.
Not only will it mark the first time since 2004 that the Rolex Sports Car Series will feature more than two categories, but the experimental-type class will see the first-ever diesel-powered car compete at Daytona International Speedway, or in GRAND-AM for that matter.
READ: Q&A with Sylvain Tremblay
While having ended its run with the rotary-powered RX-8, Mazda has shifted its focus to the new SKYACTIV-D powerplant, a four-cylinder production turbo diesel engine that will power a brace of redesigned Mazda6’s this year.
Headed up by longtime partner SpeedSource, Mazda was the first to announce a program for the GX class last year and heads into its debut race with three of the new-bodied RX-8s, looking to re-write the history books.
"For all of the people at SpeedSource, and myself personally, it's rewarding to see the new car run, that was built [almost] from the ground up,” said Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan. “No one's ever done diesel here at the Daytona International Speedway before. No one's ever run the Rolex 24 with diesel. No one's ever done a four-cylinder production engine diesel for racing. It's awesome."
Work began transforming the Prep 2-built RX-8s immediately following last year’s Rolex Series season finale. One of the biggest changes, according to Doonan, was the lengthening of the chassis by six inches, along with a new drivetrain, fuel cell and other components to accommodate the 2.2-liter production engine.
Sporting an all-new look with the Crawford-built bodywork, Doonan says the clean diesel-powered car is expected to produce a 30 percent better fuel mileage compared to their previous-generation RX-8, but will run at a reduced fuel capacity as a result.
Mazda’s competition this weekend will come in the form of Porsche Caymans. While not necessarily featuring cutting-edge technology, or even being manufacturer-blessed, the German-built cars have been made eligible to compete in the new class.
Headlining the entry is Napleton Racing, operators of the popular Cayman Interseries, which has updated is World Challenge class-winning Cayman S to GX specifications for the race.
“We have seen some success on track with our Caymans and the challenge of a 24 hour race is definitely intriguing,” said team owner Ed Napleton. “Racing is still relatively new to me but I have heard about the unique nature and daunting challenge of 24 hour races right from the beginning. It is going to be a fun adventure.”
The car, run by general manager Ron Barnaba and team manager Mike Colucci, bring a wealth of experience to the program, having both previously worked at Brumos Racing. And with a solid lineup of David Donohue, Shane Lewis, Dr. Jim Norman and Nelson Canache, the No. 16 entry is considered a pre-race favorite.
Lewis grabbed the inaugural pole position here on Thursday.
Two other Caymans in the field come from Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competitor BGB Motorsports, and Rolex 24 stalwarts Bullet Racing. Both teams are running slightly different variations of the mid-engined sports car to the Napleton entry, making the competition even more intriguing.
While the Caymans showed the upper hand at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 pre-season test, Mazda’s three-car effort doesn’t lack any talent, with IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe and sports car ace Marino Franchitti joining Jonathan Bomarito and SpeedSource team principal Sylvain Tremblay in the No. 70 entry.
Road Atlanta
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
MILLER: Carpenter's Simply A Great Story
Regardless of what his detractors might say, Ed Carpenter's mighty… -
V8: Whincup Dominates Austin 400
Red Bull Racing Driver wins three of the four 100km sprints in V8… -
INDYCAR: Newgarden Fastest Sunday Indy 500 Qualifier, Legge Completes…
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing's Josef Newgarden led Sunday's final… -
V8: Red Bull's Whincup On A Roll At COTA
Jamie Whincup takes pole for V8 Supercar Races 15 and 16, Live! on… -
V8: Nissan Coming To Grips With New Altima
John Dagys explores Nissan's new factory venture in V8 Supercars… -
GT: O'Connell, Aschenbach Win Saturday's WC GT, GTS Races At COTA…
Johnny O’Connell led all the way to win Saturday’s Pirelli… -
V8: COTA Saturday Notebook
John Dagys explores some of the storylines from Saturday’s… - More News
