Mazda SKYACTIV-D diesel engine CLEAN for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2013
Mazda Motorsports announced today that it will offer competition versions of its new diesel engine SKYACTIV-D CLEAN the teams in one of the greatest endurance races in the world - the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the category Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2). This engine program special Le Mans will debut at the 2013 edition of the competition. Mazda was the first - and remains today the only - Asian manufacturer to have won a victory at Le Mans in 1991.
"That revives our love affair with Le Mans, has said Jay Amestoy, vice president of Mazda Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). We entered history in 1991, winning the ordeal with the technology of rotary engine. Today we wish to return to the bosom of the winners with, we believe, the most sophisticated engine series and cleanest of all time. This return will be in the purest style Mazda with engines available for sale to the current European and American customers in LMP2, both in the World Endurance Championship FIA in American Le Mans Series (ALMS ). "
These engines are developed jointly by Mazda Motor Corporation, Mazda North American Operations and SpeedSource Race Engineering. Work has already started on the bench and road tests should begin in late 2012.
These engines are derivatives of the famous four-cylinder diesel unit SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter twin turbocharging Mazda. According to John Doonan, Director of Mazda Motorsports, MNAO these "engines provide the doubled performance and consumption of exceptional quality, the durability and reliability required to produce exceptional road vehicles and win endurance races. "
Masahiro Moro, Executive Officer in charge of sales and marketing of Mazda Motor Corporation, for its part stated: "The culture of Mazda is that of constant challenge and it is in this spirit that we ran eighteen times Mans, until our victory in 1991. Indeed, this spirit has laid the foundations of SKYACTIV technologies. These technologies result of a number of revolutionary advances. I am happy to see us sustain competitors who engage in the great challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans by offering competition engines derived from our SKYACTIV-D CLEAN engine. "
Dempsey Racing should be the first official customer SKYACTIV-D engine
Dempsey Racing in the preparations continue to be the first customer engine Mazda SKYACTIV-D competition in the LMP2 category. Dempsey Racing stables is partly owned by the driver / actor Patrick Dempsey.
Dempsey Racing short on Mazda RX-8 in the GRAND-AM GT category since 2007 and in particular on the podium at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2011. The team has constantly improve its performance on the track since his arrival in the series, and has largely contributed to the victory of Mazda in the constructors championship GRAND AM GT 2010. With the support of various partners, the Like VISITFLORIDA.com, Dempsey Racing has developed its activities this year by aligning a team to the American Le Mans Series, and runs in the categories Prototype Challenge (LMPC) and Prototype 2 (LMP2) as a preparation at Le Mans. In fact, the two owners of the team, Dempsey and his co-driver Joe Foster, are currently testing their LMP2 car in Virginia while the whole world is braques eyes on the 80th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans s' place this weekend.
Patrick Dempsey and his "business partner" / co-driver Joe Foster have both participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as drivers in the GT category, and are looking forward to their return in 2013, this time in the LMP2 category and strong Diesel engine Mazda SKYACTIV-D CLEAN.
Patrick Dempsey stated in this connection. "Our partnership with Mazda is fantastic and we are delighted to prepare all future success for 2013 We are concentrated on the preparation of our LMP2 in the United States as we participate in the American Le Mans Series . Our team and our partners are eager to be associated with SKYACTIV-D technology and avant-garde values and respect for the environment that are associated him. "
Source: Mazda France
