Ham Claims First Career Rolex Series Class Pole in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (March 2, 2007) -- Qualifying for just his fifth career Rolex Series race, Nick Ham placed the No. 70 Mazda/Mazdaspeed RX-8 on the GT class pole position with a class track record lap at 1:28.902 (101.235 mph). In addition to it being Ham's first pole, it was also the first-ever GT pole for the Mazda RX-8, which is competing full-time in the Rolex Series for the first time this year. Ham and SpeedSource team owner/co-driver Sylvain Tremblay head into the Mexico City 400k looking for their first class victories in the series.

"The (No.) 70 SpeedSource Mazda was great in today's qualifying session," Ham said. "We had a track service vehicle come out on track so I knew I had to make my lap count early. The car handled great and I think the RX-8 loves the high altitude here in Mexico. I am excited about the new track record and look forward to the race tomorrow. I think all of the guys at SpeedSource have done a great job and have given us a car very capable of a win"

Starting second in GT will be Leh Keen aboard the No. 85 Shoes for Crews/Recaro Porsche GT3 following a lap at 1:29.217 (100.878 mph). Keen earned his best result of the 2006 season last year at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with a second-place performance and is looking for his second career Rolex Series class victory in the Mexico City 400k. Keen is co-driving with Dominik Farnbacher in the Farnbacher Loles Motorsports machine.

"We had a lot of fun out there," said Keen. "The track is really cool being in the middle of the city. The track has some great turns that can be taken at high speeds. The car is real good we are second and third in qualifying as a team. We will have to chase down the Mazda in the race. It is really, really quick. We will run a smooth race and see if we can get another podium like we did last year."

German racer Dirk Werner made it two Farnbacher Loles machines inside the top-three class positions by putting the No. 87 MarquisJet/Recaro Porsche GT3 third on the grid at 1:29.371 (100.704 mph). Werner and co-driver Bryce Miller are competing full-time in the Rolex Series for the first time this season, and both drivers head into Saturday's race looking for their first class victories.

"The car was good in the qualifying session today," Werner said. "We have a strong car and the whole team is doing a great job. My teammate is performing well and I think we have a great shot at a win."

Starting fourth will be 18-year-old Eric Lux in the No. 74 Rembrandt Charms Porsche GT3 for Tafel Racing with a lap at 1:29.388 (100.685 mph). Lux is co-driving with six-time Rolex Series GT race-winner Wolf Henzler. Defending Mexico City GT winner Kelly Collins rounded out the class top five with a lap at 1:29.584 (100.464 mph) in the No. 07 Banner Engineering Pontiac GXP.R. Collins is co-driving with Paul Edwards, who has won the GT class in both previous Rolex Series events in Mexico City.

http://www.grand-am.com/Content/Photos/News/2007/mc%20gt%20qual%20pic%20lg.jpg
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YEAH a nice start for sure. but well, we all know what's gonna happen to it. it will run into accident just like all the other times.

Please please please tell me Speed is going to be airing this friggin' race.. I soooo wanna see it now.. hehehe..

woooot

4pm ET on Speed
Got the Dish programed to switch to that channel already!

what day?

WOW alright way to go guy's. Congrat's on the POLE!!!!!

what day?

Saturday

woooot

I second that!

its going to be an amazing race!

for those of you that want to chat wile waching the race we have a threat in the race forum

damn i am looking at homes and then going to visit a friend on saturday. is speed replaying it later that night? i will try to watch, the rolex24 was awesome!

Replay Wed 3/7 at noon.

:icon_tup: the "esses" section @ mexico city is long and quick... I wonder if the GXP was having trouble through there. Anyway go SpeedSource!!!

Sweet!

will be going out with friends today...thank god for Tivo....

I'll be TiVOing this. If I can manage it (figure out how) I'll transfer it to the computer and put it somewhere online to download for those of you who can't see it.

45 minutes to Speed TV coverage......Go Speedsource!!!

45 minutes to Speed TV coverage......Go Speedsource!!!

your not the only one counting down the minutes :rock:

I hope they show us the GT cars! If I have to watch an hour of nascar drivers in DP cars for each split second glimse of the 8, I am going to get bored really fast.

not a lot of nascar drivers for this race :cwm27:

GO TO THIS THREAT THIS RACE ITS COOL!!! THE RX-8 ITS BACK IN THE LEAD

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=1764025&posted=1#post1764025

w00t nick ham is still leading GT

not to mention the repetitive Mazda road race ads.

the rx8 will win, sucks for my friend Leh Keen in the 85 car though, think he will finish 2nd

The 8 won.

Yay SpeedSource! Viva La RX8!

They ROCKED IT!

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

1st And 3erd !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAHOOOOOOO.....Good one! 70 and 69 both podium finishes :D:

Stupid job! I missed it. Does anyone know if they are reairing this race?

^^Wednesday I think.....

TIVO or a VCR are your friend!

Wow...just watched the replay on my DVR...22 seconds ahead of the pack! Other drivers in non-Mazda cars stating "the Mazda's gonna be trouble all year" and "Maybe something will happen to the Mazda" in order to give them a chance at beating it.

I love it!

Could you upload those videos on You Tube?. I wanna see!.

Yeah I would love to see this. I can't find any articles about the win.

Wow...just watched the replay on my DVR...22 seconds ahead of the pack! Other drivers in non-Mazda cars stating "the Mazda's gonna be trouble all year" and "Maybe something will happen to the Mazda" in order to give them a chance at beating it.

I love it!


Yeah, It was quite fast at Daytona but the raw power of the 911's gave them an advantage on the high banks. Any course that does not reward pure horsepower the RX8 will be hard ,if not impossible, to beat if it does not break.

Unless I miss my guess, Grand Am is a NASCAR affiliated series. As such, I expect the RX8s will be penalized if they continue to outclass the field. That is, of course, a big if. Regardless, it would be great to see the RX8s race. I don't think they come to the upper midwest. Maybe the cars will be adapted to the ALMS rules, they race at Road America.

i wanna see vids!!!

Yes, videos please.

Unless I miss my guess, Grand Am is a NASCAR affiliated series. As such, I expect the RX8s will be penalized if they continue to outclass the field. That is, of course, a big if. Regardless, it would be great to see the RX8s race. I don't think they come to the upper midwest. Maybe the cars will be adapted to the ALMS rules, they race at Road America.

AFAIK Grand Am is not affiliated with Nascar. If they blow the field away by 22secs every race then they will get rule changes.

Where's the video?. :crying:

congrats speedsource!!!

I fully expect to see both SS Mazda's take podium finishes at Lime Rock Park this year which I plan on attending. May 28th is the date I believe.

Road courses will be their strength this year for sure as they can't compete with the porche's high end power on high banks and long straightaways.

I fully expect to see both SS Mazda's take podium finishes at Lime Rock Park this year which I plan on attending. May 28th is the date I believe.

Road courses will be their strength this year for sure as they can't compete with the porche's high end power on high banks and long straightaways.


Grand Am runs nothing but road courses actually. :)

They ran the rod course at Daytona which includes most of the oval track. They were just under powered for that track and they have to go back again later this year.

Also, on a related note. The Renesis based 20b that powers these cars sounds amazing.

Also, on a related note. The Renesis based 20b that powers these cars sounds amazing.
Actually they are a 13G based 20B with Renesis sprinkles on top. It's not a Renesis and it's not based on one.

its actually isnt renesis based

and GrandAm is owned by NASCAR
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Cheers!

http://www.grand-am.com/Content/Photos/News/2007/gtpodium_lg.gif

Actually they are a 13G based 20B with Renesis sprinkles on top. It's not a Renesis and it's not based on one.

I just read the press release. If its not totally truthful then thats ok.
:o:

http://www.speedsourceinc.com/index.cfm?template=news&news_id=2606

It says based on the street engine. Oh well, you know better than I.

yep it does say renesis based, but that is for advertising, making people believe it is..
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Actually they are a 13G based 20B with Renesis sprinkles on top. It's not a Renesis and it's not based on one.what are these Renesis sprinkles?

Also, on a related note. The Renesis based 20b that powers these cars sounds amazing.

Thats for SURE! IF you get a chance to get out and watch one of these races in person, take it. I was lucky enough to see them at Daytona 24hrs. I was in AWE of the wonderful wide-open wail these RX8s produce. Sent shivers up and down your spine, made your arm-hairs stand on end, brought a smile to the face of young and old alike. Listening to them ramp up onto the throttle going into the Nascar curves was just plain inspiring!

IMHO: The rotaries in the GT race sound like Formula 1 engines being surrounded by farm vehicles. The Porsche 6 cyl and Pontiac/Lexus/??? V8s sound like high performance trucks. Really funny when the Daytona Prototype class engine notes are indistinguishable from the GT Porsches and Pontiacs following them.

what are these Renesis sprinkles?
They have been very vague on the specifics of the engine internally but have hinted that the rotors themselves are "based" off of Renesis rotors. Whatever the hell that means? That doesn't make it a Renesis though. It's the housings and porting configuration that do that.

Anyone have an upload or a Bittorrent for this?

"Really funny when the Daytona Prototype class engine notes are indistinguishable from the GT Porsches and Pontiacs following them."
I could be wrong here but I think the "prototypes" are basically goofy looking bodies on IRL chassis & motor specs. As someone b4 verified, this is a NASCAR series. Low tech, cheap racing. I can see why they would sond like modified street engines. IMHO, in comparison to the "prototypes", the RX8 is major tech. Some years ago Mazda ran an IMSA protoype for 1 year. The shriek was deafening at full tilt & it ran so hot the carbon fiber bodywork would catch fire. I wonder if the current "racing RX8" engine is a derivative of that powerplant. They probably sunk a fortune in that engine & only ran it the 1 year here. I know Mazda took it to Le Mans, I don't recall how they did.

Porsche guys at the Cayman site seemed kind of bent out of shape over a little old RX-8 woop'n their all mighty GT3. LOL.

http://www.caymanclub.net/showthread.php?t=9616

its always nice to see reactions on other forums... but they arent very knowledgable about the series and the types of cars that run in it... comparing the street car to the race car is a really good example... and the price tag too... sigh. but at least the level of maturity on there is pretty high.
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"Really funny when the Daytona Prototype class engine notes are indistinguishable from the GT Porsches and Pontiacs following them."
I could be wrong here but I think the "prototypes" are basically goofy looking bodies on IRL chassis & motor specs. As someone b4 verified, this is a NASCAR series. Low tech, cheap racing. I can see why they would sond like modified street engines. IMHO, in comparison to the "prototypes", the RX8 is major tech. Some years ago Mazda ran an IMSA protoype for 1 year. The shriek was deafening at full tilt & it ran so hot the carbon fiber bodywork would catch fire. I wonder if the current "racing RX8" engine is a derivative of that powerplant. They probably sunk a fortune in that engine & only ran it the 1 year here. I know Mazda took it to Le Mans, I don't recall how they did.

not too sure on DP tech, but they rev pretty low, thats all i know.. 6000ish rpm.. saw on speed channel.

oh and you are talking about the RX792?, if the body work caught on fire...
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Porsche guys at the Cayman site seemed kind of bent out of shape over a little old RX-8 woop'n their all mighty GT3. LOL.

http://www.caymanclub.net/showthread.php?t=9616

HAH that's great.

It is great to hear other brand enthusiasts talk about that race version of the 8. They are very right about the prep 2 vs. prep 1 though.

Speedsource is fully backed by MazdaSpeed and has received mucho $$$$$ for their efforts. Wouldn't you love to have a sponsor behind you that in 18 months and among rule changes halfway through development, was able to come up with the 13G and have it be a reliable racing monster AND race a full schedule this year?!?

That takes a huge effort from engineers and development money. Does it say anything for Mazda and its possible future? Maybe... With Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus and Nissan/Infiniti all re-releasing new versions of their supercars, (NSX, Supra, Skyline) you gotta wonder what Mazda may be thinking with pursuing this 3 rotor development.

Here's hoping...

One of those Porsche guys really likes our cars:
"The RX8 performance is very interesting. I have always been a huge fan of both RX7 and RX8 cars and love the rotary engine. If I could not afford a CS then my choice of drive would be an RX8 for sure. I was amazed by the handling, balance, feedback, and shifter. It felt like a "mini Porsche". Plus the 9000rpm redline on that rotary is just sweet!!"

Porsche guys at the Cayman site seemed kind of bent out of shape over a little old RX-8 woop'n their all mighty GT3. LOL.

http://www.caymanclub.net/showthread.php?t=9616

:nopity: How awfully awful that a car 80K less spank yor ass. Can I shed a tear.... :tear:

Nice find Hachi!

Mazda is entering 2 cars in the LMP2 prototype class in ALMS this year. Last years winners were factory Porches that were run by Penske. New in 2007 will also be a pair of Acuras. They also have a top flight team. The group Mazda chose is not up to the level of Penske & the Acura team so it will be interesting. The Mazda will be a piston engine. If this program is successful, Mazda will likely take another shot at Le Mans.

2 cars???? are you serious?

please post more details in the LMP2 discussion thread in general automotive. thanks
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looks like our babies have learned to beat the big boys at their own game... IM LOVIN IT!

to get off topic a bit, i saw a race on Speed last night back at daytona that had a whole bunch of mustangs, porches, acuras and some 8's what race and type of race was that? Were the car completely stock (some what?)

those cars are stock.. well with race modifications, like a rollcage, etc, the RX-8 even run on stock brakes, not pads. The renesis in the RX-8 is stock with tuning, it makes 260hp!

its under the Grand-Am series as well, Koni challenge, the RX-8 runs in the ST class, porches are GS.
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thanks renesis, do you know what the results were for the race?

here, check the grand-am site

http://www.grand-am.com/Home.asp
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Mazda is entering 2 cars in the LMP2 prototype class in ALMS this year. Last years winners were factory Porches that were run by Penske. New in 2007 will also be a pair of Acuras. They also have a top flight team. The group Mazda chose is not up to the level of Penske & the Acura team so it will be interesting. The Mazda will be a piston engine. If this program is successful, Mazda will likely take another shot at Le Mans.

nope, only one car, the lola/mazda #08

"nope, only one car, the lola/mazda #08"
I saw that today. Autoweek has a nice article about the contenders in ALMS for this season. It would be quite an upset if the Mazda won a single race. Tough competition in LMP2 this year.

it probably wont happen, eh, the porsches are super fast. they'll take some time to figure out the new car bugs, and the drivers they have are not as good as other teams... odds are against them. they do have the newest chassis out there.... i found out the Acura is running on the 06 version, we have the 07... thats about it.
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Nice find. I love reading about Mazda's race efforts on other forums.

I guess is a bitorrent file of the race, or youtube highlights still out of the question?
:fingersx:

just watch the Sebring 12hrs this weekend, and the homestead race next weekend =)
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Bern, or anyone that has info on the IMSA light mazda please let me know