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Mazda6 MPS (MS6) IN Targa Tassie Rally

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Old 04-28-2006, 07:03 PM
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Mazda6 MPS (MS6) IN Targa Tassie Rally

A WORLD FIRST FOR MAZDA6 MPS COMPETES IN TARGA TASMANIA RALLY

In an exciting development for motor racing across the world, Mazda Australia will run the all new Mazda6 MPS in the 2006 Targa Tasmania Rally which starts tomorrow.

This will be the first time that the Mazda6 MPS will be entered in a motor race of any kind anywhere in the world.

Mazda Motorsport Manager, Allan Horsley said "Obviously we are very excited that Targa Tasmania will be the first race that this car will be tested. We have a strong history at Targa and this is a superb car, so we are hoping for great things.

"The Mazda6 MPS is perfectly suited to Tasmania’s conditions. Ultimately, we are hoping to get a bit of rain and snow, which is fairly standard at this time of year, as the all-wheel drive capabilities and 2.3 litre DISI turbocharged engine will come into their own in adverse weather."

Completing the Prologue in a time of 3.12.59 minutes at the event today in Georgetown means that Mazda will start 51st for the first leg of the 15th Annual Rally tomorrow. Mazda Australia will enter the vehicle in the standard car category

Mazda6 MPS driver and MOTOR magazine Deputy Editor, Dean Evans said that he was very pleased with the result, "We are very happy with how we finished today. The car ran perfectly and we are delighted with the strength it has already demonstrated. To finish 51st today puts us in a really good position on the field, particularly in the standard car category, so we are thrilled."

As well as Mazda Australia entering the Mazda6 MPS, there will also be a number of other driver’s entering Mazda vehicles in Targa, three of whom will be joining Evans and his navigator in the team section.

Television personality, Glenn Ridge will be racing his prized 1996 RX-7 with navigator Bob Edwards. Rick Shaw, who finished 8th last year in his debut run, will be racing a 1997 RX-7 with navigator James Parish. While racing stalwart Barry Faux will drive his 1979 RX-7 with Ray Pollard navigating. All drivers have entered Targa in previous years and have considerable experience and success between them.

Evans and Drake have joined with Ridge/Edwards, Shaw/Parish and Faux/Pollard to form Team Mazda and will enter in the team award category.

Evans and Drake will now be competing for Mazda Australia on an individual basis as well as for Team Mazda.

From Mazda Australia
Old 04-28-2006, 07:07 PM
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Day 1

Mazda commenced their upward climb from 51st position to finish day one of Targa Tasmania in equal 39th place, leading its class.

Completing seven stages unscathed driver Dean Evans and navigator Lyndall Drake were very happy with the progress they made. "It felt really good today, we drove at a moderate enough speed that we could turn up or down," Evans said.

"I was trying to ensure we drove the tyres on it, not off it!" Evans joked, "Like everyone we are trying to conserve the tyres and so far our strategy is working."

Competition geared up after lunch on stage four of the Matthew Flinders Loop. "Stage four was the first opportunity that I really had to settle into the rhythm of Targa. The car is really easy to drive and after every stage I am feeling more comfortable racing it," Evans said.

It was on the last turn of the eighth stage that the Mazda6 MPS came unstuck. Evans and Drake finished the course to discover oil spewing out from under the car. On first inspection Mazda Motorsport Manager Allan Horsley thought they had cracked the gear box.

"Initially we were very concerned. It would have been a major problem to fix, especially this early in the race," Allan Horsley explained.

The Mazda6 MPS was jacked up and mechanics were quick to find the cause of the oil leak. The oil filler plug had become dislodged on the last turn, causing oil to spill out from its container. The plug was found in fact floating with the oil.

"That’s the kind of luck we are looking for," Evans said. "We were able to get through every turn of every stage. It was only on the last turn in the last stage that we had a problem and after a bit of panic, it was easy to fix."

All four Mazda team cars finished the day advancing in their respective classes.

Day One finished well for the Mazda6 MPS team. "Dean and Lyndall are doing very well. We are exactly where we want to be and we will continue pushing forward with this momentum tomorrow," Horsley stated.

The Targa Tasmania field will be re-started tomorrow from the Launceston Silverdome and will head down the East Coast of Tasmania via nine competitive stages for what, in 2006, is known as the Captain Nicolas Baudin Eastern Trundle comprising 73.89 competitive kilometres.
Attached Thumbnails Mazda6 MPS (MS6) IN Targa Tassie Rally-mps-targa.gif  
Old 04-28-2006, 07:11 PM
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Day 2

The MOTOR Magazine Mazda6 MPS powered through day two of Targa Tasmania finishing as the leading vehicle in all production car categories and 33rd overall.

"Dean’s driving superbly. He is looking after the tyres, which is critical at this stage in the race. There were no issues throughout the day unlike many of our competitors who struggled on a number of turns," Mazda Motorsport Manager Allan Horsley surmised.

"I was really happy with how today panned out. The first stage was quite slippery and the MPS loved it. A number of cars lost it on the greasy bends, but we clung to the road nicely," Dean Evans said.

The Mazda passed many cars throughout the day to significantly improve its position. "Anytime you pass another car on a stage you have to be happy!" Evans exclaimed.

Other members of Team Mazda also progressed their positions with Barry Faux moving up four places in the classic category, "The RX-7 has superb handling. We spent the day chipping away at the high horse power V8s that we are competing against," Faux explained.

Rick Shaw, also racing an RX-7, had another strong day and is now leading his category.

Tomorrow’s stage will prove to be quite challenging through Cygnet and Huonville. The Mazda6 MPS will compete in eight stages for a total number of 60 kilometres. Significantly, while Targa is nearly half way through, the drivers have not even completed half the amount of competitive kilometres.

"Tomorrow is historically the most mechanically difficult day at Targa. Many cars suffer significant setbacks through the stages in southern Hobart. Tomorrow we want to maintain our position and conserve our tyres," said Horsley.
Attached Thumbnails Mazda6 MPS (MS6) IN Targa Tassie Rally-mps-targa_2.jpg  
Old 04-28-2006, 07:14 PM
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Day 3

Day three of Targa Tasmania 2006 sees the Mazda6 MPS improve on its strong position finishing 32nd overall and as the leading vehicle in all production car categories.

Astonishingly, the MPS is storming the field of rally-developed production cars including Mitsubishi’s Evo and Subaru’s WRX.

Historically known as a challenging day, day three’s Southern Loop included the difficult 9.9 km Cygnet stage. The MOTOR Magazine Mazda6 MPS finished all stages without incident, in stark contrast to many other cars that struggled with the course.

"I was really happy with today. We pushed harder but we’re more comfortable. There were no mechanical problems with the MPS and it was satisfying to get through the difficult stages where lots of others went off," driver Dean Evans said.

"We’re not really making haste while the sun shines, but we’re holding pace and still hoping for rain. I’m focussing on preserving the tyres and the car for the final two days.

"I’ve been training for Targa since January, so I’m looking forward to the longer stages that need some endurance."

A number of competitors suffered serious mechanical blows, a fact not lost on Mazda Motorsport Manager, Allan Horsley. "We were very happy to get through today without any mechanical issues. The car is coping remarkably well and now we are just hoping for rain.

"To be ahead of so many high-end performance cars at this point in the race is very satisfying. The Mazda6 MPS loves the layout of Targa and Dean is doing an excellent job."
Old 04-28-2006, 07:32 PM
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Link to the official Targa Tasmania Rally

http://www.targa.org.au/Targa/index.php

Interesting to see that the MPS 6 or Mazdaspeed 6 is leading the Subaru WRX's and Evo's
Where are you Ike!

Who and where are those that talked about the Mazdaspeed 6's poor reliability.

Last edited by ASH8; 04-28-2006 at 07:35 PM.
Old 04-29-2006, 01:03 PM
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That's awesome, nice info
Old 04-29-2006, 02:51 PM
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Day 4

MAZDA DISAPPOINTED WITH FUEL HICCUP
29-APRIL-2006

The MOTOR Magazine Mazda6 MPS set a cracking speed in the trying stages on day four of Targa Tasmania 2006, but came unstuck on the final stage of the day.

While finishing a disappointing 56 overall, day four had a number of highlights including finishing 33rd on the demanding 37-kilometre long Cethana stage, which claimed a number of cars.

"I had a glance at the speedo on Cethana and saw 220 km/h, and we passed two cars," driver Dean Evans said. "Our pace stepped up a level today. The car’s in one piece and we’ve still got good tread on the tyres, which is great with tomorrow’s forecast for rain."

"The car was traveling really well. The tyres are holding up to the challenge, but we need rain. Every time the officials force us to change a tyre we lose two minutes, in order to save time and the tyres we really want rain," Mazda motorsport manager Allan Horsley said.

The difficulties came for Mazda on the final stage of the day, Natone. Despite refueling before the stage, the team underestimated the amount of fuel that the MPS would require for such high altitude and steep hills. The MPS stalled one kilometre from the summit of the final hill. After waiting a few moments for the fuel to settle, Evans was able to coax the car onto flatter ground where it re-started and was able to finish the stage.

"It was a little surprising and a bit gut wrenching, five kms from the end of the leg, given the rest of the day went so well," Evans surmised.

Until the final stage at Natone the Mazda6 MPS was sitting in 29th position which was an improvement of 3 places from the previous day’s results.

"We are obviously disappointed with how today finished. Until the final five kms we were traveling very well and making fantastic time. Hopefully today won’t impact us too greatly and we can win back the time tomorrow," Horsley said.

Day four did not begin well for many competitors with a number of crashes and a driver losing control on the first stage and injuring spectators.

Tomorrow is the fifth and final day of Targa Tasmania. "At the end of the day, we’re just hoping for rain. In wet weather, the MPS will shine where others fail and that will set us ahead of the rest," Horsley said.
Old 04-29-2006, 03:05 PM
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With only one day to go, Today Sunday...
Pray for RAIN.....in Tasmania.

Some how I don't think rain will occur as todays forecast in my state is rain from the West, Melbourne and Tasmania usually get the same weather the next day, yesterday here was fine and relatively sunny, so this would be the weather in Tassie on the final Targa day.

The MPS / Mazdaspeed 6 has put on a great performance so far.

Allan Horsley is a master in the preparation of any Mazda for all Motorsport events and his special projects, with great strategic skills to plan out any event or race.
Old 04-29-2006, 04:56 PM
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I'm excited just reading all this. I wish I could be there to see this in person. GO MAZDA!!!
Old 04-30-2006, 04:28 PM
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Day 5 Final

Wet weather on the final day of competition at the 2006 Targa Tasmania Rally was enthusiastically welcomed by Team Mazda and the MOTOR Magazine Mazda6 MPS.

"We are delighted with how the car performed today. The all-wheel drive system on the Mazda6 MPS stood up to very challenging conditions where other two-wheel drive vehicles suffered," Mazda motorsport manager Allan Horsley said.

Driver Dean Evans, from MOTOR Magazine, maintained a fast pace throughout the day and excelled in the afternoon where wet and foggy conditions prevailed.

The Mazda6 MPS was only involved in one incident during the infamously dangerous final day of Targa. The rear right bumper was damaged during the Tarraleah stage. As there was no serious mechanical damage sustained from the incident the MPS was able to continue competing.

Day five provided perfect conditions for the Mazda6 MPS and gave Team Mazda the opportunity to recover from its setback on the previous day.

Final results from the 2006 Targa Tasmania Rally will be known later tonight. A Mazda press release will be posted at that time.
Old 04-30-2006, 04:33 PM
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RESULTS...1ST in Production Class...40TH Overall!!

The MOTOR Magazine Mazda6 MPS thrilled and surprised its Mazda team by finishing day five of Targa Tasmania 2006 in 40th position overall and first in its production car class.

In a remarkable recovery from its disappointing day four, the Mazda6 MPS excelled in wet and challenging conditions to beat other high performance vehicles including Mitsubishi Evolutions, Subaru WRXs and the Porsche GT3s.

"Dean Evans and Lyndall Drake, our driver and navigator, did an incredible job. Dean handled the car superbly and we are thrilled with where we finished," Mazda motorsport manager Allan Horsley said.

The Mazda6 MPS improved its position by 16 spots from yesterday, a result even Mazda did not anticipate. "We knew we did well today, however the final result was outstanding!" Horsley exclaimed.

MOTOR Magazine deputy editor and Mazda6 MPS driver Dean Evans was very happy with the day. "The rally stages at Strahan and Mt Arrowsmith really lived up to their reputations. They are very long, twisty and dangerous stages made more complex by the rain and fog. The MPS loved the wet conditions," Evans said.

The event highlight for Evans was placing 22nd outright on the daunting Mt Arrowsmith stage. "A bunch of cars crashed throughout the tough stage, so it was fantastic to complete the stage and to finish so well," said Evans.

The only setback Mazda experienced during the day occurred on the Tarraleah stage. The rear bumper was damaged while rounding a slippery turn, where others crashed out. There was no mechanical damage sustained from the incident so the MPS had no trouble continuing.

"Dean was able to save the tyres, conserve the engine and come out almost unscathed is a credit to his driving skill," Horsley said.

This was the first year both Dean and the Mazda6 MPS competed in Targa Tasmania. "It was a stunning result for Mazda and we are very proud of the car’s performance. Dean, Allan and the team did a great job, especially given this was the global debut for the Mazda6 MPS on the motor racing circuit," Mazda managing director Doug Dickson said.
Old 04-30-2006, 04:42 PM
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What a Fantastic result for the Mazdaspeed 6 ...aka...Mazda 6 MPS..
For a 5 day event through some of the most challenging road conditions the Mazda boys and their car did a smooth job.

To win the production car class over "rally proven" makes like the Evo's, WRX's Porsche GT3's show the reliability and performance of this car...perhaps the knockers be silenced.

So, where are they.....
Old 04-30-2006, 07:01 PM
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I'm still trying to find another car that was in the class that Mazda won...
Old 04-30-2006, 07:05 PM
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i think it was another ms6 haha.
Old 04-30-2006, 07:31 PM
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Nope, just found it, the MPS was the only entry in its class.
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