Mazda RX-8 Sets New Benchmark for Rotary Endurance
 

Mazda RX-8 Sets New Benchmark for Rotary Endurance

From www.edmunds.com
Date Posted 10-03-2005

PAPENBURG, Germany — Mazda's RX-8 coupe has set 40 international speed and endurance records for rotary-engine cars at a German test track.

The records were set during a 24-hour period on the 12.3-kilometer oval at the automotive proving grounds in Papenburg with two 231-horsepower Mazda RX-8s. Twenty records were set in the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Category A (special vehicles) and 20 in the FIA Category B (mass-production vehicles). The two sports cars, one in racing trim and one a standard production vehicle, covered more than 3,000 miles during the record attempt, which has been certified by the FIA.

The RX-8s averaged 132.25 mph (production) and 134.18 mph (race trim) over the 24-hour endurance trial. Both vehicles shattered a record previously held by the 700-horsepower Mazda 787B racecar, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race at an average speed of 127.46 mph in 1991.

What this means to you: Mazda has persevered with the rotary engine concept — and exercises such as this prove reliability problems are a thing of the past.

Sweet.

now, if only the transmission didnt clunk when its cold

^^Try a different fluid?

Wow. Impressive stuff. Stock engines, too (even in the racing trim car)!!!

Here's the link to the article:

http://media.ford.com/newsroom/featu...?release=19107

SHORT LINK

shows that the 8 is good for at least 3000 miles.

It shows that it can hold high rpm's for that length of time and be mechanically stable. Very good job Mazda!

awsome, but isnt this a repost?

Yup, in fact this news is almost a year old. https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-media-news-11/two-mazda-rx-8s-drive-24-hours-full-throttle-40-records-broken-41846/

But how hot were the drinks in the cup holders? Huh? What about that?