2013 Rolex 24hr testing
 

This is a clip from yesterday at Daytona of some of the DP and GT cars entering the garage area. You will see an RX-8 @11secs. Glad to see it confirmed. No sight of the Speedsource 6, however.

Here's the Speedsource 6. Notice how quiet!

the one and only rx8 in the field , mazda is fielding 3 diesel cars in the new GX Series
#78 Team: Racers Edge Motorsports
Country / Driver/s : Mexico Rudy Camarillo
Mexico Martín Fuentes
Mexico Carlos Peralta
Mexico Ricardo Pérez de Lara
Make / Model Mazda RX-8
Engine Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor

I hope some of this tech trickles down to a new MazdaSpeed6. AWD, diesel, and a 6 speed would win me over.

i hate the new speedsource car..

im 110% butthurt about them getting rid of the rx8, and the new car looks like its a limo... its SO LONG.

win or not--it justs does not do it for me. Maybe it will grow on me?

It will beat them with MPG....

Never seen the Speedsource 6 in action yet, but we will see...

No one has.

I understand they have some type of engine problems?

Looks like speedsource has their hands full...this quote kinda sez it all....

 “I wish it was three months to go for the race, but we’re here and dealing with it. We had some bad luck with our first engine, but the second one is fine. We have some new car stuff here and there, but the chassis is fine. We’ve got only minutes with this car – literally – and we still have a lot of learning to do.” Sylvain Tremblay, No. 70 Mazdaspeed/SpeedSource MAZDA6

Not good imo. Yellow dragon and Freedom 6's never tested either.

Pic and writeup on the #78 Racers Edge rx8....Timeline Photos | Facebook

I look at the Mazda 6 race car, and all I can think is that it should be in NASCAR instead.
At least there, it will be racing against other huge 4 door cars that started with a FWD platform, and made a RWD race car out of it.

Not to mention the massive amount of exposure and sales it would pick up from that race series instead.

BC.

According to this article, Racers Edge plans to run the #78 all season...More Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona Driver Line-Ups Confirmed :icon_tup::icon_tup:

Though it's not a whole lot different than the story of the early versions of what became the 767b.

First years of a new technology are often difficult.

:fingersx:

Pulling for Racer's Edge to win. Last gasp of hearing the scream of the rotary at GrandAm.

I hear ya man...;)

Is it just me,??
but every pic or vid I have seen of the Speedsource guys, the body language does not look good..they almost look bored and defeated/deflated.

Unfortunately I think you have a keen eye for the body language. Hopefully things change for them soon.

Paul.

I hate to ask, but did the Speedsource guys have anyone on their staff with diesel racing experience, at all? Maybe someone from one of the Audi teams, as a consultant?

I can't imagine having to learn a whole new engine technology in the time frame they've had to, and apply it to racing, when the primary race engine they had been developing before was as different as it was. That would be the equivalent of my learning Italian while on a plane headed to Bologna, Italy.

What do you think are their chances of cutting their losses, and packing in the season if they don't see any positive results after a couple of races? I doubt they would want to go through the season with several DNS, DNF's, or wind up being far off the pace in every race...

BC.

They hired some new engine staff and have been working with more than one group for development and consultation on the project including a major company I am not at liberty to discuss (It might be public knowledge on their site but a big company doing this stuff forever).

It is my belief that SpeedSource are a team dedicated to winning and I don't believe that many obstacles will be viewed as insurmountable to them. Let's not pass judgement as yet :fingersx:

Paul.

Exactly what I thought...I don't like any of this at all.

Too much of a rush...trying to have track success before the SA-D launch in 6 months.

You can not prepare an all new race car with an engine never race before and expect it all to be perfect, motor sport does not work that way...as we know.

However IMO, for Speedsource to 'blame' Mazda is just lame and very unprofessional...blame yourselves for agreeing to take on ''the contract'' to 'stay' in business.

As I said...too much of a rush to get ready.

So they blew up the first Engine..and had to wait for another from Japan, well all this happens when the cars they are sold in are not even available in the USA!...not even made yet.

Paul, the 'major company' is already out there...''in engine management systems''.


BTW...
BC is right on the money...
If it is not ready...DO NOT RACE....DNF's would be a disaster for the new model.
Plus it is obvious Mazda (Japan) are waiting to sort out the SA-D issues we are having in Australia/Europe.
Hopefully not related to Racing SA-D's, which I don't think has a DPF.

I remember the news conference mentioning that Speedsource got the first 5 engines off the line, so I don't think they would have had to wait for a 2nd?

Agreed that more testing would have been better, though given how Ferrari did last season, it's not a strict rule that first season cars will be hard pressed to win.

I expect many are seeing the 24hrs to be a massive testing session, with a chance at winning.

Here in Eu DPF is mandatory for race cars. black smoke not allowed.

my 2 cents that this car have DPF. there is also written "clean diesel", huge black smoke during acceleration is not "clean".

problems of DPF's are not fully resolvable, you can just reduce it.

(IMHO)

Yeah, I agree, but I did not recall see the DPF in Speedsource engine pics, perhaps I was blinded by the HUGE TURBO!..:)

Perhaps they are having oil level rising problems..??

Cold where you are Matt, bloody hot here M8..they are talking 50C next week!!

:D: nope..they have done 8 or 10 laps....oil level can't be increased....and a reset of computer and oil change will solve all.

"engine blown" is the right answer IMHO :D: remember my old post : "+400 hp 2.2 diesel is NOT an easy task to do." ;)

i've see on tv a lot of fire in New South wales, are you living there?

here in Italy is not so cold in these days ,always over 0°C also here at North. ;)