Rx8 and Grand- Am racing
 

Maybe this is a dumb question but I don't know the rules about homologation in Grand am racing. With production of the RX8 ending this year, Will they be forced out of competition for next season?

it's not a dumb question, but why start a new thread rather than tack it onto an existing Grand Am thread?

Grand Touring General Class Regulations ("GT-GCR")
1-1.3 Are current productions models or no older than 3 years after the end of production.
http://www.grand-am.com/competition/

Since production ended in 2011, they are eligible to race until 2014. However Mazda has cut back on their support ($) in Grand-Am GT because the cars are now out of production. And, RX8 teams are moving to other platforms. They may be eligible to race, but that doesn't mean that GA will feel compelled to allow them to be competitive.

What will SpeedSource do with themselves? I suppose they will no longer be racing in Grand-Am.

I don't see SpeedSource floating to another brand like other teams have done.

Agreed in that no way they shut down esp after the decent amount of success they've had. Disagree in that I can see them moving on to another Mazda product (if its competitive) or another brand all together for certain. Beats shutting down the shop...

I'm wondering more about SpeedSource than the other RX-8 teams because they are experts in rotary engine tuning.

It won't be a rotary engine... From a reliable source!!!

This is just the thread I was looking for. During the race last weekend, one of the commentators said something along the lines that Mazda's engine package will be something entirely new and different next year.

The writing on the wall quite plainly says that it's not a rotary, so my best guess is that it will be a Skyactiv branded engine. Because the RX8 body is built onto a tube frame, they can probably change it without much trouble. I'm not sure which body they would use. I guess, like somebody said earlier, they could keep using the RX8 body for a few more years. After all, that's how long it will take to sell the remaining RX8s. :) J/K!

The RX8 body is only eligible for one more year. However, if it isn't powered by a rotary engine, I will have ZERO interest.

^^^ yup. me too. no rotary no interest.

This is the problem with many rotary enthusiasts. They don't love Mazda. They love rotaries - an engine that is mostly subsidised by all of those Mazda3's you see out on the road.

It's like you have a best friend with a trampoline in his back yard, but if he gets rid of the trampoline, you don't have any use for him. Realise that this relationship is reciprocal. Mazda needs you exactly as much as you need Mazda. This corporation is in dire financial straits right now. If you want to see another rotary one day, go out and buy a brand new Mazda CX5!

Note: I'm aware that there are a lot of folks like me whom have bought a number of new Mazdas. I'm not talking to you.

Oh, and just to make a token gesture toward keeping on topic. Go Mazda in all forms of racing! I'll root for you no matter what freakin' engine is under the hood!

Heh, I bet I almost made you forget that I have the string "350z" in my userid, huh? :)

Yes, I love the uniqueness of the rotary engine. The engineering marvel that Mazda brings us. The other models that they sell are white bread. Hardly distinguishable from the other auto manufactures out there.
For 20 yrs, Mazda only produced cars with rotary engines. I believe the RX series of cars is what subsidized the Mazda 3 that your fond of.

You do realize you're on a rotary enthusiast forum right? What kind of response did you expect to get?

And seeing as grand am RX-8s are completely purpose built tube frame chassis race cars, They really have nothing in common with our cars except for the design of the engine. If you take that away, what are you left with? Its not like Mazda is sending the race teams OEM parts.
That statement is false. Or at least over exaggerated. And a lot of rumor. Its been proven before with export number facts. But thats for another thread.

Back on topic...

Here's a hint.... 4cyl turbo diesel!!!

I am a RACE fan and Grand-AM is the best road racing in the US IMHO.

I heard an interview with Sylvain Tremblay yesterday and he mentioned they are building their next Mazda racer for 2013. So... the only thing we know is that there will be Mazdas in Grand-Am for 2013.

I'm a Mazda fan because even their daily drivers are more fun to drive than other cars in their class (and also because they're such big supporters of road racing). Having said that, I will be less interested in Rolex Grand-Am without an RX-8 bodied, rotary powered car (even if it is just a tube-frame car with a 20b engine). I will still be interested in a Mazda, just not as much as the current RX-8s.

I could see Speedsource moving up to DP with a Skyactiv 2.0 Turbo...the Lola chassis in ALMS has proved very well for Dyson. I don't see why Mazda wouldn't support a Lola type platform in Grand-Am...

Unless SKYACTIV incorporates alien technology, I can't see the I4 2.0l turbo being competitive against other DP approved engines.

Well, since the engines are all basically spec'd out power level wise, I don't see how hard it would be. Just run more boost; the other engines have RPM restrictions.

It's kind of a loose, loose situation in my opinion. If they can make the new platform a winner, we will never see another rotary built ever. If they don't succeed, nobody will take them seriously agan, even if they bring back the rotary. Kind of depressing...

How could that be if the production of RX-8 ended in February 2012 in Japan?

If the rotary is out, I will lose all focus on grand am. I have owned a FD and my RX8, but I owned these cars because of the rotary. I also have a sachs 303 powered snowmobile, a Aixro xr50 powered kart, owned a '94 ford ranger with a 13b and I am building a 67 Austin 1100 with rew power. I will not buy a piston mazda. I'd rather not have a piston powered car for that matter. Even my Honda ITR is a pain in the butt I'd like to kick for another rotary, probably an sa/fb.

The fact is that Mazda is still advertising the rotor as their difference, their soul. Without it they are just another lame duck in the sea of plain consumer cars.

Looks like I'll be attending more NASA Road Racing series races in the future.

*I will be cheering on the Rotary powered cars next weekend on Belle Isle. :)

The piston mazda's are what bring in the money so we can have our Rotary beasts, In other words sell your friends on the speed3's CX-5/9's and so on so we can have funding for the next RX-9 or whatever they have planned next!

I think Sylvain has built a strong bond with Mazda but I do remember a time when they were racing and building Porsches.

I know nothing however and I do hope they stay with the brand. I've been around Mazda long enought to see the rotary come and go. Wouldn't suprise me to see that happen again.