PALMETTO, FL (January 2, 2013) – The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires has contracted the services of SpeedSource Race Engineering as the Official Engine Builder and Technical Consultant of the newly formed Mazda Road to Indy series which fills the opening vacated by Star Mazda. The Coral Springs, Fla., company will begin the remanufacturing of all Mazda Renesis rotary engines currently used in the championship to 2013 specifications and also provide internal modifications to ensure parity between engines and greater longevity of a season or more.
In addition to a long and notable history of racing under the Mazda banner, SpeedSource is the exclusive engine supplier of rotary engines to Mazda-powered GRAND-AM Rolex GT teams and is currently developing the Mazda SKYACTIV-D compound turbo diesel motorsports engine for the 2013 GRAND-AM GX class. Founded and led by accomplished driver and team owner Sylvain Tremblay in 1995 to provide full-service race services and custom components to club level and professional drivers, the company operates out of a 50,000 square foot facility that houses both development and racing applications.
"I am very pleased to add SpeedSource to our list of high-quality partners," said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter. "Although I have not had prior dealings with SpeedSource, it is clear to me that they not only have an impressive resume and reputation but also have put together a great new Pro Mazda engine program. I am very confident that this will result in a better championship for our competing teams."
SpeedSource will begin the remanufacturing process on Pro Mazda engines this month. The program will be fully implemented by May 1. Prior to this date, competitors will have the option of using either SpeedSource engines or prior specification engines built and sealed by the former Star Mazda Series with SpeedSource mapping to ensure parity. All cars entered after May 1 and any one-off entries which have not been through the SpeedSource process will undergo a rev limiter adjustment to offset any disparity.
"We are very proud to have been chosen as the engine supplier for the Pro Mazda Series," said Tremblay. "The series itself has a great standing and we look forward to continuing the fantastic reputation of Mazda's Renesis rotary engine. Andersen Promotions has been great to work with and it is easy to see why they are the primary resource for Mazda's ladder program."
The Mazda Renesis rotary engine used in Pro Mazda is capable of producing 260 horsepower – providing an additional 90 horsepower over the Mazda MZR powerplant utilized in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy. The internationally award-winning engine also powers the Mazda RX-8 passenger car.
"With years of Mazda racing experience and specifically rotary engine experience on their resume, SpeedSource Race Engineering was the logical choice to serve as the new engine builders for the Pro Mazda Championship," said John Doonan, Director Mazda Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations. "They have put Mazda rotary engines to the ultimate tests in endurance racing and have hundreds of victories to show for it, including two Rolex 24 victories in the last five years. Mazda has every confidence that the work SpeedSource does for the Pro Mazda Championship will provide reliable engines that have a performance window that will continue the great, close racing that this series has been known for throughout its history."
A schedule for the 2013 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires will be announced in the near future. Additional information can be found at www.promazdachampionship.com.
About SpeedSource: SpeedSource has a long dedicated history of racing under the Mazda banner. In 2004, SpeedSource launched the all-new Mazda RX-8 in Street Tuner class racing and captured the manufacturers' championship. Since then, SpeedSource has gone on to claim the GT Class win in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona in both 2008 and 2010. As the primary constructor for the GRAND-AM Rolex GT RX-8, SpeedSource led a field of Mazda products in capturing the 2010 Manufacturers championship. Since the program's inception, SpeedSource has been the exclusive supplier of rotary engines to Mazda GRAND-AM Rolex GT teams. SpeedSource's latest project has been the development of the Mazda SKYACTIV-D compound turbo diesel motorsports engine for use in GRAND-AM's GX class in 2013.
Located in Coral Springs, FL, northwest of Ft. Lauderdale, SpeedSource operates out of a purpose-built 50,000 square foot facility that houses both development and racing applications. SpeedSource owns a vast array of specialty equipment dedicated to motorsports development. The company possesses a full fabrication and welding shop capable of constructing tube frame cars. Visit www.speedsource.com.