Mazda 3 rotor ALMS at Road Atlanta this weekend update
04-14-05, 07:05 AM
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Mazda 3 rotor ALMS at Road Atlanta this weekend update
from ALMS news...
The roaring sounds of the engines in the American Le Mans Series' prototype classes vary from a low, loud rumble to a relatively quiet hum. But the volume is about to pick up as the Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta nears.
Round 2 of the ALMS' 2005 schedule features Mazda's celebrated return to North American road racing in the No. 8 B-K Motorsports Sportsbook.com Courage, powered by the Japanese giant's famed Rotary engine. Guy Cosmo and Jamie Bach will drive the entry at Road Atlanta and the rest of the ALMS' races in 2005. Both have extensive road-racing experience in Mazdas.
The Rotary engine technology is a unique technology that is known only to Mazda, said John Doonan, director of marketing and public relations for the No. 8 Sportsbook.com Mazda Courage. Mazda won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991, the only Japanese manufacturer to do so.
"It's the efficiency of the motor as it relates to endurance racing," Doonan said. "When Mazda won at Le Mans, it was because we were efficient and lasted longer. That's the whole point."
The high-pitched whine of the Rotary engine is unmistakable, the most obvious characteristic that will set it apart from other motors at Road Atlanta. "It'll be a pretty good sound to hear again," Bach said. "It's a lot smaller version of a more powerful engine. You can mount it a lot lower, there are lot less moving parts to go wrong and it's a lot more superior, I think."
During the last couple of weeks, Cosmo was involved in a shakedown of the car in France. It hit the Road Atlanta surface for the first time in an open test session Wednesday. Both Cosmo and Bach had turns in the car, which exceeded Cosmo's imagination.
"It was the first chance I had to open it up. It is absolutely awesome," said Cosmo, who said he turned laps in the low 1:20s. "It's hands down the most fun I've ever had in a race car. I didn't really get that much of an indication in France with the circumstances and the time we had. This car is so well mannered and it really, really inspires us. It just tells you, 'Hey drive me hard. This is fun.' I was looking at this as being tentative. I've explored a lot of its limits, and it responds to everything so well."
It may be hard to temper expectations after such a session. After all, it's tough for a new car to compete right off the bat. "If we can pull together and finish the race, it would be a great accomplishment for us," Bach said. "Because of attrition, finishing could place us in the top two or three, I'd be happy with that. Placing higher and in qualifying would be better yet."
Cosmo had higher aspirations, though. "Before today, I would have said our goal was to just finish, not knowing how we would fare today," he said. "We saw a competitive spirit from the car right off the bat. I guarantee it has more. We're just creeping up on our potential."
The Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta is scheduled to start at noon April 17. It will be broadcast on CBS from 1-3 p.m., and American Le Mans Series Radio will have live flag-to-flag coverage at www.americanlemans.com. Tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 849-RACE or logging on to www.roadatlanta.com.
The roaring sounds of the engines in the American Le Mans Series' prototype classes vary from a low, loud rumble to a relatively quiet hum. But the volume is about to pick up as the Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta nears.
Round 2 of the ALMS' 2005 schedule features Mazda's celebrated return to North American road racing in the No. 8 B-K Motorsports Sportsbook.com Courage, powered by the Japanese giant's famed Rotary engine. Guy Cosmo and Jamie Bach will drive the entry at Road Atlanta and the rest of the ALMS' races in 2005. Both have extensive road-racing experience in Mazdas.
The Rotary engine technology is a unique technology that is known only to Mazda, said John Doonan, director of marketing and public relations for the No. 8 Sportsbook.com Mazda Courage. Mazda won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991, the only Japanese manufacturer to do so.
"It's the efficiency of the motor as it relates to endurance racing," Doonan said. "When Mazda won at Le Mans, it was because we were efficient and lasted longer. That's the whole point."
The high-pitched whine of the Rotary engine is unmistakable, the most obvious characteristic that will set it apart from other motors at Road Atlanta. "It'll be a pretty good sound to hear again," Bach said. "It's a lot smaller version of a more powerful engine. You can mount it a lot lower, there are lot less moving parts to go wrong and it's a lot more superior, I think."
During the last couple of weeks, Cosmo was involved in a shakedown of the car in France. It hit the Road Atlanta surface for the first time in an open test session Wednesday. Both Cosmo and Bach had turns in the car, which exceeded Cosmo's imagination.
"It was the first chance I had to open it up. It is absolutely awesome," said Cosmo, who said he turned laps in the low 1:20s. "It's hands down the most fun I've ever had in a race car. I didn't really get that much of an indication in France with the circumstances and the time we had. This car is so well mannered and it really, really inspires us. It just tells you, 'Hey drive me hard. This is fun.' I was looking at this as being tentative. I've explored a lot of its limits, and it responds to everything so well."
It may be hard to temper expectations after such a session. After all, it's tough for a new car to compete right off the bat. "If we can pull together and finish the race, it would be a great accomplishment for us," Bach said. "Because of attrition, finishing could place us in the top two or three, I'd be happy with that. Placing higher and in qualifying would be better yet."
Cosmo had higher aspirations, though. "Before today, I would have said our goal was to just finish, not knowing how we would fare today," he said. "We saw a competitive spirit from the car right off the bat. I guarantee it has more. We're just creeping up on our potential."
The Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta is scheduled to start at noon April 17. It will be broadcast on CBS from 1-3 p.m., and American Le Mans Series Radio will have live flag-to-flag coverage at www.americanlemans.com. Tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 849-RACE or logging on to www.roadatlanta.com.
04-14-05, 07:16 AM
#2
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ALMS Grand Prix of Atlanta Fast Facts
SPORTSBOOK.COM GRAND PRIX OF ATLANTA
2005 American Le Mans Series - Round #2
April 15-17, 2005
EVENT: Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta
Round #2 of 10-race 2005 American Le Mans Series season
LOCATION: Road Atlanta
Braselton, GA
2.54-mile, 12-turn permanent road course
WHEN: 12:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, April 17, 2005
LENGTH: Two (2) hours and 45 minutes (time certain)
TELEVISION: CBS Sports (live)
1:00 - 3:00 PM (ET)
SPORTSBOOK.COM GRAND PRIX OF ATLANTA
2005 American Le Mans Series - Round #2
April 15-17, 2005
EVENT: Sportsbook.com Grand Prix of Atlanta
Round #2 of 10-race 2005 American Le Mans Series season
LOCATION: Road Atlanta
Braselton, GA
2.54-mile, 12-turn permanent road course
WHEN: 12:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, April 17, 2005
LENGTH: Two (2) hours and 45 minutes (time certain)
TELEVISION: CBS Sports (live)
1:00 - 3:00 PM (ET)
04-14-05, 07:21 AM
#3
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the lap record in LMP2 is 1:11 something and Cosmo ( 'right name for the job) was running in the low 1:20s wednesday so there appears to be a bit of tweaking to do before saturday qualifying.
given that the motor was first installed less than 10 days ago when the car was in france and this is the initial run i would be cautiously optimistic with the emphasis on cautiously re the weekend. a finish, first time out, would be nice.
howard coleman
given that the motor was first installed less than 10 days ago when the car was in france and this is the initial run i would be cautiously optimistic with the emphasis on cautiously re the weekend. a finish, first time out, would be nice.
howard coleman
04-14-05, 02:00 PM
#6
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While talking to my Mazda contact today on the phone I was able to hear the car running at the track. It was quite cool. We were discussing some Mazda event participation stuff when all of a sudden I hear zoooooooooom... and he yells, "That was the masarati, hang on a sec." about three seconds later I hear twice as loud and twice as high pitched VVVVVVVRRRRROOOOOOOMMMMMM and he yells back, "Did you hear it? Did you hear it?"
Yep, I heard it alright I think I need to take my cell phone in for servicing though...
But it did bring chills, it was very cool...
Howard, see you in 8 days! Hopefully the car makes it through the race unscathed and ends up on display at the Revolution.
Yep, I heard it alright I think I need to take my cell phone in for servicing though...
But it did bring chills, it was very cool...
Howard, see you in 8 days! Hopefully the car makes it through the race unscathed and ends up on display at the Revolution.
04-14-05, 02:14 PM
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Folks take it from me, there is nothing like the sound of a rotary engined race car at Atlanta. I was there in 2003 for the petit le mans and got an earful of the three rotor and four rotor LMP675s. Unfortunately both succumbed to gearbox problems, but what a thrilling sound. The best part of that race was some wheel to wheel twistee fun with the 4 rotor going heads up with Emmanuelle Pirro in his LMP900 Audi R8......
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04-14-05, 02:16 PM
#8
Howard, will you be attending Petit Le Mans @ Road Atlanta this fall? If so I'd like to meet up with you, this will be my 4th year going down for the race.
I remember back in 2002 and 2003 I got to see both a 3 rotor LMP and a 4 rotor LMP compete... but last year there was no rotary entry at all. Can't wait to hear this one again!
I remember back in 2002 and 2003 I got to see both a 3 rotor LMP and a 4 rotor LMP compete... but last year there was no rotary entry at all. Can't wait to hear this one again!
04-14-05, 02:55 PM
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About time, Rotaries are getting some air time..
Maybe with technology advancing to the point where it finally
catching up to the Rotary, maybe other manufacters may get interested
in the rotary motor. Mr Wankle must be smiling in his grave.
after Mazda spanks the competition and get banned again,
they'll come out with a 3 rotor RX7.
Maybe with technology advancing to the point where it finally
catching up to the Rotary, maybe other manufacters may get interested
in the rotary motor. Mr Wankle must be smiling in his grave.
after Mazda spanks the competition and get banned again,
they'll come out with a 3 rotor RX7.
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