New 450HP 3rotor mid-engine Mazda Furai concept car.
12-13-07, 08:59 PM
#79
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Yea, when they're beating Audi with the "slower" class car and winning races outright they're doing something right. I'd agree, they probably have a much larger budget and are more of a factory team, whereas the Mazda team is more of a privateer effort with some factory backing.
An interesting thing is how close Penske team and porsche support is because Porsche claims its not a factory team but its operated like one. Now Dyson will run the Porsche's for some added competition. Can't wait for the 08 season to get aired
I'm sure the budget Penske has lets them spend extra on tips
12-13-07, 10:02 PM
#80
50+mpg, woo!
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It looks fantastic in that one picture there, but I fully expect it to look like hell from another angle. Mazda's new concept car designs have been absolutely appalling lately. I hope I am wrong...
12-14-07, 01:14 AM
#82
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Heh. I was just looking at the teaser shot again (I have it as my wallpaper right now), and I just now noticed the little triangular mirrors. Interesting placement choice.
12-14-07, 10:28 AM
#83
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Penske has a long, long history of winning. They have always run like a factory team, whether they had factory backing or not. From 60s Trans Am to F1 to sports cars, they've alway espoused the "unfair advantage" - meticulous preparation and obsessive testing.
The Audis have been handicapped recently by rule changes (smaller fuel tanks, more air restriction) to give everyone else a chance.
The Audis have been handicapped recently by rule changes (smaller fuel tanks, more air restriction) to give everyone else a chance.
12-14-07, 11:39 AM
#84
Also keep in mind that the classes were designed in such a way that the higher classes were for factory backed teams, and the lower classes were for privateers. Porshce and Acura are really bending the design of the classes by backing/competing in LMP2 as that class is suppose to be for privateers (i.e. lower costing cars). Just like GT1 for factory backed teams and GT2 for privateers.
The ACO has recognized this and is increasing the minimum weight of the LMP2's and decreasing the minimum weight of the LMP1's for next year. However, as usual, IMSA is not required to follow all the regulations of the ACO. There are already a few they don't use which is part of the reason the LMP2's have been able to compete and win overall in ALMS, but not in the LeMans series.
The ACO has worked hard to keep the times of the classes separate. If you look at their series, you'll see that the top GT2 cars are routinely 2-3 seconds behind the top GT1 cars (similarly the LMP1 and LMP2's). Its balanced like that for a reason. Audi will be running 2 cars in ALMS next year and 2 cars in the LeMans series. I would expect Audi to pull out of ALMS unless IMSA provides better balancing.
12-14-07, 01:59 PM
#85
Lives on the Forum
12-14-07, 08:18 PM
#88
Lives on the Forum
Yes, but the IMSA rules are very closely based on the ACO rules though, no? Do you know of any particular differences, because it really doesn't make sense to make them different, since a number of the cars will be competing at LeMans and in the ALMS, right?
I guess I was trying to imply with the comment about Audi winning LeMans that the rules were designed more around tracks like that.
I guess I was trying to imply with the comment about Audi winning LeMans that the rules were designed more around tracks like that.
12-14-07, 09:50 PM
#89
I don't have the list myself, but it has been posted around the web of the changes by the ACO which the IMSA does not use. I know of the weight changes since they are recent and the IMSA has not announced yet (that I have seen) *if* they are going to implement it in ALMS.
12-16-07, 12:31 AM
#90
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what about the taiki? i think the taiki replaces the rx7, and should be more affordable. i wouldn't mind both as soon as the production models are out. They should shape out better. All concepts look weird until it makes it to production. But yea 450hp 3 rotor is competition. Hopefully the Taiki is around 400hp with the new 16x renesis and hopefully turbocharged too.
12-16-07, 10:30 AM
#91
I really dig the little rotor shaped holes in those upper grills. The way they trail off is like they can't keep up with the speed of the car.
Even the side mirror and that top vent look to be rotor inspired!
Go Mazda!!!!!!!!
Even the side mirror and that top vent look to be rotor inspired!
Go Mazda!!!!!!!!
12-18-07, 12:38 AM
#92
Winter sucks
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Sawzall style. Okay.. but seriously, that sucks. wonder why they banned them...
12-18-07, 01:35 PM
#95
^From what I'm hearing, Mazda will show this new car, a cutaway cross section of the new 16x and a new reworked version of the RX-8 at Detroit. I'm guessing that they'll also announce a future 16x engine option for the RX-8. Not sure about any other U.S. shows.
...we'll see!
...we'll see!
12-18-07, 01:39 PM
#96
^From what I'm hearing, Mazda will show this new car, a cutaway cross section of the new 16x and a new reworked version of the RX-8 at Detroit. I'm guessing that they'll also announce a future 16x engine option for the RX-8. Not sure about any other U.S. shows.
...we'll see!
...we'll see!
Mazda Furai concept car
