Friday, January 4, 2013

SpeedSource Named Official Engine Builder of Pro Mazda

Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
PALMETTO, Fla. – 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.

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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.

About Pro Mazda: 

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires will debut in 2013 as a new series, replacing the Star Mazda Championship which ceased operation in 2012 after 22 years. The series is sanctioned by INDYCAR and owned and operated by Andersen Promotions. It is the second official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system with the series’ champion awarded a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Firestone Indy Lights competition the following year. For more information, visit www.promazdachampionship.com.

About Mazda:

Mazda is the number-one brand for road-racers across North America. Thousands of Mazda powered grassroots racers compete in various classes with the SCCA and NASA highlighted by Spec Miata, the world’s largest spec class with over 2,500 cars built. In 2006 Mazda established the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder to assist racers in moving up through the ranks. In 2010 this was expanded to include the Mazda Road to Indy. Key to Mazda’s success is strategic partnerships with the Skip BarberRacing School and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

MAZDASPEED Motorsports is managed by Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). MNAO is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. Consumer information can be found at www.mazdausa.com with press information atwww.mazdausamedia.com. Racers and fans can follow the action on Facebook (Mazdaspeed Motorsports).

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company:

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) is a global company with affiliates, subsidiaries and joint ventures that specialize in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires. The company also has subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 11 countries around the world. Additional information can be found at www.us.coopertire.com.

Source: Pro Mazda Championship, Press Release

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Bill Holland Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt

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