Mazda to bring the rotary back to Le Mans?

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Mazda looking to enter ALMS, could run prototype

Mazda U.S.A. has looked to join the sports car series for some time. Company executives are in ongoing discussions with ALMS bosses and have already met with two organizations capable of masterminding its return after a 13-year absence. Mazda senior vice president of marketing Robert Davis said, "We have had an involvement with the ALMS through the Star Mazda Series [a single-seater support class], and now we would like to take part in the main event. If you look at what Mazda represents in North America, it is sports cars and that fits with the profile of the ALMS."

There is talk of ALMS allowing four-door cars into the GT class, so it's possible Mazda might enter a tuned RX-8 instead of a prototype. Personally I want to see Mazda enter Le Mans 24hr with a Renesis-based prototype.

 

[gigapet]

thats pretty cool....

as a bit of side track....

does anyone know if i could drop an RX-8 engine into my 1996 626.....I sure it would require some other changes but would it be possible?

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: gigapet
thats pretty cool....

as a bit of side track....

does anyone know if i could drop an RX-8 engine into my 1996 626.....I sure it would require some other changes but would it be possible?

with a big enough hammer anything can be done, though it would probably be kind of cost prohibitive.

 

[boyRacer]

:thumbsup: Finally.

Now if only Porsche would go back.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: bR
:thumbsup: Finally.

Now if only Porsche would go back.

Agreed!

 

[NFS4]

That thing'll be burning oil and gas much worse than the RX8

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: NFS4
That thing'll be burning oil and gas much worse than the RX8

Point?

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: gigapet
does anyone know if i could drop an RX-8 engine into my 1996 626.....I sure it would require some other changes but would it be possible?

It would be incredibly difficult and a huge waste of time.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: NFS4
That thing'll be burning oil and gas much worse than the RX8

Point?

Meaning, the rotary isn't the most "efficient" way of building a gas engine and it's running more on name and nostalgia than anything else these days.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: NFS4
That thing'll be burning oil and gas much worse than the RX8

Point?

Meaning, the rotary isn't the most "efficient" way of building a gas engine and it's running more on name and nostalgia than anything else these days.

Who cares? We're talking about a balls-out race car. Not to mention that inefficient design was the only Japanese car ever to win the 24hr of Le Mans.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: NFS4
That thing'll be burning oil and gas much worse than the RX8

Point?

Meaning, the rotary isn't the most "efficient" way of building a gas engine and it's running more on name and nostalgia than anything else these days.

The most appealing part of a rotary engine isn't the power from the light and compact engine, but that it makes the car agile by providing an ideal front/rear weight balance.

 

[drnickriviera]

It will be nice to see something go against the 911's and Panoz's. Just hope they don't try to cheat like BMW

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
The most appealing part of a rotary engine isn't the power from the light and compact engine, but that it makes the car agile by providing an ideal front/rear weight balance.

and you can't do that with a regular engine? IIRC the S2000 has perfect 50/50 balance, is pretty damn agile, probably gets better gas mileage than the RX-8, AND doesn't burth a 1/4 quart every 1000 miles.