Mazda's prototype sportscar program is set to continue in 2017 with the new RT24-P. The new car was unveiled alongside the all-new CX-5 at the Los Angeles auto show. It will race in next year's IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship under the new Daytona Prototype International regulations. Mazda's factory backed race team is once again being managed by SpeedSource Race Engineering from Florida.
The previous prototype racer was based on the Lola B08/80 chassis and initially fitted with Skyactiv clean diesel engines, then later with the rather special MZ-2.0T petrol engine. The 2017 car is a new chassis developed by Riley/Multimatic and again fitted with the Garrett turbocharged MZ-2.0T producing around 600BHP. It's not a rotary but still a pretty impressive engine.
The 2017 DPi regulations allow for FIA LMP2 class cars to be modified visually to boost brand recognition for the manufacturer. RT24-P has been given stunning custom bodywork to better represent Mazda's KODO design language. There're some very sleek body contours, a small Mazda five-point family grille, and a huge front splitter. It's one of the best looking prototypes I've seen since probably the Bentley Speed 8 and Toyota GT-One.
Some of the regulations do get confusing across the various prototype championships. The RT24-P is based on an LMP2 chassis but would not be eligible for the LMP2 class in the FIA's World Endurance Championship as they require a standardised V8 engine and specific bodywork. This means the car won't be eligible for the Le Mans 24 Hours which is a shame. Perhaps if the 2017 program is a success we'll see a future Mazda LMP1 entry?
The RT24-P will debut in January’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, where it will compete against other prototype cars from Nissan and Cadillac.
UPDATE: A couple of photos from the recent first testing.
UPDATE: The liveries for the forthcoming season have been revealed. The number 55 car will be finished in Soul Red, and the number 70 car will feature the new Machine Grey paint. These new liveries are not particularly adventurous but they do show Mazda's love of premium paint colours, and there's no denying the race cars look smart wearing them.
UPDATE: This weekend sees the first round of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the 24 hours of Daytona sponsored by Rolex. This race will be the first competitive outing for the new Mazda prototype.In the video below, driver James Hinchcliffe takes a look at some of the technical details of the car including brake and suspension setups and talks about the unique design features.