Mazda6 Takes Sahlen’s Six Hour Watkins Glen Grand-Am GX Win
July 1, 2013 (IRVINE, Calif.) The scales have tipped. After seven races, the SpeedSource Mazda team has now delivered four-straight race wins. Mazda is now just one point behind Porsche for the 2013 Grand-Am GX Manufacturers Championship with five races remaining.
The Sunday race win was the longest distance race win to date for the all-new Mazda6, taking the GX class win at the Sahlen’s Six Hours at Watkins Glen. Scoring the win was the #00 VISIT FLORIDA Racing Mazda6, driven by Joel Miller, Tristan Nunez, and Yojiro Terada.
The all-new SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine in the all-new Mazda6 is a true production based engine. The engine is 51% stock by parts count, and 63% stock by weight. Mazda chose this path as it is the most honest way to demonstrate the quality, durability, and reliability of Mazda cars.
Meanwhile in the Continental Tire Challenge…..
The day before the Sahlen’s Six Hour Grand-Am race, the Continental Tire Challenge held round seven of their 11-race championship. The first six races have been a battle between Mazda, BMW, Honda, Nissan, Porsche, and VW in the ST class. Thanks to a great win by Steven McAleer and Marc Miller in a CJ Wilson Racing Modspace Mazda MX-5, the Mazda win count stands at three, and Mazda has taken over the points lead for the 2013 ST Manufacturers Championship.
Quotes:
John M. Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations:
“When we rewind the clock six months and look how far the Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel program has come, we are certainly proud. From the challenges we faced - and were able to overcome – in the early weeks of the season, to now be celebrating our fourth victory in a row is really special for all of us at Mazda, the entire SpeedSource organization, and our partners at VISIT FLORIDA, Castrol, and ModSpace. A first place trophy from the Sahlen’s Six-Hour at the Glen is one we have wanted in our trophy case for a long time and we have had victory here on our minds since Daytona. Victory in the second longest race of the season allowed us to, once again, prove our new technology and our new car. We will continue to focus on refining the package and turn our full attention to the manufacturer, team, and driver championships. Taking the Continental Tires ST Manufacturers points lead, thanks to the CJ Wilson Racing team win on Saturday made a great weekend even better.”
Joel Miller, co-driver, #00 VISIT FLORIDA RACING Mazda6 – now second in the Driver’s Championship:: "The SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel technology worked very well in today's six hour race. Everything was great – the Mazda6 was fantastic, the SpeedSource crew was great during the pit stops, and my teammates did their parts. The last hour was long, knowing we had the lead. I would not have changed anything during that hour as it is always a pleasure bringing the car home for the win! So thankful to everyone, VISIT FLORIDA, our SpeedSource crew, and all the Mazda executives that came this weekend. Win number four in a row!”
Tristan Nunez, co-driver, #00 VISIT FLORIDA RACING Mazda6 – the 17-year-old racer who had to be legally emancipated to race in New York:: "It was a long process to get the chance to race at Watkins Glen with all the emancipation court dates and papers to sign but it was all worth it in the long run. The track is one of a kind. Very fast and has a nice flow to it. But it does have a bit if a danger factor to it, the track and very little run off and is surrounded by guard rails. With all of that aside Joel Miller, Yujiro Terada, and myself came out with a win in the visit Florida SKYACTIV-D Mazda 6. Every race weekend we are proving more and more that our new clean diesel Mazda 6 can not only go the distance but also has the speed to win races.”
About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports, and MAZDASPEED
Mazda is the number-one brand for road-racers across North America among both club racers and professionals. 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 Motorsports 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 Barber Racing 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 and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Consumer information can be found at www.mazdausa.com, with press information at www.mazdausamedia.com. Racers and fans can follow the action on facebook (Mazdaspeed Motorsports).
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For further information: Dean Case Communications Officer MAZDASPEED Motorsports (310) 318-4582