MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development used the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Winter Test to unveil their 2008 colors, reflecting the addition of two new partners. BP and Yokohama Tire Corporation have joined the B-K Motorsports Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R LMP2 team with multi-year partnerships.

This is not just a sponsorship arrangement — both partners will be key contributors to the team’s overall program with both technical and marketing collaboration. BP is a global energy leader with extensive experience with alternative and future fuels and lubricants. With the “greening” of the ALMS series, BP’s direction will complement the Mazda program. Yokohama has a storied history in motorsports and has multiple past collaborations with Mazda for production and motorsports programs. Mazda and Yokohama have enjoyed joint success and are looking to build on that foundation.

Mazda Furai Concept is the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the “Soul of a Sports Car” into everything it builds, but with an eye toward the future and the environment through the use of renewable fuels.

Furai was initially tuned to operate on 100 percent ethanol fuel, the first time a racing three-rotor rotary engine has been fueled by ethanol. Research continues in earnest with partner BP into other renewable and future fuels, including ethanol gasoline blends like E10.

Zoom-Zoom is more than simply vehicle performance. The look and style that is Zoom-Zoom can best be seen in previous NAGARE-based efforts, including the Mazda Nagare concept that debuted at Los Angeles in 2006; Mazda Ryuga, which was first shown a year ago in Detroit; Mazda Hakaze, which appeared in Geneva last year; and Mazda Taiki, the star of the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

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How many racers did Brad Rampelberg beat to win a new Mazda MX-5 and the parts to build a Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Car? It depends upon your point of reference. There are approximately 9,000 people racing Mazda products in the U.S., ranging from the occasional autocrosser in their daily driver MAZDA3 to full-on club racers hitting the tracks a dozen or more times a year. From that pool of 9,000, over 200 qualified for the SCCA Runoffs and NASA National Championships. From the SCCA and NASA Championships emerged nine Mazda-powered champions, from which one would be selected to move up to the professional ranks.

The tally: After a full day of both driving and classroom activities, six judges scored nine drivers in eleven categories, resulting in 594 scores. When the scores were added up, and compared against the subjective gut feel of the expert panelists the answer was very close, but consistent: Brad Rampelberg had the greatest potential to succeed on the professional level in 2008. It was noted however, that several of the nine clearly demonstrated both the skill and commitment required to succeed in racing.

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RYUGA: “ree-yoo-ga,” Japanese for gracious flow

Large wheels placed at the far corners of Ryuga’s exterior lend a highly stable, balanced stance. The aggressive wedge shape imparts motion even when this sports coupe is parked. Volumes that are small in front, larger at the rear, wrap around and over the wheels to give the exterior tension and direction.

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