| bigmack000 |
http://fullboost.com.au/news.php?newsId=113
Leverkusen / Papenburg: A total of 40 international records have been set by Mazda with two RX-8s. Drivers and technicians celebrated their success at the close of the 24-hour record attempt on the 12.3 km oval at the automotive proving grounds in Papenburg, Germany. The day before, two 170 kW/231 PS Mazda RX-8s had taken the starting line, one in the FIA Category A (Special Vehicles) and a second in the FIA Category B (Mass Production Vehicles). With average speeds of 212,835 and 215,934 km/h, the two sports cars drove more than 5,000 km during the 24-hour attempt. These results clearly demonstrate that Mazda RX-8’s unique RENESIS rotary engine not only provides exhilarating performance, but is durable and reliable even under the most extreme driving conditions.
Record-setting performances of this kind are nothing new to Mazda, which boasts a long tradition of 24-hour endurance races. In this latest 24-hour attempt, both Mazda RX-8s shattered a Mazda record set in 1991 by drivers Bertrand Gachot, Johnny Herbert and Volker Weidler at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. That year, the team drove the Mazda 787B race car with a 515 kW/700 PS rotary engine exactly 4,923.2 km during the 24 hours of the race, with an average speed of 205,133 km/h. In Papenburg, both Mazda RX-8s were clearly faster.
Saturday the 2nd October, 12:20: Mazda Motor Europe engineer Shoji Tokuda waved the green flag and started the 24-hour drive, sending the first Mazda RX-8 on its way into the record books. The driver accelerated, shifted through the gears and then had only one goal—holding the ideal line at full throttle.
Prior to the record attempt, the German Motor Sports Organisation DMSB e.V. had selected three production Mazda RX-8s in Antwerp, Belgium and sealed their engines and transmissions on-site. All remaining stages of the record attempt were accompanied by commissioners of the DMSB e.V. to ensure all mandatory regulations of the FIA were adhered to. The second vehicle used in the record attempt had proven its reliability in last season’s Formula Woman Challenge in the UK. The only difference between the two Mazda RX-8s that took the starting line for one of the world’s fastest endurance trials, and all other Mazda RX-8 production models was added safety equipment - both had special body-contour seats, five-point seat belts and a roll cage. The Category A Mazda RX-8 was outfitted with an additional fuel tank and 19-inch wheels.
The cars were piloted by 15 automotive journalists from 11 countries, who completed the tough, 24-hour test on the 12.3 km high-speed oval, pausing only for necessary pit stops and to change drivers. Other than that, it was full throttle around the track. The record drive attempt was supported by the tyre manufacturer Kumho and Aral, which provided high-octane Aral Ultimate petrol.
The two Mazda RX-8s drove their rounds at consistently high speeds and without incident. Nonetheless, not everything went according to plan. An hour after midnight it began to rain heavily, but neither the drivers nor Jürgen Herschel from the tyre supplier Kumho panicked. Herschel lowered the tyre pressure, which resulted in an improvement of their hydroplaning resistance capacity. Despite the one-hour rain, the average speed of both cars remained high.
Sunday the 3rd of October, 12:20: Shoji Tokuda dropped the chequered flag and waved his two Mazda RX-8s into the pit. A total of 40 international FIA records were set by both cars. Mazda RX-8’s RENESIS engine, the world’s only production rotary engine, had passed its endurance test with flying colours. Mission accomplished.
*for thos to lazy to click !*
:bowdown: to the ROTARY :beer: :bthumbup: |
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| DeathBy240 |
30 views + 0 replies = NOBODY CARES!
:D |
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| Mekanik22 |
You replied, so you must care Dave :p
And you erased your "Nissan: Formerly known as Prince" because I copied you, lol. |
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| JustinL |
quote:
Originally posted by bigmack000
[url] That year, the team drove the Mazda 787B race car with a 515 kW/700 PS rotary engine exactly 4,923.2 km during the 24 hours of the race, with an average speed of 205,133 km/h. In Papenburg, both Mazda RX-8s were clearly faster.
Sorry, this comparison really bothers me.
My car would CRUSH the 787B's average speed at Lemans if I was on a 12.3 KM oval. My car is clearly faster than a 787B.
Perhaps a more fair comparison would have been to put the rx-8 on the nurburgring and then compare the average speed. |
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| bigmack000 |
| its its a stupid comparison beacasue they dotn hae to slow bod and down shift till they pit. the driver of the 787b wousl be brekaign for a left turn, then hard on the gas for the stright then hard otneh breaks for a right. can't compare a road track to a oval |
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| BlueTurboEGG |
I think just comparing the lap times around the Nurburgring is a fair enough test of a cars capabilities.
But underneath all those curvy fenders, beats the electronics of a Ford :D |
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| MrHeavyFoot |
quote:
Originally posted by JustinL
Sorry, this comparison really bothers me.
My car would CRUSH the 787B's average speed at Lemans if I was on a 12.3 KM oval. My car is clearly faster than a 787B.
Perhaps a more fair comparison would have been to put the rx-8 on the nurburgring and then compare the average speed.
Yes, the road course to oval comparison is a little silly, but it was also full out race cars at Lemans and more or less stock RX-8s (at least one was) on the oval. That's not really the point anyway. The point is that they could run at pretty much WOT for 24 hours and not blow up. Do you really think your car could maintain an average speed in excess of 205 km/h for 24 hours? (including stops for fuel etc). Maybe it could, but its not as "easy" as turning in one hot lap. |
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| JustinL |
quote:
Originally posted by MrHeavyFoot
Yes, the road course to oval comparison is a little silly,
Agreed, Whoever wrote this article went about name dropping [787B] the wrong way. I have enormous respect for the 787B, but comparing it to the rx-8 and then saying "RX-8s were clearly faster" just rubs me the wrong way.
As for my car covering 5000km in 24 hours on an oval. I see no reason why not. 944s were designed as endurance racers and competed in Lemans. It placed well and had the least pit time of any car. |
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| ae1969 |
quote:
Originally posted by JustinL
............As for my car covering 5000km in 24 hours on an oval. I see no reason why not. 944s were designed as endurance racers and competed in Lemans. It placed well and had the least pit time of any car.
..... here is some info on that comment. http://www.supercars.net/cars/1985@...4%20Turbox.html
:bthumbup: to the Rx8 not too many cars that can wear a 24 hour endurance race proudly on their shoulder. Those rotaries are only going to get better.... |
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| bigmack000 |
quote:
Originally posted by BlueTurboEGG
I think just comparing the lap times around the Nurburgring is a fair enough test of a cars capabilities.
But underneath all those curvy fenders, beats the electronics of a Ford :D
auctaly no. find lots of mazda electronics and mitsu ones as well. ford may own them but that doens't mean they will only use ford parts ;) |
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| Z32NUT |
| I remember having a fellow student in college who had a mid 80's RX-7. Ran great. But when it needed work...he sold it pretty quick when they told him it would take a couple of grand worth of work to fix whatever was wrong (i canna remembah' what needed fixin'- that was 15 years ago). For that reason, never mind I don't fit in Mazdas, I'd avoid rotaries like the plague. |
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| rexxrally |
quote:
Originally posted by Z32NUT
I remember having a fellow student in college who had a mid 80's RX-7. Ran great. But when it needed work...he sold it pretty quick when they told him it would take a couple of grand worth of work to fix whatever was wrong (i canna remembah' what needed fixin'- that was 15 years ago). For that reason, never mind I don't fit in Mazdas, I'd avoid rotaries like the plague.
Well, geez, following this vagueness of logic, I'd also avoid going into office towers because 2 planes flew into office towers in one day once................sheesh |
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| Curtass |
^^^^ I'm with him!!
You can't judge a car because one blew up and cost alot of money. In that case I guess I should hate skylines because the RB26DETT would probably be stooopid expensive to replace if one blew up. My Rx-7 blew up once, it was cheap to fix, and I still love them and drive them.
- Curt |
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