Mazda unveils DPi car for IMSA WeatherTech Championship

By foxsports
Published

Mazda has unveiled its DPi challenger, the RT24-P, which will make its debut in January’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, with a two-car factory Prototype class effort.

The Japanese manufacturer took the wraps off its highly anticipated program Wednesday at the LA Auto Show.

The RT24-P, which signifies “Mazda’s Road to 24” program, as well as its two-liter, four-cylinder Mazda MZ-2.0T engine, will be based on the Riley Mk. 30 LMP2 chassis, designed and built by Multimatic-Riley.

It features custom bodywork, manufactured by Multimatic and utilizing Mazda’s KODO-Soul of Motion design philosophy, including sleek body contours and the five-point Mazda grille.

“This is a huge moment for Mazda Motorsports and the entire Mazda family,” said Mazda Motorsports North America director John Doonan.

“To have a car which features Mazda design language at the top level of our motorsports program is meaningful for us as a brand. We believe we have the right team, the right drivers and the right chassis to win races and championships.”

SpeedSource will again operate the factory Prototype program for the third consecutive season, with all four of its full-season drivers: Jonathan Bomarito, Tristan Nunez, Joel Miller and Tom Long expected to be back as well.

Its relationship with AER will also continue, with the same MZ-2.0T engine that was utilized in its Lola-based prototypes this year.

Additionally, Mazda will become the first team to test the Riley Mk. 30 LMP2 chassis later this month.

“Mazda has good, long-standing relationships with Riley and Multimatic, and is happy to be the first to test their new chassis,” Doonan said.

“We look forward to seeing it make its racing debut at Daytona with Mazda bodywork and the Mazda MZ-2.0T engine.

“The strategic vision of IMSA to give auto manufacturers this opportunity to integrate our branding, to better engage our passionate fans, is unique and we’re proud to be the first to unveil what is possible.”

The car is expected to make its public test debut in next month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona on Dec. 13-14, which is mandatory for all DPi manufacturers and LMP2 constructors.

Mazda is one of three expected DPi manufacturers to be on the grid at Daytona, joining the previously confirmed Nissan customer program with Tequila Patron ESM, and the yet-to-be-announced Cadillac DPi effort with Action Express Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing.