Mazda Motorsports has announced their latest addition to its motorsports program in the form of the all-new Mazda3 TCR race machine and it looks dope as hell. This supremely beautiful Mazda3 will be taking part in the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, starting with a four-hour endurance challenge.
We’ve all seen and tested the all-new 2019 Mazda3 when it was launched not too long ago here in Malaysia and we simply can’t imagine how much better the TCR race version is as the standard road-going model was already super impressive. Mazda retained most of the exterior Signature Kodo design language for the race model but with a huge dose of aero goodness.
According to Masahiro Moro, Chairman and CEO, Mazda North American Operations, “TCR represents a great opportunity for us to showcase the new Mazda3 and provide our customers another avenue to race Mazda vehicles. Some of our most important successes in IMSA and SRO TC Americas have been thanks to dedicated customers who chose to race with Mazda, and we hope the next generation of Mazda racers see the same potential in the Mazda3 TCR.”
Powered by a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, the Mazda3 TCR race car produces a super cool 350hp and will be utilizing a paddle-shifted six-speed transmission. Developed and supported by Long Road Racing, the manufacturer of the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car, the Mazda3 TCR is homologated to compete in any of the 36 TCR-sanctioned championships around the globe.
John Doonan, Director of Mazda Motorsports, stated, “The Mazda3 features the outstanding design and engineering that Mazda is known for, and because of that, it is a fantastic foundation for our new Mazda3 TCR. We have looked forward to returning to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for several seasons, and everyone at Mazda is very excited that we will do just that in 2020. We are eagerly anticipating success for the Mazda3 TCR in IMSA, SRO Americas and in TCR championships around the world.”
