Mazda MXR-01

The Mazda MXR -01 is a Group C sports car, the Mazda factory team Mazdaspeed began in the 1992 season in the World Sportscar Championship. This was Mazda's last involvement in racing, which had begun with the Le Mans project in 1983.

Development

According to Mazda's highly successful ( 1st place) in the 24- hour race at Le Mans in 1991 with the 787B rotary engine thought the company's management, they could go on and prove that this success was no fluke in racing. Through the reorganization of the World Sportscar Championship by the FIA in 1992 resulted for Mazda but the problem is that Wankel engines were no longer allowed. Instead, the team should use technologically advanced V10 engines, similar to those in Formula 1 Mazda, in addition to their Wankel engine did not have many other racing engines in use, decided for reasons of cost, the development of a proprietary new engine. In addition, Mazda would have had to build a completely new car for the V10 engine, as the 787B was unsuitable for inclusion of such a large engine.

Thus, Mazda decided zuzukaufen an existing V10 engine. They opted for an engine from Judd Engine Developments that their GV10 -3, 5-liter V10 were developed in 1991 for Formula 1. The machines should be manufactured as Mazda engines with the type designation MV10.

The new chassis bought a one, from Tom Walkinshaw Racing ( TWR ), who had collaborated with Jaguar, to this end of 1991 left the racing. Jaguars last race car, the XJR -14 was offered in 1992 by TWR other customers and Mazda took the opportunity to get a car to use, had won the championship in 1991 with the Jaguar. Like the engine, the car was manufactured as Mazda and called MXR -01.

Unfortunately, de was XJR -14, who won in 1991, not revised after the season and Mazda had neither the technical knowledge nor the financial resources to develop the vehicle in the same degree as did, for example, Peugeot and Toyota in 1992. Also, the Judd engine was quite underpowered compared to the motors of the other factory teams.

Racing history

Mazda managed to finish the World Sportscar Championship in 1992 as a third party; her best result was a 2nd place in the 500 - km race at Silverstone. At the 24 - hour race at Le Mans, the team conducted in parts in the first hours and finished the race on an honorable 4th place. Throughout the season, only one car was used only in Le Mans two cars were reported.

In Japan, Mazda Speed ​​played with a single MXR - 01, the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship ( JSPC ) and was able to record any great success when you consider that they only win a 2nd place in the constructors' championship with only two opposing competitor (Toyota and Nissan) could. In races where the MXR -01 had no competitors in its class, but he could also not earn points, what the total score, of course, adversely affected.

After the 1993 season, both the World Sportscar Championship as well as the JSPC were no longer held, and after the RX- 792P no longer took in IMSA racing after 1992, Mazda completely different from from racing.

Suspensions

We have built a total of five MXR 01 of TWR for Mazda:

• MXR 01 # 001 - used only in the Jpsc.
• MXR 01 # 002 - Spare car for testing at Le Mans.
• MXR 01 # 003 - Spare car for testing at Le Mans.
• MXR 01 # 004 - denied all the races of the World Sportscar Championship.
• MXR 01 # 005 - second car for the 24 - hour race at Le Mans.