Mazda likely to enter BTCC in 2006

Andy Metcalf · 9 Feb 2005, 13:07 (Ref:1220941)

Car Manufacturer Mazda are reportedly considering a return to the BTCC in 2006. Their last run in the championship was 1994. The MN article also says that WSR have been in discussions with Mazda to run the team. Though neither party are confirming this.

Dani Filth · 9 Feb 2005, 16:01 (Ref:1221065)

i wonder what car woud that be.... the Mazda 6 or the smaller Mazda 3 ??

**FIRE** · 9 Feb 2005, 18:08 (Ref:1221161)

Will it be a S2000 car?

rdjones · 9 Feb 2005, 19:57 (Ref:1221272)

Not sure it will either be the Mazda 3 or the Mazda 6 as both fit the rules. To be honest this news didn't come as a great suprise, remember there where rummours going around that they would be on the grid this year.

**touringlegend** · 9 Feb 2005, 20:22 (Ref:1221307)

Yep, with Team Dynamics that was.

I'd like to see the Mazda 6 on the grid, in whatever spec it would be. Presuming this would be the UK importer, I'd choose to go the S2000 road as the BTCC rules are only guaranteed till the end of 2006. Perhaps if Mazda built an S2000 car they could sell them on to other Mazda importers.

touringcarnut · 9 Feb 2005, 20:34 (Ref:1221320)

Good news for the championship if the deals materialise. Its been a quiet winter, so I hope this is the start of more news for the coming season.

kmchow · 10 Feb 2005, 02:31 (Ref:1221567)

Mazda has been fairly successful supporting our touring car championship in NA these past few years using the BMW Motorsport business plan. Mazda (paid someone)developed the engine, sold cheap chassis and offered good prize money. Individual teams built/raced the cars.

newoutsider · 10 Feb 2005, 07:37 (Ref:1221655)

If you read the article it is speculation - Mazda deny it...... From what I've heard, WSR are talking to a manufacutrer about 2006, and it could be Mazda but

touringcarnut · 11 Feb 2005, 06:38 (Ref:1222717)

Yeah, it is speculation as you say newoutsider, but Seat's entry, MG's entry before that etc were all speculation at some point.

I'd say the likelyhood is that they will make some form of return, the economy is better for more factory based teams to have a BTCC campaign now. I wouldn't say its blind optimism to suggest that we could have more cars by 2006-2007.

kmchow · 11 Feb 2005, 07:33 (Ref:1222737)

OTOH, over the years, we've heard a lot of wonderful speculation. Some of them came true while others didn't. But again, we can always dream and wish!!

bf1 · 12 Feb 2005, 21:49 (Ref:1223933)

If it is true..
Maybe they could use the mazda 3 based on the Hotfiel (sp?) devoloped S2000focus?
or
I came across this pic from the Gran Turisimo 4 game
http://z-o-g.org/gt4cars/japanese/ma...ing-car-02.jpg

Valker · 13 Feb 2005, 13:17 (Ref:1224316)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bf1

If it is true..
I came across this pic from the Gran Turisimo 4 game
http://z-o-g.org/gt4cars/japanese/ma...ing-car-02.jpg

I think Mazda Atenza is sold as Mazda 6 in Europe.

P.Cummins · 13 Feb 2005, 09:52 (Ref:1224151)

I heard this before earlier in 2004. It was passed off as off-season gossip. Is it confirmed?

BillyT · 13 Feb 2005, 16:21 (Ref:1224411)

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.Cummins

I heard this before earlier in 2004. It was passed off as off-season gossip. Is it confirmed?

That was rummored to be TD running the Mazda's.

KA · 20 Feb 2005, 08:37 (Ref:1230574)

...and since when has someone denying something guaranteed that it's not true?

This one could mean anything from MN printing a story that had little basis in fact, as kmchow suggested, to Mazda not being willing to admit the existence of their plans yet, or simply that they've taken a serious look at doing the BTCC (and MN have picked up on this and printed the story) and decided against

I guess we'll have to wait and see

bf1 · 13 Feb 2005, 12:23 (Ref:1224272)

Nothing confirmed, just speculation for the moment

bf1 · 13 Feb 2005, 15:14 (Ref:1224369)

Yes it is

P.Cummins · 13 Feb 2005, 20:04 (Ref:1224535)

Oh, sorry thats right. Yeah, Mazda could still enter then of course.

**FIRE** · 13 Feb 2005, 20:08 (Ref:1224539)

Has the Mazda the same engine as the Ford Focus?

bf1 · 14 Feb 2005, 20:17 (Ref:1225609)

The Mazda 3 & 6 both have 2L engines but as yet there isnt a 2L Mark2 Focus in the Dealers forecourts yet.I would imagine they (Ford & Mazda) use the same blocks at least because the focus and Mazda 3 are based on the same chassis so I would imagine they use the same mounting points

**FIRE** · 14 Feb 2005, 21:50 (Ref:1225677)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bf1

The Mazda 3 & 6 both have 2L engines but as yet there isnt a 2L Mark2 Focus in the Dealers forecourts yet.I would imagine they (Ford & Mazda) use the same blocks at least because the focus and Mazda 3 are based on the same chassis so I would imagine they use the same mounting points

In that case they can use the same engine of the "Hotfiel" Ford Focus. Would be cost reducing.

kmchow · 18 Feb 2005, 02:38 (Ref:1228943)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bf1

I would imagine they (Ford & Mazda) use the same blocks at least because the focus and Mazda 3 are based on the same chassis so I would imagine they use the same mounting points

In Europe, the Focus/Mazda3 will share the same platform. In NA, it's still be decided whether we will get the Euro Focus (P1 platform). Right now, we have a freshened Focus using the old platform. Ford NA will have until '08 to make up their mind.

Coops · 14 Feb 2005, 20:22 (Ref:1225612)

I remember that Mezda were very intrested in the SCV8 championship, the reason that they looked at this was because the BTCC cost to much.

bf1 · 14 Feb 2005, 21:20 (Ref:1225655)

The only involvment a manufacturer could have in SCV8 from what I could remember was give premission to use their respective shells/bodystyles..then again I could be wrong..

bf1 · 17 Feb 2005, 22:12 (Ref:1228805)

Thats what I was thinking a cost reduction would mean more positve thinking at Mazda when considering an entry

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