Mazda are hinting about returning

[Banks]

Looks like Mazda are considering a comeback in the near future-
maybe this could be good for the sports future because they will probably encourage Toyota , Nissan and maybe Honda to rethink as well - and provide some opposition for Audi

[Marcel ten Caat]

Mazda is on the Le Mans entry list released today

[Banks]

Yes , but I meant the full blown works team , the Autoexe car is just a coincidence

[rdjones]

I ahave read this in the Thursday Bible aswell, looks like a full works effort might be at Le Mans in 2004, the project come with the full blessing of Ford, how now own Mazda, it also say that the Mazdaspeed who ran the car in the late 80's and early 90's no longer is in existance.

[andlowe]

They are looking to combine it with the launch of the new RX-8 road car next year (rotary engine 'n' all!)

That screaming rotary will be a welcome return IMHO

[rdjones]

Futher to my last post the Thrusday Bible reports that the make had planed to return in 2003, put they but the brakes on the projectdue to the new 2004 rules. The company contine to work on the project.

Hopefully this project will not get in the way of the Aston Martin Le Mans project, which is also stated to race in 2004, as Mazda like Aston are both Ford, and they will not want to of there brands competing for the same prize, like they had in the BTCC a few years ago with Volvo and Ford themselfs.

[paulzinho]

Are they going to do a GTP car then?

[SL]

Looks like another sleepless year then. Those wailing rotarys screaming all night and day.

SL

[pink69]

Mazda will wait till 2004 so they don't build a car with a shelf life on a year. They will build a car for the new reg's.

[Lee Janotta]

Hmm, maybe the chance to have Mazda back will compel the ACO to give their engines parity in 675?

Man, I love rotaries! Perfect race engines!!!

[mickj]

as a mazda 1500 sedan was my 1st car back in 1967, and we have 2 626's in the family now, I'm all for a mazda return,get ray malloch to run it and it will be ok.jim downing 1 of the drivers as well

[Aysedasi]

The wailing Mazda rotaries sounded fantastic! Standing at the restaurants on the Mulsanne in the middle of the night in the mid to late 80's you always knew when one of them was coming along the straight!

I'd also love to see that gorgeous green and orange Renown/Charge livery back again!

[bigh]

Well there's little doubt that it'll make the finish, the fuel allowance will probably decide how fast it runs. Yes, they do sound great, and with the old Panoz running as well it looks like I'll be needing 3 earplugs. A Mazda factory effort would be worth a good bet, but as you say Ford won't want to compete against itself for drivers and team staff.
BigH

[KC]

I wonder if Mazda is looking at doing one of the LMPs or maybe a GT version on their soon to be launched RX-8 here in the US. Mazda has had success in various forms of sportscars in the past, and have a heritage of producing excellent road cars.

BTW, Mazdaspeed still exist, but not in the same guise. They are a tuner for Miatas and RX-7s in California. Maybe this is a new group that bought the name.