40 International FIA Records: Two Mazda RX-8s Drive 24 Hours at Full Throttle
All results below are subject to FIA recognition. They are published with the kind approval of the German Motor Sports Organisation DMSB e.V.
Leverkusen / Papenburg: A total of 40 international records have been set by Mazda with two RX-8s. Drivers and technicians celebrated their success at the close of the 24-hour record attempt on the 12.3 km oval at the automotive proving grounds in Papenburg, Germany. The day before, two 170 kW/231 PS Mazda RX-8s had taken the starting line, one in the FIA Category A (Special Vehicles) and a second in the FIA Category B (Mass Production Vehicles). With average speeds of 212,835 and 215,934 km/h, the two sports cars drove more than 5,000 km during the 24-hour attempt. These results clearly demonstrate that Mazda RX-8’s unique RENESIS rotary engine not only provides exhilarating performance, but is durable and reliable even under the most extreme driving conditions.
Record-setting performances of this kind are nothing new to Mazda, which boasts a long tradition of 24-hour endurance races. In this latest 24-hour attempt, both Mazda RX-8s shattered a Mazda record set in 1991 by drivers Bertrand Gachot, Johnny Herbert and Volker Weidler at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. That year, the team drove the Mazda 787B race car with a 515 kW/700 PS rotary engine exactly 4,923.2 km during the 24 hours of the race, with an average speed of 205,133 km/h. In Papenburg, both Mazda RX-8s were clearly faster.
Saturday the 2nd October, 12:20: Mazda Motor Europe engineer Shoji Tokuda waved the green flag and started the 24-hour drive, sending the first Mazda RX-8 on its way into the record books. The driver accelerated, shifted through the gears and then had only one goal—holding the ideal line at full throttle.
Prior to the record attempt, the German Motor Sports Organisation DMSB e.V. had selected three production Mazda RX-8s in Antwerp, Belgium and sealed their engines and transmissions on-site. All remaining stages of the record attempt were accompanied by commissioners of the DMSB e.V. to ensure all mandatory regulations of the FIA were adhered to. The second vehicle used in the record attempt had proven its reliability in last season’s Formula Woman Challenge in the UK. The only difference between the two Mazda RX-8s that took the starting line for one of the world’s fastest endurance trials, and all other Mazda RX-8 production models was added safety equipment - both had special body-contour seats, five-point seat belts and a roll cage. The Category A Mazda RX-8 was outfitted with an additional fuel tank and 19-inch wheels.
The cars were piloted by 15 automotive journalists from 11 countries, who completed the tough, 24-hour test on the 12.3 km high-speed oval, pausing only for necessary pit stops and to change drivers. Other than that, it was full throttle around the track. The record drive attempt was supported by the tyre manufacturer Kumho and Aral, which provided high-octane Aral Ultimate petrol.
The two Mazda RX-8s drove their rounds at consistently high speeds and without incident. Nonetheless, not everything went according to plan. An hour after midnight it began to rain heavily, but neither the drivers nor Jürgen Herschel from the tyre supplier Kumho panicked. Herschel lowered the tyre pressure, which resulted in an improvement of their hydroplaning resistance capacity. Despite the one-hour rain, the average speed of both cars remained high.
Sunday the 3rd of October, 12:20: Shoji Tokuda dropped the chequered flag and waved his two Mazda RX-8s into the pit. A total of 40 international FIA records were set by both cars. Mazda RX-8’s RENESIS engine, the world’s only production rotary engine, had passed its endurance test with flying colours. Mission accomplished.
40 International FIA Records: Two Mazda RX-8s Drive 24 Hours at Full Throttle
i think going full throttle is going easy on the engine. id like to see it drive a stop and go, simulating traffic lights, for 24 hours. then i would be impressed.
ever wonder why we say highway milage and street when we sell a car.
Yeah, they didn't mention that it probably got 6mpg and consumed like 16 quarts of oil in the process... that engine is very inefficient and is known to burn oil. Any car could survive 24 hours of that - especially a rotary, which is comfortable spinning at high rpm.
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'01 BMW M5
'98 Integra LS - non-VTEC autocross / daily driver (aka Track-Tested / Mother Approved) Daily-driven 87 octane Porsche destroyer
Latest Auto-X: 1st in class, 24th/83 overall.
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My rotary friend tells me that the higher you spin them, the smoother they get, up to a point. His 12A N/A didn't really appreciate being taken to 11000rpm frequently, & subsequently, shafted itself.
i think going full throttle is going easy on the engine. id like to see it drive a stop and go, simulating traffic lights, for 24 hours. then i would be impressed.
ever wonder why we say highway milage and street when we sell a car.
of course u cant drive 24 hours with out pit stops and driver changes. they did the circuit at 212kmph, i dont know the conversion but i assume thats fast.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alithiem
yay the renesis lasted 24 hours! show me the list of cars that couldnt....
many RACE produced cars (Ferrari, Audi, Benz, BMW, Porche...) have trouble making the 24 hour lemans. considering this is a mass produced rotary engine that was driven full throttle at a higher average speed than the most lemans cars for 24 hours, nonetheless breaking 40 records from an organisation that existed since 1904, i'd say its an accomplishment worth noting. im sure a honda civic or a m3 can accomplish that feat, but if it held one of those 40 records it just lost it.
of course u cant drive 24 hours with out pit stops and driver changes. they did the circuit at 212kmph, i dont know the conversion but i assume thats fast.
many RACE produced cars (Ferrari, Audi, Benz, BMW, Porche...) have trouble making the 24 hour lemans. considering this is a mass produced rotary engine that was driven full throttle at a higher average speed than the most lemans cars for 24 hours, nonetheless breaking 40 records from an organisation that existed since 1904, i'd say its an accomplishment worth noting. im sure a honda civic or a m3 can accomplish that feat, but if it held one of those 40 records it just lost it.
I don't think you understand what they are trying to say.
There are alot more variables involved in racing compared to two cars going around in circles at 132 mph.
I too think the effort is comendable, but as far as squashing the issues of the renesis engine, I am not sold by what Mazda is trying to do.
Do I even have to mention that production car engines are supposed to work for well over 100k miles with minor tuneups, and are mass-produced, while a racing engine is rebuilt often, sometimes every single race, and are usually one-off designs? That is just a ridiculous comparison, I'm sorry.
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'01 BMW M5
'98 Integra LS - non-VTEC autocross / daily driver (aka Track-Tested / Mother Approved) Daily-driven 87 octane Porsche destroyer
Latest Auto-X: 1st in class, 24th/83 overall.
Complete mod list and updated race results here: http://www.freewebs.com/white98ls - don't forget to sign the guestbook! Autocrossing for a day is the best $25 you can spend
Race engines are designed to give all they can in a short period of time, then they pretty much fall apart.
Here is part of an article, in which a motoring journalist talks to a Formula 1 engineer: "Gerhard, can you put a used F1 engine in your road car?" Stunned silence. He looks at me like I've just asked if he enjoys cross-dressing.
"But... why?"
"To, um, go really fast. And, er, make lots of noise."
"Yes, you can go fast for 400 kilometres, then..." he makes a hand gesture to indicate the motor exploding, then turns away.
"But what if the mechanics detune it first?" He can't believe I'm persisting with this. Neither can I.
"You'd go fast for 400 kilometres and a few more, then... bang!"
And there's that look again.
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