Following in the footsteps of other mainstream carmakers like Audi, Mazda is developing a racing version of its SKYACTIV-D diesel engine for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Japanese automaker will supply the 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel unit to teams competing in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class of international motorsport starting from next year.
The SKYACTIV-D race engines are currently being jointly developed by the Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan, Mazda North American Operations and Florida-based SpeedSource Engineering.
“Today we reopen our love affair with Le Mans and mark the beginning of a whole new chapter in motor racing for Mazda,” commented Jay Amestoy, Vice President of Mazda Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).
He continued: “We’ve won international races with rotary engine technology at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring. Now we’re looking to return to the winner’s circle with what we believe will be the most advanced and cleanest production-based powerplant the sport has ever seen.”
Mazda, which is the only Asian carmaker to have won the Le Mans endurance race, in 1991, said that dyno testing of prototype engines has already begun with on-track testing is scheduled to start before the end of the year.
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