The Mazda3 TCR race car has fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic and will not compete in the Touring Car Championship.
The Japanese car manufacturer announced the Mazda3 TCR program in October last year with the intention of making its race debut at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona in January while also participating in the broader 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. The car’s on-track premiere was initially pushed back until 2021 but, sadly, the project has now been killed off before the car could ever make its on-track debut.
Read More: Touring Car Racing Just Got Even More Competitive With The Launch Of The Mazda3 TCR
In a statement issued to Grassroots Motorsports, Mazda USA’s director of communications and experiential marketing Emily Taylor confirmed the project has been canned.
“Given the recent conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has elected to cancel the development program for the Mazda3 TCR car. We thank all our fans and partners for their continued support for Mazda Motorsports,” Taylor said.
The Mazda3 TCR was to be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder producing 350 hp and mated to a six-speed transmission with paddle shifters. It was co-developed with Long Road Racing who is also responsible for the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car and was homologated to compete in any of the 36 TCR-sanctioned championships around the world.
While it’s a shame we won’t see the new Mazda3 TCR hitting racetracks, the road-legal Mazda3 remains one of the finest hatchback/sedans currently on sale at its price and, in the U.S., recently landed in turbocharged form for $29,900. Powering the new flagship Mazda3 is a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 hp and 320 lb-ft (433 Nm) of torque on premium fuel that’s coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
