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Read the complete Mazda Returning to 24 Hours of Le Mans story at AutoGuide.comEarlier in the month, Mazda announced its diesel racing program for the Grand Am series, but the Skyactiv-D will also be present at next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Teams competing in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans can now purchase racing versions of Mazda’s Skyactiv-D Clean Diesel powerplants. The powerplants are stock-block 2.2-liter, diesel four-cylinders with dual-stage turbochargers helping provide “outstanding performance and fuel economy coupled with the kind of quality, durability and reliability needed to produce great street cars and win endurance races,” according to John Doonan, Mazda North American Operations Director of Mazda Motorsports.
Dempsey Racing has signed on to become the first LMP2 Skyactiv-D customer, where it will compete in next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans race. “Our long-term partnership with Mazda has been fantastic, and we look forward to mutual success as we prepare for 2013. We are focused on that preparation which is why we are currently testing our LMP2 car here in the US in preparation for the next ALMS event. Our team and partners are excited to be associated with Skyactiv-D technology and the cutting-edge green technology it represents,” said Patrick Dempsey.
It will be exciting to see how well Mazdas clean diesel powerplants stack up against the competition. The Japanese automaker is still the only Asian manufacturer to ever win the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 1991.
