MAZDA WINS AGAIN WITH SKYACTIV-D CLEAN DIESEL

DETROIT, June 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The breakthrough victory was just a few weeks ago at Road Atlanta.  Now, the Mazda team backed it up with another win, this time in the Motor City.  Joel Miller and Tristan Nunez drove the #00 Visit Florida Racing SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel Mazda6 to the GRAND-AM GX class win.  Miller made the pass for the win after a late race yellow.  

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130601/LA24439)

SpeedSource team-mates Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long finishing third in their #70 Mazda6.  Just as it was in Georgia, it was a three-way battle for most of the race with a Porsche Cayman splitting the two Mazdas.

The all-new SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine in the all-new Mazda6 is a true production based engine.  The engine is 51% stock by parts count, and 63% stock by weight.  Mazda chose this path as it is the most honest way to demonstrate the quality, durability, and reliability of Mazda cars.

Quotes:

John M. Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations: "I can't thank the engineers at both Mazda and SpeedSource enough for the many late nights getting us to this amazing place where we have scored our second win in only our fifth race.  I think the team has earned some Florida vacation time, but with races upcoming at Mid-Ohio, and Watkins Glen, those vacations may need to wait."

Sylvain Tremblay, Owner, SpeedSource Engineering: "Our second win was another leap forward in terms of our overall program development.  This also demonstrates why we have two cars -- to make sure our development is that much faster, and double our chances of a win.  Our #70 car had the pole, led, and set the fastest race lap until a minor electrical gremlin dropped us to third."

Joel Miller, co-driver, #00 VISIT FLORIDA RACING Mazda6:  "This feels like a repeat from Road Atlanta with the #00 taking the lead late in the race.  I'd be happy to see this repeat many more times this year.  This was my first visit to Detroit and I'm really happy to score a win in a town with so much automotive history.  Our Mazda Clean Diesel ran flawless and the SKYACTIV technology showed again today a strong contender.  I look forward to Mid-Ohio in two weeks and the continued development of the SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel package!"

Tristan Nunez, co-driver, #00 VISIT FLORIDA RACING Mazda6:  "Wow what a race. Not only was it my first win in a professional series but it was also my first win on a street course.  I'm thrilled I did this with Mazda, a company that's closer to my heart than any other out there.  Joel had an incredible stint and I am so honored to have stood on the top step beside him. Sylvain and his incredible SpeedSource crew really have done an outstanding job making our Visit Florida SKYACTIV diesel faster than the competition. I think this is the second of many wins for the new Mazda6."

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports, and MAZDASPEED
Mazda is the number-one brand for road-racers across North America among both club racers and professionals.  Thousands of Mazda powered grassroots racers compete in various classes with the SCCA and NASA highlighted by Spec Miata, the world's largest spec class with over 2,500 cars built.  In 2006 Mazda Motorsports established the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder to assist racers in moving up through the ranks.  In 2010 this was expanded to include the Mazda Road to Indy.  Key to Mazda's success is strategic partnerships with the Skip Barber Racing School and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

MAZDASPEED Motorsports is managed by Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).  MNAO is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers.  Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Consumer information can be found at www.mazdausa.com, with press information at www.mazdausamedia.com.  Racers and fans can follow the action on facebook (Mazdaspeed Motorsports).

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations