IMSA – Joest Racing will lead the official Mazda program

Associé de longue date avec Audi Sport en LM P1, et après sa longue histoire avec Porsche en Endurance, Joest racing finally found a new major challenge. It is in the United States and in DPi that the German structure will evolve by taking over the Mazda Motorsports program, until now entrusted to SpeedSource Race Engineering.

“The creation of Mazda Team Joest offers us a unique opportunity to partner with a team with proven success in prototypes and gives us the best chance of returning Mazda to the top of the podium, Explain Masahiro Moro, president and general manager of Mazda North American Operations. I welcome the Joest family to the Mazda family, and I am convinced that together we will write new pages in the book of Mazda successes. »

“We are excited about this new opportunity with Mazda, said Joest Racing Managing Director Ralf Jüttner. Mazda has a long tradition in motorsport and, especially in America, has created an important platform for racing enthusiasts.

For us, this is not only a return to American racing, which we have always enjoyed, but also great news for our Japanese fans who have always warmly supported us. »

Mazda Team Joest looks to 2018

Primary consequence of this announcement, the premature end of the season for the RT24-P DPi entered in the premier category in IMSA. The two prototypes will not compete in the last events of the year.

« I would like to thank our long-time partners at SpeedSource Race Engineering and its owner, Sylvain Tremblay, says John Doonan, motorsports director of Mazda North American Operations.

We have accomplished a lot with their organization at all levels for over two decades. They are a perfect example of a team that has grown through our Mazda system: from club racing, to the 24 Hours of Daytona in GT and then with the Prototype program. »

Joest Racing will establish an American base near Atlanta, Georgia and will soon test the RT24-P, whose chassis designed by the Multimatic company will be reviewed and corrected.