Mazda RX-8 holds 40 international speed records

The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has announced that the Mazda RX-8's attempt to set 40 international speed and endurance records at Papenburg, Germany, last October has been confirmed.

These records can now be added to the list of 37 Mazda RX-8 international vehicle awards and nine RENESIS rotary engine accolades that include four International Engine of the Year awards in 2003 and 2004.

The records were set during a 24-hour period on the 12.3-km oval at the automotive proving grounds in Papenburg with two 231 bhp Mazda RX-8s. Twenty records were set in the FIA Category A (Special Vehicles) and 20 in the FIA Category B (Mass Production Vehicles).

The two sports cars drove more than 5,000 km during the attempt and were piloted by 15 automotive journalists from 11 countries.

The attempt was made under the watchful eyes of the German Motor Sports Organisation DMSB e.V., which ensured all mandatory FIA regulations were adhered to during the attempt.

This included selecting at random three production Mazda RX-8s in Antwerp, Belgium, and sealing their engines and transmissions on site for the Category B attempt vehicle. The Mazda RX-8 used in the record attempt in Category A was a model used in the 2004 Formula Woman Challenge in the UK.

Mazda RX-8's record performance is the latest in a long Mazda tradition of 24-hour endurance races and further proof of how Mazda continues to build on this tradition by delivering Zoom-Zoom driving fun in all their production vehicles, the company said in a statement.

The two Mazda RX-8s with 231 bhp RENESIS rotary engines averaged 212.835 and 215.934 km/h, respectively, over the 24-hour endurance trial. Both shattered a Mazda record previously held by the Mazda 787B race car with a 700 bhp rotary engine that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans averaging 205.133 km/h in 1991.

Forty international FIA records make it official - Mazda RX-8's unique RENESIS rotary engine delivers truly exciting sports car performance and combines this with durability and reliability, even under extreme driving conditions. More information about the records can be found at the FIA Website: www.fia.com.