Mazda RX-8 SP repaired and ready for Targa High Country event
At this year's Targa Tasmania, Australia's only factory-backed rotary Mazda race car was forced out of the event after colliding with a competitor's car. The Mazda RX-8 SP has been fixed though and is ready to return to racing. It will compete at the all-new upcoming Targa High Country race event in November.
Mazda Motorsport has confirmed it has been going through a number of testing sessions recently, proving the turbocharged rotary is ready to race again. Steve Glenney and his co-driver Bernie Webb collided with a stranded competitor car at the recent Targa Tasmania leaving the RX-8 with extensive rear end chassis damage.
For the past three months the car has been subjected to hours of work, undergoing panel damage repairs as well as some mechanical restoration. All the car is said to need now is a full respray.
Steve Glenney said in a recent report,
"Crashing out under such extraordinary circumstances was not the way we envisaged winding up this year’s Targa Tasmania. The fact that we were running second outright and chasing down the leading $500,000 Lamborghini Gallardo really showed the true potential of the RX-8 SP. I really can’t wait to continue on this journey with Mazda.”
Allan Horsley, Mazda Motorsport Manager, sees the incident as an opportunity to further evolve the package though. He says his team have been able to improve the characteristics of the car even more, saying in a recent report,
"The RX-8 SP’s biggest advantage has been its handling and chassis balance, but there’s always room for improvement and we couldn’t be more delighted with the result. Steve has shown us what this car is capable of and with the roads used in Targa High Country bearing a resemblance to those down in Tassie, we know the RX-8 SP is well suited to this new event."
The Targa High Country will take place on November 5 until November 7.
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