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Mazda Looking Forward To IMSA Prototype
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Mazda isn't ready to reveal its new-for-2017 Daytona Prototype international, or formally confirm its existence, but the brand's motorsports manager is willing to say he's looking forward to IMSA's new DPi formula.
Mazda Racing announced a five-year plan for its prototype program back in 2014, and with the WeatherTech Championship set to move toward DPi's custom bodywork and engine solutions starting next year at the Rolex 24 At Daytona—within Mazda's five-year plan—the Japanese car company is expected to hit the grid with a DPi of its own.
"We're very excited about the new Daytona Prototype international program from the Mazda side," John Doonan said. "We've announced our intentions, we've been doing our research, making a lot of plans, [and] hope to have some announcements publicly to share in the coming weeks and months.”
The DPi formula allows manufacturers to commission special bodywork to dress its P2 chassis, and according to Doonan, that aspect of DPi fits nicely with Mazda's approach to vehicle styling.
"The unique thing about it is allows us to tell a deeper brand story—the opportunity to integrate Mazda design language, Kodo design language is what we call it, into the race car to tell a deeper story about what our brand stand for and how that ties into our road cars," he added.
Doonan made no effort to contain the enthusiasm he feels for DPi and what it could bring to IMSA's top class.
"We're very excited about how that opportunity has been provided for us; it's a great platform to further share, for us, our brand tagline right now; it's not just a tagline, it's a philosophy, that driving matters," he said.
"In all the things we do from the WeatherTech Championship to the Continental Championship to Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda, is about driving. We're really thrilled about the new program for our particular program, and the new [DPi] platform IMSA has provided."
Mazda Racing announced a five-year plan for its prototype program back in 2014, and with the WeatherTech Championship set to move toward DPi's custom bodywork and engine solutions starting next year at the Rolex 24 At Daytona—within Mazda's five-year plan—the Japanese car company is expected to hit the grid with a DPi of its own.
"We're very excited about the new Daytona Prototype international program from the Mazda side," John Doonan said. "We've announced our intentions, we've been doing our research, making a lot of plans, [and] hope to have some announcements publicly to share in the coming weeks and months.”
The DPi formula allows manufacturers to commission special bodywork to dress its P2 chassis, and according to Doonan, that aspect of DPi fits nicely with Mazda's approach to vehicle styling.
"The unique thing about it is allows us to tell a deeper brand story—the opportunity to integrate Mazda design language, Kodo design language is what we call it, into the race car to tell a deeper story about what our brand stand for and how that ties into our road cars," he added.
Doonan made no effort to contain the enthusiasm he feels for DPi and what it could bring to IMSA's top class.
"We're very excited about how that opportunity has been provided for us; it's a great platform to further share, for us, our brand tagline right now; it's not just a tagline, it's a philosophy, that driving matters," he said.
"In all the things we do from the WeatherTech Championship to the Continental Championship to Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda, is about driving. We're really thrilled about the new program for our particular program, and the new [DPi] platform IMSA has provided."
