Sylvain Tremblay from Coral Springs, Florida is currently leading the GT Pack at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Castrol recently partnered with Mazda and Speedsource, bringing a new paint scheme to the car. The new scheme features castrol colors and a flat black reminiscent of the Mazda Furai.

The other Speedsource RX8 (#69) recently switched drivers from Jeff Segal to Emil Assentato and the #40 Hyper Sport Mazda RX8 had a blown tire which may have damaged an oil line. Check back for frequent updates as we cover this LIVE event!

The New 2009 Mazda RX8

Unveiled at the Detroit International Auto Show, the new 2009 RX8 boasts a sportier set of rims and more aggressive physical appearance package. The most notable addition to the RX8’s trim options is the R3 Sport Package. This new version will include luxury features such as keyless entry and start, a Bose sound system and even more leather. Outside you’ll get a sporty accent package, including a new spoiler, side skirts and front bumper.

Sadly, no Mazda 16x beneath the 2009 Mazda RX8’s glimmering hood but they did tweak the gearset from 4.444 to 4.777 - to enhance performance off the line. (So now we can really give those Z guys a run for their money!)

Several Mazda RX8 GT Racecars are set to compete at the 2008 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona on the 26th of this month.

Here’s a closer look at the Mazda RX8 competitors tentatively scheduled:

* This list has now been updated to include drivers.

#08 Mazda RX8 GT Car
Engine: Mazda 20b (3 Rotor Engine)
Team: Goldin Brothers Racing
Sponsor(s): CCM Cellular

Driver(s): Steve Goldin, Homestead, FL
Keith Goldin, Miami, FL

#30 Mazda RX8 GT Car
Engine: Mazda 20b (3 Rotor Engine)
Team: Racers Edge Motorsports
Sponsor(s): Guardian Edge Technologies

Driver(s): Ken Dobson, Sonoma, CA
Bob Michaelian, Seal Beach, CA
Jim Michaelian, Long Beach, CA

#40 Mazda RX8 GT Car
Engine: Mazda 20b (3 Rotor Engine)
Team: Hyper Sport
Sponsor(s): SoBe Beverage Company

Driver(s): Joe Foster, Norcross, GA
Charles Espenlaub, Lutz, FL
Patrick Dempsey, Beverly Hills, CA

#48 Mazda RX8 GT Car
Engine: Mazda 20b (3 Rotor Engine)
Team: Team Spencer Motorsports
Sponsor(s): Trench Shoring Services

(Note: Picture outdated, old #63)

Driver(s): Richard Grupp, Decatur, GA
Gary Drummond, Columbus, NC

#69 Mazda RX8 GT Car
Engine: Mazda 20b (3 Rotor Engine)
Team: Speedsource
Sponsor(s): FXDD

Driver(s): Emil Assentato, Locust Valley, NY
Nick Longhi, Nyack, NY
Jeff Segal, Miami, FL

#70 Mazda RX8 GT Car
Engine: Mazda 20b (3 Rotor Engine)
Team: Speedsource
Sponsor(s): Mazda, Mazdaspeed, Castrol

Driver(s): David Haskell, Plantation, FL
Sylvain Tremblay, Coral Springs, FL
Nick Ham, Evergreen, CO

Tune in to SPEED channel at 1:30 P.M. Saturday, January 26th to watch the event LIVE!

This January Mazda will unveil the Mazda Furai at the North American International Auto Show. They will also be premiering the Mazda Taiki, Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE (North American Premieres) as well as the New 2009 Mazda RX8 (World Premiere). Technical Exhibits will include cutaways of the new Mazda Rotary Engine the - Mazda 16x - as well as Mazda’s latest V6 engine and their improved “clean diesel” engine.

Full list of Exhibits (taken from Mazda.com)

Major Exhibits on stand

Mazda RX News is hoping to bring you exclusive coverage of the event in Detroit, next month.

Stay tuned.

These pictures, supposedly of the newly redesigned Mazda RX8 have been circulating the web. It appears the front end has had the biggest facelift, and of course, new wheels. The sides and rear appear as normal.

One should also note the monitoring hardware attached to the rear exhaust tip. Is this a sign that the new Mazda RX8 carries the Mazda 16x Long-Stroke Rotary Engine beneath its hood?

Pictures courtesy: http://www.autoblog.com

Now for lease in Japan is the - Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE!

The Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE - boasts the world’s first hydrogen-powered rotary engine. The vehicle is “duel-fuel”, which means the driver can select to use hydrogen or gasoline. Hydrogen produces trace amounts of Carbon Dioxide compared to gasoline and has been hailed as a likely alternative to oil. Mazda has been devloping the hydrogen rotary engine since the early 90s and began road-testing the Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE in 2004.

So far Mazda has distributed at least eight Hydrogen REs to government bodies within Japan. Mazda sees hydrogen power as the future of internal combustion. Seita Kanai, Mazda’s Senior Managing Executive Officer in charge of R&D, said,

“Based on Mazda’s unique hydrogen technology, we have been advancing research and development of hydrogen vehicles for over 15 years as part of our initiatives for a future hydrogen society. We are extremely pleased to be delivering this RX-8 Hydrogen RE to METI. Hydrogen rotary engines demonstrate the still untapped potential of internal combustion. Going forward, we will continue to develop vehicles for hydrogen rotary engines and improve their performance in order to contribute to the realization of an eco-friendly, hydrogen-based society.”

The Mazda RX8 Hydrogen RE will make its North American debut at the International Auto Show in Detroit this January.

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http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2007/200707/070731a.html