MAZDA TO JOIN TCR BOOM

MAZDA IS set to join the worldwide TCR explosion, including a factory supported entry in Australia.

By MARK FOGARTY

Auto Action has learned that development of a TCR version of the top-selling Mazda 3 to race from next year is almost complete.

Aimed primarily at TCR in the United States, the Mazda 3 racer is also scheduled to join the new Australian series in 2020.

AA sources have confirmed that Mazda Australia is planning to facilitate the importation of TCR 3s from the first production batch and provide support for a leading team to run them.

TCR supremo Marcello Lotti hinted at Mazda’s impending entry during his visit to the new local series’ second round at Phillip Island, forecasting the arrival of a major new manufacturer from Japan.

Several sources have confirmed that the big new maker is Mazda, whose American racing division has been behind the push to develop a TCR version of the top-selling 3 model.

The Mazda 3 is among the most popular cars in Australia and a customer racing version for TCR has rekindled its latent interest in a local racing program.

Over the past decade or more, Mazda Australia has looked at everything from Supercars to rallying, but TCR – with formal backing from headquarters in Hiroshima – is the first category to offer easy entrée and a relevant marketing tie-in.

“New manufacturers are preparing to develop new cars,” Lotti told AA at Phillip Island. “One for the next season is a brand I cannot tell you the name now, but I’m sure it could be really good news for Australia.”

He added: “Probably there is two or three new car brands. One is MG that just made a press release from China. They want to focus in 2020 on Asia-Pacific.

“There is a Fiat Tipo under development. They have just submitted the chassis and finalised the engine for homologation. It will probably be ready for the next season also.

“There are two others I cannot tell you.”

One of them is Mazda, the biggest name of three new manufacturers poised to offer TCR racing versions of popular small hatchback or sedan models.

Fiat’s TCR Tipo is based on the underpinnings of the pacesetting Alfa Romeo Giulietta racer, while Chinese-owned MG is joining the fray in addition to Geely’s new Link & Co brand, which is contesting this year’s WTCR World Touring Car Cup.

“Other manufacturers are coming,” Lotto declared. “I have also Chinese manufacturers coming next season with an agreement for five years.”

But Mazda’s arrival is by far the biggest boost for TCR, presaging rising interest among Japanese manufacturers. Honda is already involved through its European-developed Civic Type R, while Toyota and Nissan are believed to be on the verge of approving TCR programs.

While Mazda does not have a tailor-made two-litre turbocharged engine to suit the TCR regulations, Lotti confirmed that manufacturers can adapt a motor from its family of powerplants.

“They can use an engine selected from their group,” he explained. “They can choose another engine from inside of the group. For example, the Fiat Tipo will use the engine from (FCA sibling) Alfa Romeo.

“You also have to choose a turbocharger from production, another brand if you want. I know some brands use the Mercedes MK turbo because it is from a production car, but also a nice turbo.”

It is understood that Mazda’s 3 TCR racer has been developed by its American racing division, which is set to shift its unsuccessful focus from IMSA prototype sports car racing to the TCR class of the Michelin Pilot Challenge series next year.

With Bruce Newton

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