Rally car Mazda3

xenon929

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Boosted 2004 Mazda 3s
Pictures of the 3 rally car in the making.

There's the link to the pictures...This will definately represent! (wrc)

And here's the article: It's a few weeks old but in case some of you didn't know.


Mazda Rallying 2005--The Zoom is Back!
Updated 6-20-05
New Mazda3 Rally Car to campaign Rally America Championship

June 20, 2005

The long awaited debut of the Mazda3 Rally Car will take place June 22 in Colorado Springs, CO as the Burmeister Rallysport team take their new woods weapon up the famous mountain, Pikes Peak!

See development photos of the new car here! Learn more about the team here!

After taking a sabbatical from most of the rally season in 2004, Burmeister Rallysport announces today that the MAZDASPEED team will be back in 2005 to contest the Rally America Championship. And with a fair bit more "Zoom" than in previous years.

"We are moving up to the unlimited two wheel drive class of Group5 for 2005," explained Eric Burmeister, the owner and driver of Burmeister Rallysport. "We will be unveiling a new Mazda3 Rally Car prior to Oregon Trail."

Burmeister, who has taken his Mazda Proteg to class wins in 2002, 2003, and 2004, is ready for the challenge ahead. The team will continue with the trusty Proteg at the first race of the season, the snow and ice covered Sno*Drift Rally in Atlanta, MI this weekend, running outclassed in Group2 configuration for the race. He's not too worried. "I've finished on the podium in overall 2wd at this race the last 3 years I've ran it. I like ice!"

From there the team goes to Oregon in April with a new car and sights on a new championship. After Oregon is Pennsylvania, followed by the famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb in Colorado. From there they head back east to Maine, and then to Minnesota. They finish up the season with a trip back to Colorado for another rally and then the finale, the Lake Superior Rally in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Details of the new Mazda3 Rally Car as well as the incredible cast of skilled people involved will be made available as the unveiling draws nearer. "We have assembled a team of what I believe are the most capable people in the nation for this project," said Burmeister. "As well, we have documented the engineering and build process for a video presentation.

Co-driving for Burmeister this year will be Dave Shindle, an accomplished co-driver with experience in both the U.S. and Canada. His job as a Jemba reconnaissance specialist for previous rallies gives him an edge with the stage notes used in the Rally America Championship. "I'm real excited to be with the Mazda team," said the Virginia native. "and I'm excited to be competing regularly in the U.S. again."

Steve Sanders, manager of Mazda's in-house motorsport division, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, was instrumental in making the project happen. "We are excited to be involved with the new Rally America series," Sanders stated. "We enjoyed helping Eric with his Proteg effort and look forward to seeing him continue to greater heights with the new Mazda3 Rally Car."

The Rally America Championship series is a "stage" or "performance" rally series that stretches across the nation. Competitors race flat out against the clock for hundreds of miles on a course of back roads closed to public usage. A co-driver or navigator describes the road in tremendous detail to the driver via an intercom system in the helmets.

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For more information, contact Burmeister Rallysport at 313-550-4454
Email: lurch3@prodigy.net
Info on Rally America: www.rally-america.com
Sno*Drift Rally: www.sno-drift.org
 
That is so freaking cool! Pike's Peak, prepare to be PWNED!
 
Its Lurch's gallery for sure, look at the name, SirLurch.

BTW, i have the same GT500 poster in a frame in my office, page 3.
 
xelderx said:
Did anyone notice that they converted the Mazda3 rear suspension to the same setup as the Proteges?

Good eye, xelderx.

The 3 has great suspension for tarmac, but has way too much camber change for long travel applications on gravel.

Since the Protege worked tremendously well, and the brake package was a known, and we had a nice complement of spares from the other car, and we know the Protege uprights/bearings/hubs are tough as nails, we decided not to re-invent the wheel...or the suspension.

That meant making new towers and tubs, but the results are awesome.

Lurch
 
Do you have any spares from the Proteges that you need to get rid of? I really want that rally lamp setup for the hood, but I'd be interested in anything that may or may not be in your way.
 
I'm so happy I could cry... We definitely need some better photos of the 3 spitting some dirt around the corners though!! :D
 
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