Mazda Roadster, biodiesel-powered Mazda2 to race in Super Taikyu 2022

Mazda announces its plans to compete in the upcoming Super Taikyu endurance race in Japan this year. The Hiroshima-based automotive brand said that it will be fielding two entries: the Mazda Roadster (Mazda MX-5) and the Mazda2 Bio concept.

The former will use Mazda’s conventional Skyactiv-G gasoline engine while the latter will be fitted by the brand’s Skyactiv-D diesel engine that will use a 100-percent biomass-derived next-generation biodiesel fuel.

According to Mazda, plans to compete in Super Taikyu 2022 will help it put the Mazda2 Bio concept through its paces and expand the use of next-generation biodiesel, an alternative option toward achieving carbon neutrality. The carmaker adds that through its participation in the upcoming endurance race, it also aims to contribute toward revitalizing motorsports in Japan.

Both the Mazda Roadster and the Mazda2 Bio concept will be racing under the Mazda Racing Spirit banner which will be led by Mazda Motor Corporation Managing Executive Officer Ikuo Maeda. The roadster will wear the number 12 while the biodiesel-powered concept car will wear the number 55.

Mazda has not announced the drivers who will be filling in the seats for the number 12 car but has revealed that the number 55 car will be driven by pro racing drivers, Kaoru Ijiri and Yutaka Seki, together with in-house drivers Kazuhiro Terakawa and Ikuo Maeda.

Helping Mazda’s Super Taikyu 2022 ST-Q class campaign will be Team Nopro (Nogami Project Ltd.) and HM Racers (Hiroshima Mazda Co., Ltd.).

The ST-Q class allows entries from manufacturer-developed, non-homologated special racing vehicles, like the Mazda2 Bio concept.

Photos from Mazda

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