Mazda's Stunning New 600bhp Protoype Racer Is Gunning For Lap Records

This is Mazda’s next prototype racing beast, set for next season’s IMSA championship in America.

The 600bhp four-cylinder turbo is one hell of a looker. New rules for the 2017 season mean that Mazda could incorporate more of its Kodo road car styling into the RT24-P than it could before. It’s not just for show, though: the new bodywork is as slippery through the air as a greased eagle. Lap records are expected to tumble, and boy is it easy on the eye.

Incredibly open rules for the IMSA ‘P’ (Prototype) class mean cars have as much as 50bhp and 143kg between them, with V8s mixing it up alongside turbocharged V6s and inline fours.

Mazda’s interpretation of the rules isn’t far away from the current LMP2 class for FIA endurance racing, but sadly the company’s careful budget management right now means it’s limiting the car’s action to the IMSA series.

While it’s a Mazda engine, the RT24-P’s all-new chassis comes from Riley Technologies and Multimatic. Autocar quotes Mazda North America’s director of motorsports John Donnan as saying: “This is a huge moment for Mazda Motorsports and the entire Mazda family. To have a car that features Mazda design language at the top level of our motorsports programme is meaningful for us as a brand.

“Mazda has good, long-standing relationships with Riley and Multimatic and is happy to be the first to test their new chassis. We believe we have the right team, the right drivers and the right chassis to win races and championships.”