Mazda RX-8 Sets 40 FIA Speed Records

During the 24 hour time period where the cars lapped the 12.3 km (7.6 mile) oval raceway in Papenburg, Germany, a total of 40

Through day, night and even heavy downpour, both RX-8s charged on averaging nearly 219 km/h (136 mph). (Photo: Mazda Canada)

records were set. Each car covered over 5,000 kilometers (3,105 miles) of testing, and the cars set average speeds of 212.835 km/h (132.239 mph) and 218.934 km/h (136.039 mph). Over the day-long time span of the event, the driver team consisting of 15 journalists from 11 countries drove full-throttle around the best line, stopping only to refuel and change drivers. The only trouble the team faced was a snapped trunk release cable.

Admittedly, Mazda didn't face a lot of competition in this event as only a handful of automakers have ever made rotary engines, with the RX-8 the only vehicle currently in production to utilize the rotary configuration. According to Shoki Tokuda, a chief engineer at Mazda, this is beside the point. He said, "We can't think of a better example of reliability, strength and power of the Mazda RENESIS engine than a round-the-clock race against time."

During the 24 hour time-trial, Mazda also set a company best for distance records traveled in 24 hours. The previous record was set

The records were made possible because of a group effort from Mazda and the 15 journalists who helped pilot the two RX-8s to victory. (Photo: Mazda Canada)

in 1991 by Johnny Herbert, Bertrand Gachot and Volker Weildler at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team drove a one-off 787B race car powered by a 700 horsepower rotary engine, racking up 4923.2 km (3059.13 miles) at an average speed of 205.133 km/h (127.463 mph). Amazingly, both Category A and Category B RX-8s driven at Papenburg were clearly faster.

Given recent events and those of the past, Mazda's designers and engineers should be proud that their efforts to create a totally unique sports car have succeeded. Not only does the iconoclast RX-8 stand as an award winner, but it also holds the title to a number of impressive records. Having passed durability and capability tests with flying colors, enthusiasts can only hope that Mazda will find yet more uses for of the RENESIS motor.