Jeff Segal powered his No. 69 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 to the GT pole. Turning a lap time of 1:49.282, Segal edged out the Racers Edge Motorsports RX-8 of Jordan Taylor by 0.089 seconds. 2009 pole-sitter Sylvain Tremblay qualified third, giving Mazda an impressive 1-2-3 sweep in qualifying. The RX-8 was also selected as the pace car for this years race.

The race will air on SPEED Channel beginning at 3pm Saturday.

3-Rotor RX-8 in car video lap of Daytona: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...-in-car-video/

 

Very cool! sounds amazing, can't wait to watch the coverage on Saturday!

 

Nice!

 

For those of you in to details of the prep level/rules:

2-15 Mazda RX8 (Prep 2)
2-15.1 20B Cosmo three rotor (Mazda Spec parts). 2.0 liter, 9.7 compression ratio, 3-52mm throttle bodies, maximum of 6 injectors, maximum fuel pressure 4.2 bar, intake manifold is free. Maximum RPM 8600. Call GRAND-AM for parts list at 386-681-6681.
2-15.2 Minimum weight 2220 lbs or 2310 lbs with DP transaxle.
2-15.3 Six-speed transmission.
2-15.4 Maximum body width is 73.5 inches.
2-15.5 Engine set-back 5.125 inches from spindle centerline to 1st spark plug.
2-15.6 Complete rear wing height w/ end plates cannot exceed roof height. 2-15.7 Fuel capacity 24 gallons May use oil in fuel. May machine the blue fuel rig restrictor
to an inside dimension of 1.200 inch with square edges.
2-15.8 Allowed larger/higher exhaust position.
2-15.9 Tire sizes are 285/645-18 front and305/660R18 rear.
2-15.10 2009 Mazda RX-8 “R3” bodywork permitted with 3” maximum front splitter dimension.

 

Those are some big tires
Love watching and hearing that car!

 

I like the three 52 mm TB's

 

Come on Saturday and SPEED channel. Sweet!

 

Very cool! The red car from the video, the #30 racer's edge car, is also being driven by a semi-local here named Jade Buford. I want to say he's only 20 or 21yrs old! Living the dream! I paddocked next to him at Barber back in May(he was driving a mini cooper then). They also had there 997 GT3 at the track. Really nice people and as soon as his dad found out I had just returned from Afghanistan 2 weeks prior, he absolutely insisted on buying my lunch. Very nice people. I ran into his dad at Road Atlanta at PCA event back in October and asked him how Jade was doing. His dad gave me one of his business cards and I saw the 3 Rotor RX-8 on it. That was followed by all kinds of questions on my end

 

I was thinking qualifying would be today so had not checked. Good news.

RacerJason--Do you know if the motor is a peripheral port or not?

 

It is a peripheral port. But rev limited to 8600rpms blows. Use a smaller tube, get better mpg and torque.

Can't wait till the weekend, 16hours of racing on SPEEDtv.

 

We are the champions! Thank you SpeedSource Racing!

 

for all the PP 20B Rx-7s i've seen in videos, for some reason it just sounds sexier (to me) in an Rx-8. i'd give 2/3 of my liver to drive one of those cars.