In a recent press announcement, Mazda said that it will be introducing a new Prototype race car at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show which begins November 16.
The new Prototype will compete in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class at the top level of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2017.
We don’t know many details at this point, but since the discontinuation of the long running Daytona Prototype (DP) class at the end of this year, there has been a lot of speculation about the new cars. According to IMSA,
all DPi cars will use the same chassis, suspension and many other components as LM P2 cars competing in championships. The DPi car will be a standard ACO/FIA homologated 2017 LM P2 Prototype chassis from one of the four approved constructors (Dallara, Onroak Automotive, ORECA or Riley/Multimatic) fitted with IMSA-homologated, manufacturer-designed and branded bodywork and engines.
Masahiro Moro, President and CEO, Mazda North American Operations, John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports North America, Ken Saward, Sr. Manager of Design, Mazda Design Americas will all be in attendance to unveil the car along with current Mazda Prototype drivers Jonathan Bomarito, Tom Long, Joel Miller and Tristan Nunez.