Team Australia 'Lite' motivated for MX-5's Japanese Birthday

[hot rod]

I would attach the relevant images but there doesn't seem to be an option too??

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A team of four Aussies has been invited to compete at ‘Mazda Festa’, Mazda Japan’s yearly celebration of the MX-5 in September. Three Sydney-based drivers will travel to Japan representing Ian Luff Motivation Australia with the support of Mazda Australia and Laminex.

Team Australia ‘Lite’ has been invited to compete at the 18th annual Mazda Party Race, a pro-am feature race celebration of the MX-5 that that brings together Japan’s top professional drivers with a select group of local motoring media and magazines to race and enjoy the MX-5 in a competitive and safe environment.

Held at Japan’s oldest racetrack – the 2.1km Tsukuba Circuit, north of Tokyo – the Australian team will race in one of 30 current-spec NC MX-5s prepared specifically for the four-hour endurance race. Competition will include some of Japan’s leading professional race drivers and high profile media outlets.

The one-day festival’s main event is the Party Race, a four-hour enduro that’s as much about economy as speed – teams are allocated just 90 litres of fuel to complete the race. Adding to the drama, in past years many leading cars have run dry within sight of the finish.

All identical in specification, the current NC-model MX-5 with the 118kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder is standard apart from a roll-cage and safety gear, with top speed around 150km/h down the tight circuit’s back straight.

Team Australia Lite will consist of Motivation Australia director Ian Luff, senior instructor and multiple club car champ John Boston, motoring journalist and Mazda Targa Tasmania driver Dean Evans, and Japan-based motoring journalist Peter Lyon. This same team led the 2005 race for one hour and was placed in third with nine minutes remaining before suffering bad luck with a minor mechanical problem.

The Mazda Festival also features supporting events such as a one-make RX-8 race, ‘Miss Mazda’, plus static and on-track demonstrations including a current RX-7 Japanese Touring Car and the Mazda 767 and 787B 1991 Le Mans winner.

The Mazda Festa Party Race is on Saturday, September 16 at Tsukuba Raceway, outside Tokyo, Japan.

Fast Facts

* Ian Luff Motivation Australia is the number one post-licence driving academy and special events company in the country (established 24 years).
* Laminex Group has supported Ian Luff in racing for the past five years including the round victory at the 2006 Clipsal 500 Lotus Trophy.
* The Mazda MX-5 is recognised by Guinness World Records as The Best Selling Sports Car, with over 720,000 units sold since 1989. Since publication, the total has reached 770,000.
* Team Australia has competed in the Party Race three times, with a best result of 8th in 2002 after leading the race for two hours.
* The Japanese Tsukuba Circuit is playable on Sony PlayStation’s Gran Turismo 4.
* The MX-5 ‘Team Australia’ and ‘Team Australia Lite’ are independent of and not affiliated with any other Team Australia racing program.

[CT]

It's a shame blokes who race MX5s (and just Mazda's in general) without any Mazda support aren't offered these gigs. It would be nice to see Mazda recognise the people who are putting their brand on show in local competition and who are doing it without any official Mazda factory support. Hell, we can't even access the Mazda Motorsports program for cheap parts because we don't live in the USA or Japan. (BTW, nothing personal Bozzo)

[Craig]

Email them to cnb1971@yahoo.com and I'll host them!

[Boyracer]

I reckon Mazda and Alan Horsley only care about big names and Journalists...look back at all the \"factory\" cars mazda has raced and who drives them...

[Bozman]

Yes it is a tough gig but hey somebody has to do it. I started doing this race back in 2001 with a Japanese team. Each year I have been inviting or getting people that I would like to be involved in the team. Last year we battled all race with the Best Motoring Team that have some of Japan legends invoved in the team. Believe it or not, Horsley has nothing to do with this gig now.

We are going to give it our best shot and hopefully bring home some silverware. Our best result is 8th which is the highest place for a non Japanese team and that year we were rewarded with 100kg of rice..true !

John Boston
Senior Instructor
www.ianluff.com.au

[Craig]

Each year I have inviting or getting people that I would like to be involved in the team

Hmmmm!

[conchaae]

Each year I have inviting or getting people that I would like to be involved in the team

Hmmmm!

Pick me, pick me. See sig times for std MX5 ...seriously!

[slammer]

Conchase change your sig or no one will pick you

117 = 1:57 116 = 1:56, even grannies are faster than that

Remember there are 60 seconds to a minute...

try 77.xx 76.xx...much better


Good luck Boz, Luffy, Deano and Pete!!!

[Caffeine]

Conchase change your sig or no one will pick you

117 = 1:57 116 = 1:56, even grannies are faster than that

Remember there are 60 seconds to a minute...

try 77.xx 76.xx...much better


Good luck Boz, Luffy, Deano and Pete!!!

He beat me Steve so he's not too slow

[slammer]

it's the sig times not the real times Caff (117 secs is slow)