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Posted (11/05/2009) - Team Sahlen will return to compete in the 2010 KONI Challenge Series. But instead of competing in their SpeedSource built Mazda RX-8, the team will be trading in their rotary power for some turbo power. For 2010, Team Sahlen will be campaigning a brand new 2010 MAZDASPEED3 being built by SpeedSource. The MAZDASPEED3 will be completed and delivered to Team Sahlen at the January Test Days at Daytona International Speedway For 2010, Mazda has identified a new opportunity, entering the all-new MAZDASPEED3 five-door in the hotly contested KONI Challenge series in the Street Tuner (ST) class. MAZDASPEED engineers will work in partnership with SpeedSource to develop the car with all parts and information shared with all Mazda customers. Joe Sahlen, Team Sahlen "We are very excited to have the opportunity to be able to campaign this brand new MAZDASPEED3 for Mazda. I enjoyed getting to drive the RX-8 in ST for the past 3 years. But now I am truly motivated to be stepping behind the wheel of this new SpeedSource built racer. Team Sahlen raced a turbo front wheel drive sport compact from a different Manufacturer a few years ago in KONI challenge, and we had great success with it. Hopefully some of the lessons we learned can be off assistance in the evolution of the MAZDASPEED3 into a winner in the ST class. Sylvain Tremblay, SpeedSource Inc. "Its very significant to our goals that we now have Team Sahlen joining our efforts to campaign the brand new 2010 MAZDASPEED3 in the KONI Challenge Series. Having Team Sahlen as a partner with SpeedSource and MAZDASPEED in both the KONI and ROLEX series will be a strong benefit as we all work to take on the competition in both Grand American classes." Will Nonnamaker, Team Sahlen "By trading in our Steve Sanders, MAZDASPEED Motorsports "The greatest complement we receive is when racers chose to buy our products to race. And having Team Sahlen choose our products to race in both the ROLEX and KONI series is proof of what we are trying to achieve. Team Sahlen is the last competitor in the KONI Challenge Series to win in a Front Wheel Drive Mazda. Hopefully that experience and knowledge will assist as the MAZDASPEED3 goes head-to-head with many of the same cars that our customers cross-shop." David Spitzer, Grand-Am "The KONI Challenge has over a dozen makes and models competing for the most diverse grid in racing. We are happy to welcome the new MAZDASPEED3 to the series." The car: The KONI Challenge Spec MAZDASPEED3 will feature a "crate stock engine" with a sealed factory ECU. All SpeedSource developed parts will be sold through MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development. This will ensure the same level of customer support that has made the RX-8 the car of choice in the Rolex Grand-Am GT championship. The street going MAZDASPEED3 has a standard 263hp turbocharged Mazda MZR engine and has a base MSRP of $23,945. Mazda is the brand of choice for road-racers across In addition to campaigning in the KONI Series with the SpeedSource MAZDASPEED3, Team Sahlen will also be debuting their recently acquired SpeedSource Mazda RX-8s in the ROLEX Sports Car Series during 2010. Both the GT & ST class Mazdas will be identically painted in the Team Sahlen Red, Black and Yellow branding that fans have become so familiar with over the years.
The 2010 Team Sahlen ROLEX & KONI Challenge Series Campaign will be supported by MAZDASPEED, HRPWorld.com, HAWK Performance, Cool Shirt, TheRaceSite.com, Grassroots Motorsports, Holliday Canopies, Alcon, CM (Accompanied photo caption is an artist rendition of the KONI Challenge Series Team Sahlen MAZDASPEED3) |
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