Mazda3 — the latest TCR project
This week saw the launch of the latest TCR project — the all-new Mazda3 TCR.
This car will be the first TCR project developed on the American continent, which will make it a high-interest candidate for racing teams competing in the various TCR licenced series in the region, such as the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, TC America, and the Canadian Touring Car Championship.
This doesn’t mean the car won’t be seen elsewhere, as should it be a competitive offering, and with the TCR’s Balance of Performance system, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be as long as it’s a good and reliable base car, some European or Asian series could well take delivery of the model.
The car itself is the hatchback variant of the fourth generation Mazda3, which was just launched this year, which also gives a fresh look to the grid — with the prominent Cupra and Volkswagens which adorn most TCR grids, now edging close to being a six-year-old model.
The car will run with the same SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox as used by the Volkswagen Group and Hondas, but there’s an option to run with the Xtrac gearbox, as fitted to the Hyundai i30 N TCR.
“TCR represents a great opportunity for us to showcase the new Mazda3 and provide our customers another avenue to race Mazda vehicles,” said Masahiro Moro, chairman and CEO of Mazda North American Operations.
“Some of our most important successes in IMSA and SRO TC America have been thanks to dedicated customers who chose to race with Mazda, and we hope the next generation of Mazda racers see the same potential in the Mazda3 TCR.”
The technical specifications for the Mazda3 TCR:
Engine : i4 Mazda3 TCR single turbo
Power: 350bhp,
Torque: 490Nm
Gearbox: SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox, with an optional Xtrac gearbox available instead
Engine management system: Magneti Marelli
Dampers: Bilstein coil-overs, optional Ohlins
Brakes: Brembo
Steering wheel: MPi (Max Papis Innovations)
Wheels: Volk Racing TE37
Data system: MoTec 180
The Mazda3 TCR becomes the 20th different model developed for TCR in just five years.
TCR cars launched so far
2015 — SEAT León TCR/Cupra TCR — built in Spain by Cupra Racing
2015 — Honda Civic Type R FK2 TCR — built in Italy by JAS Motorsport
2015 — Ford Focus TCR — built in the UK by Onyx, then Hong Kong by FRD
2015 — Subaru WRX STi TCR — built in Italy by Top Run Motorsport
2015 — Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR — built in Spain by Cupra Racing
2016 — Opel Astra TCR — built in Germany by Kissling Motorsport
2016 — Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR — built in Italy by Romeo Ferraris
2016 — Peugeot 308 Racing Cup — built in France by Peugeot Sport
2017 — Audi RS 3 LMS — built in Spain by Cupra Racing
2017 — Lada Vesta TCR — built in Russia by Lada Sport
2017 — K:FORCE Kia Cee’d TCR — built in Austria by STARD
2017 — Hyundai i30 N TCR — built in Germany by Hyundai Motorsport
2018 — Peugeot 308TCR — built in France by Peugeot Sport
2018 — Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR — built in Italy by JAS Motorsport
2018 — Renault Mégane RS TCR — built in Switzerland by Vukovic Motorsport
2019 — Lada Vesta Sport TCR — built in Russia by Lada Sport
2019 — Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR — built in Italy by Romeo Ferraris
2019 — Lynk & Co 03 TCR — built in China and the UK by Geely Group Motorsport
2019 — MG 6 XPOWER TCR — built in China by MG XPOWER
2020 — Mazda3 TCR — built in the USA by Long Road Racing
