Mazda DPi drivers prep for Reunion roles

Mazda's RT24-P Daytona Prototype internationals might be sidelined for the remainder of the IMSA calendar, but the same cannot be said for their drivers.

The factory WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Prototype program will be back in January as Mazda Team Joest, and while aces like Jonathan Bomarito, Tristan Nunez, Joel Miller and Tom Long thought they would only take part in testing with the RT24-Ps, Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan has come up with a fun alternative.

"We're going to bring our four drivers to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and put three of the guys in Mazda's iconic sports cars," Doonan told RACER. "Bomarito will be in a Mazda 767B from 1989 (pictured above); it's in Charge livery – it's the predecessor the Mazda 787B that won Le Mans in 1991.

"We're going to have Joel Miller drive the IMSA GTO Mazda RX-7 [from 1991, pictured below] and Tom Long, who has been such an important part of our sedan racing history, will race the [1989] IMSA GTU Mazda MX6. Tristan will be there supporting them and learning, because he'll be in one of the cars as we rotate drivers for upcoming vintage events."

Mazda's presence at the Reunion is among the largest in the paddock. It's fleet of rotary-powered prototypes, GTs and tin-tops always provide a sensory overload, and with the inclusion of its current IMSA Prototype drivers, the brand will add another layer of interest to the event.

"It's become a tradition for Mazda to put members of our leadership team and associates who race in the fleet of historic cars we raced throughout the world, and while we'll continue to honor that tradition, we also felt we had a unique opportunity here with our IMSA drivers to take a page from history," Doonan added.

"If it weren't for the changes we've made with our new Mazda Team Joest initiative, I'm not sure the boys would be in a position to race these amazing cars at our home track. But since we're taking a step back to get our Prototype program ready to win next year, we thought it was important for them to race some of the cars that built Mazda's winning tradition in sports cars. The timing ended up being perfect for everyone involved and I can't wait to see the smiles on their faces."

Scheduled for Aug. 17-20, Mazda's Reunion fleet will have an important new addition as Jim Downing's IMSA GTP Lights championship-winning 1985 Argo JM19 will make its first appearance under its tent.