The Mazdas at the Rolex 24 at Daytona will look familiar, but nearly everything is new. Mazda is racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a new team, and much under the skin of the Mazda RT-24P Daytona Prototype international car is changed.
The driver lineup has changed as well. While a few drivers are returning, they are paired with new co-drivers. Tristan Nuñez returns to drive the No.77; he’ll be joined by Oliver Jarvis full time and Rene Rast for Daytona and the other long races. Jonathan Bomarito is back in the No. 55, partnering with Harry Tincknell. Spencer Pigot will add on to his Ed Carpenter Racing IndyCar Series duties by joining that pair for the long events.
Mazda took a break following the first three races of 2017, after scoring a best finish of third at Long Beach for Nuñez and Bomarito. The remainder of the year was spent transitioning to Team Joest and making changes to the car, which includes revised suspension geometry and reduced weight. Testing in December and at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 indicated positive results.
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