- 2017/04/18
Iwai “R Magic Roadster” Advances to Best 16
The first and second rounds of the D1GP were held over April 1st and 2nd at Odaiba’s special course where four Mazda machines competed. These were the #7 “Team RE Amemiya GruppeM’s” RX-7 of Yukio Matsui, Takahiro Imamura’s #21 “SAMURAI KANTO TOYO TIRES” RX-7, the Manabu Fujinaka driven #88 “TCP MAGIC” RX-7 and the #77 “EXEDY R Magic D1 Racing” Roadster with Iwai taking the wheel.
The university student maintained #31 RX-7 (FC3S) of Imamura was forced to retire from both rounds with electrical trouble. The round 1 “tanso” (single run) finals were held under rainy conditions where #7 Matsui slipped on a large puddle at the first corner, sending him into a half spin and causing him to lose his rhythm, which he was unable to regain and this saw him eliminated. Matsui went on to say, “I felt like I had to really smash it out in my second run but I pushed a little too hard.” Despite the road surface gradually drying up for the tanso second round, Matsui was unable to grab a high score and was eliminated in qualification.
#88 Fujinaka passed through qualifying for both tanso rounds but was unfortunately eliminated in the finals. He was unable to advance into the “tsuiso” (chasing race) tournament. Fujinaka went on to relate, “My angles in the first and second sectors weren’t sufficient and then between sector 2 and 3 I just lost form.”
On the other hand, #77 Iwai seemed to struggle with the wet road surface in round one’s tanso and dropped out. However, when conditions dried up for round 2 he was able to advance into the best 16 of the tsuiso finals. At that point he went up against #60 Yoichi Imamura but his angles were too shallow during his chase run and he was eliminated, finishing 13th overall. Iwai later said, “For some reason I got really nervous when it came time for the tsuiso.”
This year D1 regular, Iwai is competing in the D1GP with the support of R Magic. He told us about their machine, “I’ve always liked the roadster and it caught my eye because it’s so easy to throw around. The engine has been exchanged to a cross port 13B combined with a Garrett GTX 3582R turbo and produces about 550 horsepower. By reducing the size of the turbines it has become a lot easier to handle but I still need to get used to the new tires. This year I’m competing with R Magic D1 Racing and so the support structure has changed quite a bit. They provide seriously solid back up and I’m going to do my best to live up to their expectations.”
Test by S. Saito, Photos by N. Kaneko
Archive
2023
- 07/18
Johnny Herbert Gets an Applause at Goodwood - 06/21
Mazda 787B Participates in Le Mans 100th Anniversary Ceremony - 04/17
Toshihiko Hirai, Chief Development Officer of the First Roadster, Passes Away - 04/17
MAZDA MX-30 e-SKYACTIV R-EV Powered 8C RE Revealed in Japan for the First Time - 03/21
Mad Mike’s 4-rotor MAZDA3 prepares for Pikes Peak! - 03/16
From Virtual to Real Racers: Challenge Program Underway! - 03/09
4-rotor sound roars at Suzuka Fan Appreciation Day - 02/27
MAZDA SPIRIT RACING’s Two Cars Make an Appearance at the “S-Tai” Fuji Test! - 02/15
Outstanding Motorsports Teams and Drivers Recognized - 01/30
Club MAZDA SPIRIT RACING Launches “Road to S-Tai” Challenge Program - 01/20
Mad Mike Shakes Down MAZDA3 Pikes Peak Spec Car
2021
- 12/06
Over 650 RE cars gather at Haruna Rotary Meeting 2021 - 12/06
Fans who love Mazda and motorsports gather in Okayama! 11/13
Demio SKY-D to compete in S-Tai final round with next-generation biofuel10/01
Launch of EVANGELION e-RACING with Hiroshima Mazda03/20
Three Mazda Le Mans cars on special display at the Automobile Council
2020
07/11
RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT Livery Contest, Grand Prize and Outstanding Works Prizes Awarded05/22
The RX-VISION GT3 comes to Gran Turismo SPORT!03/27
30 Years of the Mazda Roadster (English Edition)03/21
Mazda Motorsports Selects Multimatic to Operate Daytona Prototype International Program01/26
IMSA and ACO agree to establish “LMDh” common technical regs01/25
The New Mazda2 R1 Visits Hemanos Rodríguez Autodrome01/05
Mazda Team Joest Announces 2020 IMSA Prototype Drivers
2019
12/28
Inaugural Mazda participation in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing FESTIVAL12/05
Mazda Fan Festa 2019 Held Under Fine Autumn Weather10/29
“Roadster 30th Anniversary Meeting” Held at Miyoshi Proving Grounds10/17
John Doonan Named IMSA President07/18
GHR Motorsport Aiming to Revolutionize Rally Mexico with the Mazda 2
2018
09/18
RX-7 40th Anniversary at FUJI SPEEDWAY08/02
Mazda Announces Refocus of Motorsports Strategy03/13
GLOBAL MX-5 CUP JAPAN Joint Test ① Sportsland SUGO03/13
Okada Demio to Return to the 2018 All Japan Rally03/06
This Year’s Mazda Team’s Prep for the SUPER TAIKYU SERIES01/16
Mazda Racers Shine at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2018
2017
12/12
GLOBAL MX-5 CUP champion, Patrick Gallagher Visits Japan12/11
Mazda Team Joest Announces Driver Lineup for 2018 Season10/02
RE 50th Anniversary Celebration Goes Out With a Bang08/21
The RE Roar Reverberates Throughout This Year’s Monterey Reunion08/10
2017 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Challenge Announced07/19
Mazda Motorsports Unveils Mazda Team Joest05/18
Yojiro Terada to Race at Road to Le Mans04/18
Iwai “R Magic Roadster” Advances to Best 1604/11
Mazda RT24-P Takes Overall 3rd At Long Beach, Team’s Best Ever Finish03/14
10 Cars Participate in GLOBAL MX-5 Cup Japan Official Test Day01/19
2017 Mazda Motorsports Kick Off at Tokyo Auto Salon01/10
Solid Showing From Mazda USA Team at Official Daytona Tests01/07
Color Schemes Revealed for Mazda Prototypes in 2017 IMSA Series
2016
12/11
A Bustling Two Days for the 5th Mazda Fan Festa11/29
Rotary Fans Revel at Kyushu Rotary Festival 201611/17
New “Mazda RT24-P” Prototype Unveiled at LA Auto Show10/28
FC3S / C Savanna RX-7 30th Anniversary Meeting10/08
“Sevenstock 19,” the World’s Largest RE Celebration09/29
Fine Autumn Day Sees 6,000 Mazda Fans Gather at Fuji Speedway09/21
Mazda Top Gun, Masahiro Sato Grabs First IPS Victory!09/04
Rotary MIATA Finally Runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats08/29
“Global MX-5 Cup Japan” Garnering a Great Deal of Interest08/29
RE Symphony Reverberates Throughout Monterey Reunion08/02
GLOBAL MX-5 CUP JAPAN Finally Kicks Off07/07
Nobuteru Taniguchi & RE Amemiya Chanter Run at Tsukuba06/29
Mazda’s Masahiro Sato Grabs 3rd In Inter Proto Series06/27
Mazda 2 SKYACTIV-D Garnering Attention in Thailand06/16
Mazda celebrates 25th anniversary of iconic Le Mans overall win06/06
“Rest in Peace Katayama-san”05/23
Send-Off for the Late Yoshimi Katayama04/25
Despite Stormy Weather Numerous Mazda Fans Gather at Motor Fan Festa04/18
Second Phase of Mazda Women in Motorsport Project Begins04/12
Crowds of Mazda Fans Throng to Second Mazda Fan Tohoku Meeting04/07
Team TERRAMOS Announces 2016 Driver Lineup04/07
Mazda Top Gun Competes in Proto Series04/03
Tristan Nunez Makes 2nd Visit to White House03/16
Recruitment Begins for 2016 Women in Motorsports Project03/02
Keiko Ihara to Compete in IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring in Mazda Prototype02/24
Compete in the Fuji-Chan in a Rental Racing Car!02/22
RE Fans Feel the Excitement at Nostalgic 2 Days02/04
2016 “Fuji Champion Race” Schedule announced01/19
Tokyo Auto Salon Bustles with 320,000 Fans01/16
The Lightweight 13B Mounted “RE Amemiya Chanter” in Tokyo Auto Salon
2015
12/17
Mazda Fan Festa 2015 a Great Success12/16
Mazda RX-VISION and LM55 Vision Gran Turismo to Appear at Tokyo Auto Salon 201612/03
Joint Mazda USA Team to Race for 25 Hours in Mazda MX-5 Global Cup Car11/10
5-Car Formation Drive of Former IMSA Machines Leaves Crowd Spellbound11/04
Info on the Mazda Stand at the 44th Tokyo Motor show10/29
World Premiere of RX-VISION Heralds the Future of Rotary Sports10/20
MAZDA FAN FESTA 2015 in OKAYAMA to be Held on December 6th10/08
“I Will Race For as Long as I Can”, Ceremony to Commemorate Yojiro Terada’s 50 Years as Racecar Driver09/26
Two SKYACTIV Technology Equipped Motorsports Base Cars Revealed09/08
Ceremony to Commemorate Yojiro Terada’s 50 Years as Racecar Driver08/30
Mikio Nakajima Illustration Exhibition, “Day to Day With Cars, to be Held in Tsuyama”08/27
Mazda WIM Project’s Selection Team to Compete in Tsukuba RS-4 Endurance08/16
This Year’s Bonneville Speedweek Called Off08/14
Mazda Raceway Is Ready to Pace The Future07/27
Inaugural Mazda Fan Kyushu Meeting a Roaring Success07/21
Restored Mazda R100’s to Take on Spa Classic Challenge07/16
“Mazda WIM” Training Camp STEP 1 Concludes, Moves into STEP 207/14
FD3S RX-7 Shines at Motor Games06/30
Glory Days of Motorsports Revived at Goodwood06/27
Visionary Mazda Race Car Appears on Goodwood Sculpture06/19
Third SOK Group Returns Home After Priceless Le Mans Experience06/04
Third SOK Group Bound for Le Mans05/27
Mazda to Once Again Assist Support Our Kids Program05/25
4-Rotor Sound of Mazda 787B Roars Around Suzuka05/15
Mazda 787B JSPC Spec to Appear at Suzuka Sound of Engine05/11
Mazda Women’s 2nd Driver Training Camp Completed05/03
In Search of the Perfect 2016 Mazda MX-5 Cup Car04/21
Mazda Women MS Project Begins Full-Scale Training04/18
Inaugural “Mazda Fan Tohoku Meeting” Goes Off04/13
Women in Motorsport Project Finally Kicks Off04/07
“Demio Motorsport Concept” First Unveiling at Motorsport Japan 201503/17
Guide to Mazda Rotary Museum Tours03/14
Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Series to Kick Off at Sebring03/10
10 Mazda Machines Compete in Pirelli World Challenge Opening Round03/07
Development Underway For S-Tai Spec NOPRO Demio SKYACTIV-D03/04
Topi Contributes to Mazda France’s Andros Trophy Team Title Win02/27
Mazda Fan Tohoku Meeting 2015 in SUGO Set to be Held02/27
New Model Demio SKYACTIV-D Heads to Fuji Champion Race02/22
Mazda wins famous Trophée Andros ice racing title.02/21
Provisional 8 Race Calendar for 2015 China Touring Car Championship Announced02/20
Mazda Announces “2015 ‘Be a Driver’ Mazda Driving Academy” Schedule02/20
“Mazda Women in Motorsport 2015” Starts Recruiting02/19
Goodwood 2015 to honour Mazda’s challenger spirit01/11
Large Crowds Bustle Around Mazda Stand at the Tokyo Auto Salon 201501/09
2016 Global MX-5 Cup to be launched in Japan, USA and Europe “Women in Motorsport” Program to begin from spring 2015
2014
12/12
Numerous Mazda’s gather at Okayama’s motorsports Mecca Mazda Fan Festa 2014 in Okayama12/04
Over 4000 Rotary Fans Gather for SevenStock 1712/03
Mazda to support club team’s participation in 2015 CTCC
First unveiling of the CTCC spec “Mazda 3 Axela” and “Mazda 6 Atenza”11/27
67 Year Old Doctor Pursues Long Held Dream to Compete at Spa in Rotary Coupe11/04
GLOBAL MX-5 CUP set to start in 201610/24
Mazda 6 SKYACTIV-D 2.2L Challenges Fastest Speed Record in Germany08/25
Relish the sound of the 4-rotor trio08/20
Disappointing return home for the F5 Spirit Rotary MX-508/07
The F5 Spirit Rotary MX-5 is finally complete
Bonneville Speed Challenge 201407/16
Mazda rotary rocket set to attack the Bonneville Speed Challenge06/17
The 25th Anniversary Roadster Parade Lap before the Le Mans 24 hours comes to fruition06/15
Roaring Success for the 25th Anniversary Roadster Parade through the streets of Le Mans06/13
Mazda backs “Support Our Kids” at Le Mans06/05
Mazda supports Donington Park with SKYACTIV powered fleet for 201405/27
RX-7 driver Shinichi Yamaji passes away05/19
Mazda to Compete in the 24 Hours Nurburgring05/03
GUMBY GOES RACING04/07
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