John Doonan Talks Mazda Racing 2007

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Team & Driver Features
John Doonan Talks Mazda Racing 2007
By Source: John Thawley
Feb 8, 2007, 12:07

I recently caught up with John 'zoom-zoom' Doonan from Mazda and pinned him down on some specifics about the new LMP2 program. John gives us the low down on the car, the engine and the future.

JT: John, thanks for taking time out of your crazy schedule. I know this is a busy time of the year. Please define your role for us within Mazda.

JD: Thanks for asking, John. And, you are right, the schedule is pretty crazy right now…but there are so many good things going on surrounding Mazda’s motorsports initiatives we are having a ton of fun right now.

I have an amazing opportunity at Mazda to be part of a “super team”, if you will. Not a super team in size, but I say “super team” because if you measure it in passion for the sport…there is no better team on the planet. We truly do all that we are doing with about 5 or 6 people…there are a couple of folks in marketing (Jim Jordan and Chuck Miller), there is a terrific team in Competition Parts (Steve Sanders, Tim Buck, Scott Kaluza, and Brian Burrow), Dean Case in Media Relations, I am under the product team umbrella, and at the helm of it all is Robert Davis, Senior Vice President of Product, Quality, Research & Development. While we all overlap and communicate on what we are doing, the plan is clear.

My responsibilities are focused on sponsorships and business partnerships for all of the teams and programs, overall strategy implementation, marketing, some of the career ladder system programs we have from grassroots racing to PRO racing, and some PR…I enjoy working with all of our professional teams and hopefully adding more teams in…ALMS, Grand-Am, SCCA World Challenge Touring Car, NHRA Import Drag Racing, the Sirius Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Series, and the STAR MAZDA CHAMPIONSHIP presented by Goodyear. It is all I have ever wanted to do career-wise, so it is a real joy.

JT: When the B-K Motorsports program debuted it showed a lot of promise. 2006 saw the program go through some major challenges. It became very clear that car was not fitting into the performance box IMSA had created. Give us your thoughts.

JD: There is no question we launched with promise…2005 showed podium finish after podium finish and Co-Rookie of the Year honors for Guy (Cosmo) and Jamie (Bach). 2006 also launched with promise…new personnel at B-K (Marcus Haselgrove as Team Manager), Raphael Matos as a Co-driver at Sebring, a podium at Houston, and some new partners…Road & Track and KUMHO. Obviously…2006 also had some terrific challenges. The incident at Limerock was a huge set back, but it also gave us an opportunity to assess exactly where we were strategy-wise. And based on our recent announcements (across the whole range of motorsports), we know exactly where we are and where we are headed.

JT: Ok, so let's talk about Mazda's LMP2 program. You recently announced a new chassis and motor package that has many who follow the sport... well, let's just say, intrigued.

JD: Without question, the recent announcement about our 2007 LMP 2 plans are exciting for us. There is a ton of energy and excitement in the Mazda camp right now…and it is going to get better.

There are some who suggest that we have “abandoned” the rotary engine. We want to be very clear that we have not (in any way) abandoned the rotary. Rotary technology and the unique spirit of the rotary engine is a strong foundation of what Mazda stands for and what Mazda is currently on and off the race track. We are currently, and will continue to use and develop the rotary engine, in our Grand Am ROLEX GT program with SpeedSource…and the heart of the STAR MAZDA CHAMPIONSHIP is directly based on the Renesis rotary engine from the RX-8 street car. Those programs will continue to flourish: a strong finish by SpeedSource at the 24 Hours of Daytona and a full 2007 campaign with them is an example of that and the STAR MAZDA season will kick off during Sebring’s 12 Hour week with another huge field of drivers.

We have transitioned to the MZR-R powerplant based on the current rules package and the landscape of the LMP 2 class. In addition, we are a sports car company that has always been on the leading edge of technology and this new powerplant is another example of that.

What a battle it will be in the 2007 LMP 2 class and we are pleased that we are going to be in the thick of it.

JT: What prompted the decision to go with the Lola chassis?

JD: We (Mazda) put the chassis decision in the hands of B-K. The combination of Marcus Haselgrove’s technical experience with the Audi R8 during his time at Champion and Bob Bach’s business experience makes for a good team and we left the choice up to them. They researched all the different options…they chose the Lola chassis based on Lola’s experience, current success, new opportunities (new aero package), and really just the complete picture.

JT: Please expand on the new motor package for us and how the AER relationship came about.

JD: We went through a complete RFQ (Request for Quotation) process at Mazda on the new engine program. Major engine builders worldwide submitted proposals and some of us in motorsports and many from our engineering team reviewed what was submitted. In the end, we felt confident that AER presented the best option. And, as the team made their final choice on the chassis…to have both companies literally down the street from each other in England presents a great partnership all around. AER has clearly been a standout in sports car racing. This clean sheet build was right up their alley and we believe it will present a competitive opportunity for us. The lines of communication have been tremendous thus far and we are all anxious to get to the track to see all the hard work pay off.

JT: What effect do you think the arrival of Porsche and Acura will have on the American Le Mans Series? Not just the obvious competition on the track.... but also in the marketplace?

JD: The beauty of the American Le Mans Series is the many manufacturers who showcase their latest technology on the race track. We are proud to be among the current participants and we are proud to have been a marketing partner with the ALMS since their inception. We very much enjoy working with Scott, Tim and the entire ALMS/IMSA team and we continue to find ways to expand our activation in the series…The Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda CX-7, for example.

With our sports car heritage, and “Always the Soul of A Sports Car” philosophy….top level sports car racing is the pinnacle of our motorsports strategy. We have always had an underdog mentality at Mazda, but rest assured…we will not give up and we will continue to be in the fight on the race track and in the marketplace. Our complete product line-up in North America is probably the best it has ever been in the history of the company…and we will continue to bring zoom-zoom to the race track and the roughly 700 Mazda dealerships nationwide.

JT: How did Mazda "corporate" respond to seeing the ante upped, so-to-speak? Did you have to fight to get the resources to stay in the game?

JD: Again, there is a ton of new stuff going on at Mazda right now when it comes to Motorsports…full season in ROLEX GT, new partnership with Skip Barber Driving and Racing schools, our continued involvement with the Cooper Tire presents the Champ Car Atlantic Series powered by Mazda, and the new LMP 2 announcement. On top of the new things, we have our VERY important foundation in grassroots club racing….that will never change.

For decades, grassroots racing has been the foundation of our program and that will continue to be so. Since that “bottom up” strategy has been so successful we have been able to show the business sales equation (competition parts and actual vehicle sales attributed to motorsports) which makes motorsports work.

We have a motorsports strategy in place which everyone has completely bought into…so, there was no “fight” to get resources…there was a discussion and everyone is fully behind the strategy and the motorsports career ladder we now have in place. Fun stuff…

JT: Currently only B-K Motorsports flies the Mazda flag in the American Le Mans Series. Can we expect additional cars or teams in the near future?

JD: One of the key reasons for the new engine program is to provide a customer opportunity which will allow more teams to adopt the Mazda engine into their sports car teams…not only here in the ALMS, but worldwide. We hope that with strong performances we will see many teams transition to the new motor. We are working with a number of teams who have expressed interest in running under the Mazda banner…and with teams in STAR MAZDA and CHAMP CAR ATLANTIC capable of growing into a sports car program the potential of more cars and teams on the grid is very strong.

JT: Mazda has an amazing following in North American racing. You provide great ladder systems in open and closed wheel programs.. Star Mazda, MX5 Cup, and now the Atlantic Series with Champ Car. However, Mazda presence has been diminished on the "world" sports car stage. Do you anticipate the new LMP2 package returning the Mazda legacy to world sports car racing?

JD: We have always been and will continue to be a sports car company…so sports car racing is where you will always see Mazda. While we were away from the grid in the ALMS for a few years before our return in 2005, we never really left the stage in our minds…and with the full 2007 season program in Grand-Am GT and the recent LMP 2 announcement we have a comprehensive set of involvements that will keep our legacy going. The same NEVER GIVE UP spirit that gave Mazda our victory at Le Mans in 1991 is carried out in all that we are doing now…

JT: What are is your definition of "success" in 2007 for the LMP2 program?

JD: Simply put, in the words of Robert Davis…Success will equal CONTINUOUS SEASON LONG IMPROVEMENT and OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE in all that we do. Obviously we are bringing many “new” things to the track and any time you do that there can be challenges, but Mazda has strong partners in all aspects of the program…AER, B-K, GARRETT by Honeywell, KUMHO, LOLA, Road & Track, and the list goes on….so, we are confident that we will see improvement and ultimately, success. Stay tuned…

JT: What light can you shed on Mazda's long term goals for its American Le Mans participation?

JD: Truly, 2007 success as we just discussed, is the first goal. And in the medium/long term?...expanding the number of cars and teams that participate in LMP 2 with this new package. Beyond that, we are going to stick to our comprehensive strategy (a strong grassroots program…closed wheel with MX-5 Cup, World Challenge, Koni Challenge, Grand Am ROLEX GT, and ALMS P2…open wheel with Skip Barber, Star Mazda, and Champ Car Atlantic)….2007 is going to be an amazing year….we are so grateful for the thousands of competitors who have chosen to race Mazdas nationwide….and we hope to make all the Mazda faithful proud with many visits to the podium, victory lane, and the championship banquets when the final checkered flags drop on this season. See you at the track.

JT: Thanks for your time... your honesty and candid answers are always appreciated and you can expect a follow-up in the near future. Good luck at the 12 Hours of Sebring.