Mazda Prototypes to Race Distinct Liveries in 2017 - Speedway Digest

The Mazda Prototype team has unveiled the official liveries that the two Mazda RT24-P cars will carry in the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The No. 55 car features Mazda’s Soul Red color as it has in past seasons, while the No. 70 car will carry another of Mazda’s featured colors, Machine Grey. The prominent colors complement the distinct lines of Mazda’s KODO design that defines the look and aerodynamics of the new race cars under the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) rules.

Drivers Tristan Nunez and Jonathan Bomarito will pilot the No. 55 Mazda this season, while Tom Long and Joel Miller are teamed in the No. 70 car. For the season-opening race, the Rolex 24 at Daytona (Jan. 29-30), the driver lineup will expand to include IndyCar stars Spencer Pigot (No. 55) and James Hinchcliffe (No. 70).

The Mazda Prototype team, operated by SpeedSource Engineering, will see prominent faces in new places this season.

Marcus Shen, who had been the lead engineer and strategist for the No. 55 team, is departing for a non-motorsports career opportunity, which means Zach LaGrone will move from the No. 70 team to take over the lead engineer/strategist role with the No. 55 car.

Jim Malicki has joined the team to take the helm as engineer/strategist for the No. 70. Malicki, of Austin, Texas, joins the team after a significant engineering career with teams such as Tequila Patron ESM, AIM Autosport and Performance Tech.

“You need to keep everyone moving in the same direction,” said Malicki, about what he brings to the team with his decade-plus of engineering experience. “With the brand new car, we’ll develop processes from simple logistics to all of the technical details of the car. It’s about rational thinking and having patience. Patience and racing don’t seem like they fit in the same sentence, but it’s very important.”

Ryan Knott has been promoted to crew chief on the No. 70 car, while new addition Chris “Scottie” Muir will take the crew chief role with the No. 55 car.

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.