MAZDA 3 TCR CANNED

Mazda TCR canned – Photo: Supplied

After committing to the worldwide TCR touring car formula late last year, Mazda has scrapped its program.

By HEATH McALPINE

Spearheaded by its North American operations, the 3 TCR was supposed to debut earlier this year at Daytona.

This was pushed back to 2021 as the team chosen to undertake the program, Long Road Racing, ceased operations in December last year.

New vendors were being sought for both the Mazda 3 TCR project and the American-based Global MX-5 Cup – two projects overseen by Long Road Racing – through January.

Flis Performance took over operations of the Global MX-5 Cup and were rumoured to be in line to absorb the TCR program as well.

It was also believed Mazda DPi representative Multimatic Motorsports were also in the frame, however a spokesperson told Auto Action that “Multimatic Motorsports is not involved at this time with the TCR program.”

In a statement provided to US-based podcast Grassroots Motorsport a Mazda spokesperson stated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the final blow to the project.

“Given the recent conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has elected to cancel the development program for the Mazda3 TCR car.

“We thank all our fans and partners for their continued support for Mazda Motorsports.”

Set to use the Volkswagen EA888 2.0 R4 TSI I4 TCR control engine also shared between the VAG range of TCR models, the 3 TCR was to be the first US-built model for the category and second specific to the country after Hyundai’s Veloster N TCR.

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