Just this morning BMI Racing famous for building the only 4-rotor Mazda RX-8 announced that they have decided to end their program with Mazda and run a Ford Mustang equipped with a Ford Racing Coyote 5.0 engine and whipple supercharger in 2012.  While this was a tough decision for them to make they decided that switching to a Ford chassis would be in the best interest for their team going forward.  Part of their decision was based on the fact that Mazda officially ended production of the RX-8 last year and have yet to announce if and when a replacement is coming.  Couple that with the fact that drifting seems to be heading down the path of the V8s anyway and a Ford Mustang seems like a much more promising prospect. 

You might be wondering if you are going to see the new BMI Racing Ford Mustang at Formula Drift Long Beach in April.  Well shortly after this news went public I paid a visit to the BMI Racing team to see their progress with the Mustang and find out more about their plans.  BMI Racing’s own Sarah Burgess will drive the Mustang and confirmed that they will campaign the car in the XDC Series.  According to Sarah based on where the team is at right now and their short term goals it “makes more sense” for them to run the XDC Series for now.  Although that is not to say that Formula Drift is not in the future for them.

As for the RX-8, well you Mazda heads will be sad to hear that for the most part the famous rotary is in pieces.  A few parts (like their bullet-proof NASCAR 4-speed transmission) have found new homes on the Mustang.  While I am sad to see the demise of the world’s only 4-rotor RX-8 I am happy to see the team moving forward and wish them luck with their new track weapon in the XDC!

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Press Release:

BMI Racing Switches to Ford, Drifts a Mustang in 2012

Torrance, CA. – Through much deliberation between Adam and Sarah Burgess and correspondence to a variety of their sponsors, BMI Racing has made the decision to retire the RX8 Turbo 4 Rotor and will no longer be racing with Mazda.  In 2012, BMI Racing will have Sarah Burgess piloting a new Ford Mustang with the 5.0L Coyote Engine, and a 2.9L Whipple Supercharger.

While it was a tough choice to leave Mazda, BMI Racing feels that it has been the right decision at the right time.  With the announcement from Mazda Japan to cut production of the RX8 and also feedback from many of our sponsors wanting to be involved with a current model domestic car, the switch to Ford was the right move.

BMI Racing would like to introduce their newest sponsors that have come on board including Ford Racing, Whipple Superchargers, Ignite Racing Fuels, SPEC Clutch, FordRacingParts123.com, Weld Racing, Wiseco Pistons, K1 Technologies, Ferrea Valves, Johnson High Tech Performance Oil Pumps, Aeromotive Fuel Pumps, ESS Eyewear, OS Giken, Apexi, KRC Power Steering, Diversified Machine Inc, and Torco Oils and also mention sponsors that have been with us from the start Fragola Performance Systems, FK Rods, Gunk.com, Odyssey Batteries, Racepak, Powermasters, and Davies Craig Electric Water Pumps

Sarah and Adam would like to thank the fans that have supported them with the Mazda – “if it wasn’t for the words of encouragement and support we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

BMI Racing would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jim Jordan, Manager, Alternative Marketing; Dean Case, Mazda Communications; Steve Sanders, Manager, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development; and John Doonan, Director of Motorsports; for their support and guidance while we have been a part of the Mazda family, Sven from NRS Rotorsports, and Jeff McCall from Rotary Power USA.

BMI Racing can be found at:

Facebook/bmiracingusa

Twitter/BMIracing

We just got this picture in our inbox straight from BMI Racing Manager Sarah Burgess’ cell phone.  Looks like the world’s first and only 4-rotor RX-8 is getting a new look as well as rocking a new sticker that looks really familar!  There are a few other new surprises for the BMI RX-8 that we will fill you in on soon.  In the mean time if you want to help BMI Racing super hype their new livery then tweet this post, send the pic to your friend, do whatever you can to make sure everyone you know sees this picture!  Thanks again to BMI Racing for representing for MotorworldHype.  You guys rock!

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As you may have seen in the previous post the BMI Racing 4-Rotor RX-8 made an appearance at the 2011 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Pre-season lunch. From the looks of the car it was still in the midst of its pre-season build.  They did however have the hood off and as you can see it looks like the infamous 4-rotor engine has be refreshed with some new housings and keen eyes will notice the new intake manifold.  Gone are the glistening musical trumpet velocity stacks.  In its place is a unit that appears to be cast and equipped to possibly accept a surge tank-type unit.  Rumblings during the event suggested that a large Garrett unit will be fitted to the beast in an effort to make obscene amounts of power.  I wonder how a turbocharger will effect the trademark sound that BMI Racing gets out of their home built monster?

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For the last 5 years Mazda has invited journalists to have lunch and discuss Mazda’s standing in the world of motorsports through their Mazdaspeed brand and activities.  Usually they incorporate a fun event into the luncheon like electric kart racing at K1 or having a special screening of movies like “Driven To Race“.  This year Mazda went all out and roped off a huge area at Hidden Valley park and set up not one but two autocross courses complete with Skip Barber Racing school MX-5 Miata’s, Mazda3′s, and even a full race-spec Mazda2 to thrash!

Also, for the first time since Mazda started the luncheon, drifting was represented at the event with the BMI Racing 4 rotor RX-8, the Bergenholtz Racing/Full Tilt Poker RX-8, and the Kyle Mohan Racing/Nexen Tire RX-8 all on display.  Although, none of the RX-8′s seemed like they were quite ready to rock yet it was nice to see the RX-8′s making an appearance.

Once the first session of autocrossing was over we sat down under the canopy of the Star Mazda racing rig and had a chat with Senior VP of Product Development  Robert Davis on how Mazda is holding up in the uncertain economy and how their progress is still tied to motorsports.  For the most part things seemed to be the status quo for Mazda which is a very good thing in their case.  They haven’t lost market share, the Miata has become the #1 selling roadster in history, they’re still the #1 road raced brand in America, and to date over $75 million worth of Mazdaspeed parts have been sold since 1990.  It’s also worthy to note that this year marks the 20 year anniversary of Mazda’s overall 1991 win at LeMans with the 787 4-rotor race car.  After all this time Mazda is still the only Japanese company to win the event outright!  It was hinted that some special events to celebrate the occasion were in the works but no specifics were revealed.  I’ll try to keep you posted on that!

It was also pointed out that despite the shaky economy Mazda’s motorsports involvement is still going strong.  The Playboy MX-5 Cup is still fiscally one of the most rewarding racing series around with a $250k purse up for grabs (which is more than what you’d get for winning the Ferrari Challenge Series!).  Star Mazda has reached its 21st year of competition which makes it the longest running road-racing series in America and the Mazdaspeed motorsports ladder is going on its 26th year.  That last bit of info led to the news that despite the demise of the Atlantic series throwing things off Mazda maintains their open wheel ladder by being the official partner for the “Road To Indy“.  Which is the path from amateur racing all the way up to Indy Car Series competition.

The next big announcement was Mazdasinvolvement in the new “B-Spec” racing class (sanctioned by NASA) with the Mazda2.  In fact the “race spec” Mazda2 at the autocross course that I mentioned earlier was the very same Mazda2 that ran the B-Spec class at Thunderhill.  Right now they’re current competitionin “B-Spec” class racing is Honda withthe Honda Fit but Mr. Davis said that he would welcome more competition from other manufacturers like GM (likely with the Chevy Aveo).

When the floor was opened up to questions I asked if  B-Spec class racing would be folded into the Mazdaspeed Motorsports ladder. The answer I got from Mr. Davis as well as Alternative Marketing Manager Jim Jordan was that while the B-Spec class wont be an “official” part of the ladder if you win a B-Spec class race in a Mazda2 you will be eligible to compete in the annual Mazdaspeed shoot out which can lead to entrance into one of the Mazdaspeed ladder series.  So in a way B-Spec class racing is something of a foot-stool that can help you get to the ladder.  Looks like I’m going to need to get myself a Mazda2!

Based on what I heard at this year’s lunch, Mazda is going to continue to make a respectable dent in motorsports.  I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!  Thanks to Mazda for the invite and for letting me get behind the wheel of a Skip Barber MX-5!