Mazda To Split Engines Between Gasoline and Diesel at Watkins Glen

Mazda will split the engines for its pair of Prototype class entries for this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, industry sources have confirmed to Sportscar365.

The team’s No. 07 entry will continue to run the SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, while the No. 70 car will switch to a gasoline-powered engine.

Last week, IMSA released a technical bulletin that approved the use of a gasoline engine.

It will be the modern iteration of the gasoline-powered engine developed between Mazda and AER. That engine has undergone a simulated six-hour test in advance of the race.

As yet, the new gasoline engine does not have an official name, but is a similar version of the 2.0L, 4-cylinder inline engine that runs in the Indy Lights championship.

Mazda became the official engine partner of the open-wheel series this year.

No determination has been made on engine power for the rest of the season, whether it will be split gasoline and diesel, all diesel, or all gasoline, beyond this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International.