For Mazda's third year on the European touring car circuit, Mazda entered three competitions leveraging the experience gained during the previous two years to build a more genuine racing car and develop the team structure.
  The team's goal was to dominate at Belgium's Spa Francorchamps 24-hour race.
  In preparation, the Mazda team participated in the four-hour RAC Tourist Trophy Race in England and a six-hour event at the Nurburgring in Germany and fine-tuned both the cars and the team structure.