Mazda Spirit Racing, launched in 2021, represents the heart of Mazda’s motorsports ambitions, serving as a dedicated sub-brand for its motorsports activities. At its core is Team Mazda Spirit Racing, currently competing in team events, including Japan’s Super Taikyu Series, an endurance racing series for professional and amateur racers. This marks an exciting return to factory team racing for Mazda, coming three decades after their historic overall victory at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Today, Mazda Spirit Racing competes full-time in the Super Taikyu Series with modified production models. The team fields a Mazda MX-5 and Mazda3, running on alternative fuels, as they go head-to-head with competitors from Japan and abroad. Their racing activities serve a dual purpose: exploring technologies that can be applied to mass-produced vehicles while developing the skills and capabilities of Mazda's engineers and mechanics.
The team's commitment extends beyond the racetrack, with Mazda Spirit Racing creating several participatory programs to preserve motorsports culture for future generations. These initiatives include supporting amateur racers' career advancement, nurturing promising young drivers, organizing participatory motorsports events, sponsoring competitions, selling original merchandise, and building fan communities through dedicated apps.
Here, we sat down with Ikuo Maeda, Head of Mazda Spirit Racing, to learn more about the brand. Three years since its inception, and with the launch of the Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster 12R—a model that embodies the team's achievements—we asked him to reflect on the fundamental question: "Who are Mazda Spirit Racing?"