Good news. For the world of endurance and a French team. Mazda reinforces its presence in endurance. We know, the Japanese manufacturer will be heavily involved on the other side of the Atlantic, in ALMS, but also on this side with RML, the English team to which the manufacturer will supply the engines next year. In both cases, the chassis will be Lola.

Mazda France, for its part, has consistently chosen to support a French team. And not any one as it is the Saulnier Racing, part of the galaxy Pescarolo Automobiles.

Two Pescarolo LMP2 Nivernais the Saulnier Racing team will be equipped from the 2009 season the engine Mazda MZR-R developed by AER. They run from LMS. Mazda Automobiles France becomes a partner of Team Saulnier Racing. The team Saulnier Racing / Mazda France will present to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest an application for two cars of the same type, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2009.

Here are two excerpts from the official statement:

Thierry Guillemot, President of Mazda Automobiles France: “We see the suffering as a fantastic opportunity to develop the brand in line with the sportiness and modernity of our range. And we were captivated by the passion of the Saulnier Racing Team, for its 2008 results and the enterprise of Jacques Nicolet.

Jacques Nicolet, President Saulnier Racing: “For the development team in the LMP2 category, our alliance with Mazda is crucial. We are very proud to be joined by the only Japanese manufacturer that has triumphed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and very confident in this partnership for the future of the team. We already won by the determination of men Mazda France and its President Thierry Guillemot to make every effort to make this collaboration a great success in 2009.