Mazda has confirmed its plans to return to the British International Motor Show, with the thrilling ‘Mazda Zoom-Zoom Challenge’ attraction, from 23 July to 3 August at ExCel, London Docklands.  A major success at the 2006 Show, the Zoom-Zoom Challenge will allow over 5,000 members of the public to get behind the wheel of Mazda’s cars, at no charge, to experience their spirited handling and entertaining drive.

Competitors will compete against the clock in a technically demanding driving challenge around a specially-constructed test track as they strive to achieve the fastest lap time and demonstrate the most accomplished car control.  Professional racing drivers will take each participant around the track for a familiarisation lap followed by a warm-up circuit behind the wheel and a timed circuit in both the iconic Mazda MX-5 sports car and all-new Mazda2 3dr supermini.

The top prize will be the use for a year of the £11,000 plus 1.5-litre Sport version of the all-new Mazda2 3dr for the competitor posting the highest score throughout the two weeks of the Motor Show (23 July – 3 August).

At the show, Mazda will display its Furai Concept, the raciest interpretation of the Nagare design language to-date and the latest car in Mazda’s award-winning and highly acclaimed series of concept cars.  Based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) sports racing car, the Furai has a 450hp three-rotor rotary engine initially tuned to operate on 100 per cent ethanol fuel, the first time a racing three-rotor rotary engine has been fuelled in this way.   

The Nagare design language hints at Mazda’s future design intentions and reflects the Mazda design ideals of ‘flow’ and the ‘embodiment of motion’.  Outside the show halls, the Mazda2 and Mazda MX-5 will convey the current generations’ ‘emotion of motion’ to the expected 550,000 visitors to the Docklands-based Show.

Earlier this year, the new five-door Mazda2 was named 2008 World Car of the Year and was awarded a 5-Star Euro NCAP crash test rating.  The stylish Mazda2 reversed the trend of new cars gaining weight as it shed 100kg compared with its predecessor, allowing the car to challenge the best in its class for fuel economy, low CO2 emissions and agility.

Thanks to its lightweight body, the impressive handling of the new Mazda2 will be a key element of the experience for visitors driving on the tight Zoom-Zoom Challenge track at the Motor Show.  The demanding circuit will also allow visitors to fully experience the rewarding handling of the iconic Mazda MX-5 sports car in a safe but fun environment.