Posted (08/27/2009) -
Following the recent Mid-Ohio round of the KONI Challenge Series, Grand American made several key rules adjustments to the ST class. One of those adjustments was removing 50 lbs from Mazda RX-8.
With this being a 2% reduction in weight, Team Sahlen knew that a significant test session would be required to ensure that the very comfortable balance of the rotary machine would not get lost in the diet plan. So Team Sahlen choose an Friday Test & Tune session at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to test the waters.
"It made sense to come right back to Mid-Ohio to test, as we had just been here, and it would be a great reference point for us. Although we were not able to get exact back to back comparison, due to the Testing Sessions running on the traditional Keyhole version of the circuit, it did provide us with great tuning time." - stated Joe Sahlen
"Starting at 11 am, and running until 7 pm at night, the crew was able to try several different variables to learn what did and didn't work. The Mazda ran well all day. We saved a bedded set of Hoosier Tires for the end of the day to see what progress we had made. The RX-8 certainly felt good, and hopefully when we go to Virginia for the season finale, it will all work out on the track."
- stated Will Nonnamaker
The 2009 Team Sahlen KONI Challenge Series Campaign is support by HRPWorld.com, HAWK Performance, Cool Shirt, TheRaceSite.com, Grassroots Motorsports, Holliday Canopies, CM Racing, Genesis Technologies, Endurance Karting and Mazdaspeed.