Team Sahlen changes manufacturers in 2010

Team Sahlen to Campaign a Pair of Mazda RX-8s in 2010 ROLEX Series

MAZDASPEED has announced that Team Sahlen will be campaigning two Mazda RX-8s in the 2010 ROLEX Grand American Sports Car Series. Team Sahlen will be a fielding a full contingent of drivers who have contributed to Mazda Championships through the years. For the #43 RX-8, the father and son duo of Joe and Wayne Nonnamaker will co-driver together. Joe Sahlen and Will Nonnamaker will be partnered in the #42 RX-8.

The number one goal for Team Sahlen in 2010 is to be a contributing factor in assisting Mazda win the ROLEX GT Manufacturer's Crown.

Joe Nonnamaker of Team Sahlen: "Having first raced Mazdas in 1993, it brings a fondness to me to come full circle and be partnered with MAZDASPEED again. Mazda had a close bond with their teams then and that relationship is very much in evidence today. In fact, my working relationship was with Steve Sanders during the 1990's, and to this day Steve is still a significant part of MAZDASPEED. To be partnered with SpeedSource is fantastic. We have long term relationship with Sylvain that has always proven to be a beneficial, both on and off the track."

Joe Sahlen of Team Sahlen: "I am very excited about the transition of our team to being fully integrated into the MAZDASPEED family. In 2007, we aligned our KONI ST program with Mazda by converting our campaign to be a SpeedSource RX-8. I have thoroughly enjoyed driving the Mazda in the KONI series. And now I am looking forward to the same level of zoom, zoom driving experience with the GT class RX-8."

Sylvain Tremblay of SpeedSource Race Engineering: "The Mazda GT family just keeps getting stronger and the addition of Team Sahlen only solidifies our position towards the 2010 Championship. I have known and worked with the Nonnamaker family for over fifteen years. They share the same passion and dedication to racing as SpeedSource Engineering. That makes it all the more exciting to have them in RX-8s in 2010."

Bill Riley of Riley Technologies: "It's great to have Team Sahlen on board. Its exciting to add another championship winning team to the stable of racers currently racing SpeedSource/Riley Mazda RX-8s in the GT class."

John M. Doonan Manager, Motorsports Team Development Mazda North American Operations: "When we established the RX-8 program in GT, we had this exact scenario in mind. A successful customer car program where many drivers and teams could take advantage of a cost effective and competitive package that could put them in the thick of the championship battle. In the case of the Nonnamakers, we are extra pleased to welcome them back to the Mazda family. They have been long time Mazda Motorsports customers and to have them back in Koni Challenge and ROLEX is fantastic and is a move that we hope brings them much success."

In addition to campaigning in the ROLEX series with MAZDASPEED, Team Sahlen will continue to race their SpeedSource Mazda RX-8s in the KONI Challenge Series during 2010. Both the GT and ST class Mazdas will be identically painted in the Team Sahlen red, black and yellow branding that fans have become so familiar with over the years.

-credit: ts