Australian Rally Champion to Drive Mazda6 Diesel at Targa

NOTTING HILL, AUSTRALIA – April 21, 2010: Former Australian rally champion Ed Ordynski will drive a Mazda6 turbodiesel hatch in next week’s Targa Tasmania.

Adding to the Mazda contingent at the 2000km gruelling Tasmanian rally are two brand new Mazda6 Diesels that will be put through their paces as the event’s official course-opening vehicles.

Ordynski has the important role of driving Targa’s official Course Checker over the event’s 40 closed-road stages confirming them ready for competition.

The second Mazda6 Diesel will run immediately before the competition cars, warning that rally vehicles are on the stage at 30-second intervals.

“The Mazda6 Diesel is perfect for this role being large enough to carry the equipment we need yet nimble and agile on the mountain roads of Tasmania,” says Ordynski.

“Its fuel efficiency and range is remarkable and it has a very high performance engine capable of averaging speeds close to competition level while maintaining impressive fuel efficiency.”

Ordynski won’t be making many fuel stops in Tasmania with Mazda6 Diesel returning a hybrid-rivalling fuel economy of just 5.9L/100km.

Mazda Australia will campaign two turbocharged works rally cars at the five-day rally kicking off on Tuesday April 27: An E85-powered RX-8 SP driven by former Targa champion Steve Glenney and a New Generation Mazda3 MPS at the hands of driving talent Brendan Reeves.

Get live event updates from Mazda’s factory drivers and Ed Ordynski via Twitter at www.mazdamotorsport.com.au