PRO MAZDA Tatuus PM 18 turn the US on! BRDC The rebirth of British F.3 ELMS Norma M30, sky is the limit FORMULAdo it4 faster Italians VIDEO De Bellis: «2017, a major breaktrough year for Formula 4» What’s the reason behind the Tatuus name and logo? The state of things at Tatuus for 2017… 2 3 PM‐18 PM-18, America's queen The Tatuus PM‐18 racecar completes the renewed Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires ladder. It will mark a step forward in terms of performance while retaining the same safety standards of the smaller USF2000 car with an eye on cost control. Already on‐track for testing, it already impressed in the USA Mazda Road to Indy is a successful ladder where Made in Italy i a major costs too, considering that the new car uses the same chassis of part into play. In the two series at the top of the open‐wheel system, the already‐impressive USF2000. The safety‐levels are the ones the chassis are provided by Dallara while in the two initial steps, Tatuus mandated by the FIA standards including anti‐intrusion lateral panels, is the leading character of the entry‐level USF2000 and, starting from front and rear crash boxes, the Hans device, wheel tethers and some next season, of ProMazda. The latest product developed by the Italian additional measures for racing on ovals. It's a state of excellence in factory is the PM‐18, which will bridge between USF2000 and terms of technology including upgrades, compared to USF2000, like a IndyLights. Presented last December, it's now ready for testing. 2‐plane rear wing, a front wing with adjustable flaps studied for The PM‐18 replaces the aging Elan Pro Mazda introduced in 2004 and ProMazda and other components. The engine is a 2‐liter Mazda is set to redefine the parameters of the series. And that works terms of MZR‐PM18 with 275 horsepower, developed by Elite engines with a Scot Elkins project manager Pro Mazda 4 Cosworth SQ6 including a scholarship for IndyLights increased to 200.000 dollars for a ECU and six‐speed SADEV SL82 plus limited slip total of 790.300 dollars, plus other incentives (Cooper Tire award and differential. an entry award) that brings the total scholarship to 1.1 million dollars. «It's a huge leap forward», explains Scot Elkins, Pro Mazda and The top three finishers will be granted a test day in IndyLights and the USF2000 project manager «and it's based on everything we did until best rookie will receive a Mazda roadcar. «The PM18 is beautiful to now. The performance level will be pretty superior compared to watch», said Chris Pantani, events manager of Cooper Tires, the USF2000 and that will be key to enable a smooth transition towards company that is supporting the whole ladder. «With the launche of the IndyLights. The pillar of the whole ladder is the use of financial new IL‐15 and now the arrival of USF‐17 and PM‐18 the Mazda Road To incentives provided by the promoter during the transition year, Indy Presented by Cooper Tire is now completely revitalized». 5 Johnny Unser interview for Tatuus Magazine «Incentives and amazing cars, the pillars of Road To Indy» » A chat with Johnny Unser, cousin of Al Unser Jr and part of one of the world’s most famous racing families, who is now the Race Director of Pro Mazda. As a former driver he is a great fan of the Tatuus racecars, underlining how riche the Dan Andersen Promotion package is. The open‐wheel ladder is getting even more attractive to a new generation of drivers aiming for Indy Lights and IndyCar 6 Are you satisfied with how the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires We have the platform already, we’re just adding to it. We have been is coming through? incredibly impressed with the performance of the USF‐17. The feedback “With all the incentives in place (the added Mazda scholarship to the from drivers has been great and the level of competition is extremely high. winner, the top‐three drivers get Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires It will be quite the season as the teams and drivers develop”. tests and the Rookie of the Year gets a new Mazda street car) it’s a great package. It’s a transition year so we must get the word out there. I think Which is in your opinion the major strength of the series? we’ll see more drivers as the season goes on. There is a huge opportunity “The incentive package that Andersen Promotions put together with for drivers to take advantage of this season”. Mazda is a great strength for the series. You don’t see this kind of package anywhere else in the world”. Do you think the Tatuus PM‐18 is the right car to develop great driving skills in the young drivers? And why? Have you had the Is there any young driver that you can identify as a top pick for the chance to test the new car? future? “Absolutely. If you put 2017 aside and look to where we think the PM‐18 is “If I had to pick one, I would have to say the Mazda Scholarship driver this going to fall in regards to lap times, it will be a very linear progression from season, Anthony Martin. He won USF2000 last year and has proved he can USF2000 to Indy Lights. That car is going to be fast, with more win races so he’ll be someone to keep an eye on. I also think Nikita horsepower, more grip and more downforce than the USF‐17. It’s going to Lastochkin will be tough – he’s very aggressive. It’s hard to pick against last be great. The Tatuus USF‐17 is a great progression, especially for drivers year’s champs, Team Pelfrey. But it’s going to change throughout the coming into the series from karting. It’s very quick and it drives more like a season. There are some very good drivers in this series and they will go kart. As you progress toward INDYCAR through the Mazda Road to progress as the season goes on, and I think we’ll see the same thing in Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, you get more horsepower and more grip USF2000. Spring Training has been a great chance to see how the teams and this progression shows that. The PM‐18 is a progression from the USF‐ and drivers are coming along”. 17, with upgrades to the engine, bodywork, tires and wheels. It’s been well thought out, with great people working on the program both from You are a former driver and a race director: can you compare for us Andersen Promotions and Tatuus. I can’t wait to see the PM‐18. Testing will the old and new generations of drivers? For example: is there more start this summer, but with all the computer simulations and the fair‐play now or in older times? performance of the USF‐17, we have a good idea of what it’s going to do. “The kids from this era are predominately coming from go karts, instead of sprint cars, so it’s a different world. The biggest difference is more simulation work, from iRacing to whatever. These kids get good by sitting in front of a monitor at home. If you’d told me that when I was driving, I’d have told you that you were crazy. But I’ve seen it over and over and it works. Add that to the karting background and they’re phenomenal right out of the box. That’s why we see such competitive fields. That’s fun to watch. It’s hard to believe how well it transfers to the real car. I don’t think the attitudes have changed all that much over the years. You see the kids that take it seriously and are very professional, versus the kids who are more relaxed about it. That’s just the way life is. I’m impressed with most of these kids. What we’re trying to do on the competition side, from INDYCAR all the way down to USF2000, is the way we officiate. We want these kids to know exactly what to expect from the entire Mazda Road to Indy. We want these kids to know what they can and can’t do on the racetrack. It will never be black and white, but we’re trying to take away more of the gray area. That’s our goal and we’re making good strides. We’re not all about penalizing drivers, but we want to be able to explain to them and make them understand what works and what doesn’t”. The whole Mazda Road to Indy ladder system – as well as IndyCar ‐ is run on Italian‐made cars: why 'Italians do it better' for American single seaters cars?... “I think Tatuus put together a great car that makes sense financially, that is easy for the teams to work on and understand, but still with a great deal of technology and performance. If you can do that, at the right price, you have a winner and obviously, that’s happened here. It’s been a home run so why would you choose anyone else? When you look at some of our competition, I really believe this is a much better experience”. As a racing fan, would you like to see more F.1 GPs in the US and some IndyCar races in Europe? “To be completely honest, I’m not really an F1 guy, so I think the Austin race works just fine.