Zoom Zoom – Oh what a feeling!

Osborne Motorsports is a team synonymous with Toyota. Nineteen years of racing the product does that, I guess. Now, though, that is all about to change with news that Colin Osborne has bought two Mazda3 MPS cars which have seen racing action most recently in Targa Tasmania. The cars will be used in the 2010 Australian Production Car Championship.

As well as racing in the APCC Osborne Motorsports have competed in recent years at the Nürburgring 24 hour race at the wheel of a Toyota Corolla. No doubt a race spec 190kW Mazda3 MPS would up the ante somewhat around the Green Hell. No word yet as to whether Colin and his team will be taking an MPS to the Ring in 2010, but you can bet the thought has crossed their mind!

Full statement after the jump.

Mazda Powers Osborne Motorsport in 2010

Reigning Australian Production Car Champion, Colin Osborne, will lead a two car Mazda3 MPS team from the commencement of the 2010 season, following an agreement reached with Mazda Australia to acquire and operate two of its specially prepared competition vehicles.

Osborne Motorsport has acquired two Mazda3 MPS race cars previously entered by Mazda in Targa Tasmania.

While the Osborne team remains independent, Mazda Motorsport will provide technical assistance and advice where appropriate.

The three times Australian champion is incredibly enthusiastic about his team’s involvement with Mazda.

“Mazda has a long and proud history in motorsport in Australia, and the Mazda3 MPS has already shown that it can punch well above its weight in tarmac rallies and production car racing.

“I am very confident that our team can engineer the Mazda3 MPS to be a serious threat to the more high-powered and exotic cars in next year’s Australian Manufacturers Championship,” Osborne said.

Mazda Motorsport chief Allan Horsley is equally enthusiastic about the arrangement.

“Osborne’s team has a proven track record in the Production Car Championship and Endurance Races,” Horsley said.

“That combined with its professionalism and high standards of presentation, made the team the perfect choice to promote the Mazda brand.”

This announcement is another shot in the arm for the Australian Production Car Championship and Australian Manufacturers Championship which have witnessed a significant resurgence throughout 2009.

“Competition for production-based vehicles is the most effective way for manufacturers to showcase the capabilities of their products in a way which remains uncorrupted by technical freedoms,” Horsley added.

The new Mazda vehicles will be delivered to Osborne Motorsport headquarters at North Rocks in Sydney within the next week, and will commence a lengthy preparation for the 2010 Championship in which Osborne is expected to be joined by current co-driver Stuart Jones.

Osborne Motorsport will complete the 2009 Australian Manufacturers Championship in its current Toyota Celicas. “We have made a decision to complete the race programme with our current cars to enable a steady preparation of the new cars for next year,” Osborne declared.

“Additionally, we have obligations to a number of supporters of our current programme. I feel a strong obligation to complete this year’s programme given my nineteen years racing Toyota products. Some people at Toyota have been very good to me throughout that period, and it would not seem right to leave this year’s job only half done,” Osborne added.