Aussies pipped in ice debut

A last minute slip and tough tactics meant a fairytale finish was not to be for the Australian squad in Mazda's inaugural MX-5 Ice Race in Sweden this week.

The event, which saw 120 drivers from 26 countries compete in six-person teams in race-prepared Mazda MX-5s, was eventually taken out by the experienced Russian team. Australia's team including the Carsales Network's editor in Chief Mike Sinclair finished second in their ice racing debut. The Belgium team was third. Only four teams finished the two-leg four-hour event on the lead lap.

Australia was the only nation outside of Europe to field a team.

The victorious Russian outfit took the lead around halfway through the second of the race's two two-hour legs. The 'pass' took place in the pits during one of the five mandatory driver changes. Though the remaining Aussie drivers (including the Carsales Network's man in Europe Michael Taylor and Drive's Toby Hagon) chased down the lead MX-5, their charge fell short after a clash with the Russians and an off-track excursion just a handful of laps from the end of the race. The final margin was 1min 10sec.

Ice racing virgins, the Aussies started from pole after Top Gear Magazine's James Stanford stunned the field (and the organizers) with a qualifying lap that was 6sec faster than the next nearest team -- a composite squad from Hungary, Slovenia and Turkey. Stanford also set the fastest lap in both two-hour race legs.

The Ice Race 2011 was the second major MX-5 based motorsport event for the brand. Last year 20 European teams competed for the honour of winning the initiative's first outing on a streaming wet Adria race circuit near Venice in Italy. Conceived and run by Mazda Europe, this year's event was held on Lake Kallsjon near Are in northern Sweden, just a few kilometres from the Norwegian border.

The cars were prepared for the event by Bavarian-based race outfit Engstler Motorsport. Modifications to the MX-5s were minor -- a rollcage and other safety equipment plus the all-important studded rally-spec ice and snow tyres. All 20 MX-5s finished the race -- though many, including the Australian #21 car had their share of battle damage.

French oil company Total sponsored the event.

Mazda Europe boss Jeff Guyton praised the spirit of the teams that participated in the event. He also confirmed Mazda planned to continue the MX-5 based event in 2012 but did not give details. Mazda Europe is estimated to spend around $3.0 million on the event annually.

Just weeks before hitting the Lake Kallsjon track, Mazda celebrated the building of the 900,000th MX-5.

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