Mazda motorsport stalwart retires

Homegrown hero, Allan Horsley has retired from the racing scene. Ending on a high after several successful campaigns at Targa Tasmania, Horsley has been in charge of Mazda's motorsport outfit and part of the company's public relations team since 1981.

Horsley and Mazda Australia can claim 11 Targa Tasmania class wins from 1994; with the most recent this year with victory in the Showroom category and impressive sixth-place finish overall in a Mazda3 MPS.

He started with Allan Moffat Racing and the Mazda RX-7, helping the team to achieve three successive Australian Endurance Championships (between 1982 and 1984) and a trio of victories at the James Hardie Bathurst 12 Hour (1992 to 1994) events.

Before focussing on tarmac rally and the Targa Tasmania, Horsley 'created' the turbocharged RX-7 SP model, steered by Dick Johnson and John Bowe for a win in the Eastern Creek 12 Hour event.

Mazda Australia rightfully enjoys a point of difference between it and other importers with its continued application to Australian motorsport. Not even local manufacturers can claim such sustained efforts for in-house developed activity.

Long-time Mazda man and managing director for the brand in Australia, Doug Dickson has worked closely with Horsley for over 30 years.

"Allan's passion for fast cars and motorsports promotion was always going to be of great benefit to Mazda and so the last three decades have proved. His ability to overcome challenges and deliver giant-killing victories has played a huge role in putting Mazda Motorsport and our brand on the map," he said.

"His contribution to our motorsports program and our public relations efforts over such a long period are to be applauded and on behalf of Mazda Australia I'd like to extend my sincere gratitude to Allan and wish him all the very best in his retirement," Dickson said.

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