The finale this December marks a full-stop for the Jazz Cup championship. With one more round to go, there isn’t enough participants to justify for a dedicated class for the Jazz. “Our goal this year of getting 10 cars to participate in the race did not work out. We almost did, though,” said Kimie Majid, Jazz Cup racer #86.
Instead, starting from next year, Jazz Cup will merge into Super Production where the hatchback competes with other cars produced on year ’06 and above- i.e Myvi, Vios, Swift, etc. Original OEM powertrain will have to be retained as said in the new Super Production regulation. Some engine and body combo will be allowed and one of them includes the Jazz. Holding true to the production year of 2006 and above, the Jazz is allowed to use the L15A or L15B engine with matching transmission. For example, a Jazz with an L15A engine may run an L15B gearbox, as they both are in the L15 family. What it cannot run is a K20 gearbox.
Will the Jazz boys continue competing in the new series?
Kimie believes that many current Jazz Cup racers will move to Super Productions next year.
His Jazz is up to the new regulation except for his individual throttle bodies whereby Super Production cars are only limited to OEM intake manifold and throttle body. Despite that, he strongly believes other Jazz Cup participants will be happy with the new Super Production regulations. “The Jazz group are happy with the new rules that have been posted on the MSF website.”
“It’s good that the intake manifold and throttle bodies are to be kept standard,” said Kimie. It keeps modifying cost at a low while maintaining durability.
How will the Jazz fare against other cars in Super Production?
The Jazz has its strengths but obviously it’s got its flaws too.
“Power wise, even with the new Jazz, I don’t think it can compete with the new Gazoo Racing Vios (which will be allowed to participate in the series next year)” said Kimie.
“It’s a different topic when it comes to skills, though.”
Kimie’s #86 runs on Race Comp GT Spec coilovers by Ftuned. As said earlier, the engine breathes through individual throttle bodies- engineered, built and tuned by Prodrag Motorsport. A promising build it seems, current third-place for the Jazz Cup series will be running one last time for the championship while he considers to join Super 1500 instead for the 2018 season.
“We will always support MSF, no matter what. There is Super 1500 which #86 can enter too. Most of us come from different workshops and we look for every opportunity we can to market them, which is best through showcasing their creativity in engine building and tuning.”