SPORTINESS, versatility and value for money - three of the key attributes of the Mazda RX-8 have all been recognised by Britain's fleet professionals who voted the Japanese marque's flagship model the best Sporting Car in the annual Fleet Excellence Awards. The Awards, announced at a ceremony in London last month, are voted for by fleet decision-makers who read Fleet Week, Fleet Management and What Van? Fleet magazines.

Mazda was one of the UK's fastest growing fleet manufacturers last year as corporate sales soared by more than a third year-on-year with the Mazda RX-8 gaining a significant following in the user-chooser sector. "The uniqueness of the four-door Mazda RX-8 with its 1.3-litre Renesis rotary engine enabled the model to muscle aside more established German marques to win the Sporting Car award for 2005," said Fleet Management editor Guy Bird.

He said: "The award win is a tribute to the Mazda RX-8's great form and even better function. Since the award's inception in 2002, in recognition of the growing influence of user-choosers in the fleet market, it has been dominated by the Germans - the Audi TT (2002 and 2003), and BMW Z4 (2004). No longer.