Jul 21, 2016

Global Mazda MX-5 Cup

Spec racing series have been around forever, yet are some of the most underappreciated racing series in the world. While they do not draw the attention that series such as F1, NASCAR, Indy Car, and even dirt-track racing, they are exciting series that draw talented drivers, and are a great time at the track.

What is Spec Racing?

Spec racing takes the idea that the driver is more important than the car, and puts in place rules to insure that the competition is more about driver versus driver, instead of car versus car. In series such as F1 and NASCAR, the cars and engines can be infinitely tweaked, provided they stay within certain parameters. This means that there are always difference, ranging from the compound of the tires, to engine power, to numerous components that can change the weight, size, and stability of a vehicle.

Spec racing gets a high level of very tight rules regulating what can and cannot be part of a vehicle. Spec series are almost always a single make and model. Specific tire brands, sizes, and compounds are used, so each vehicle has identical tires. Minimum and maximum weight and power limits are provided, and there are rules regarding intakes, restrictors, safety equipment, and much more that must be met. These rules will even go as far as to specify the brand names of suspension parts, or exact specs for brake lines.

With so many rules in place, it takes the car out of the race, making for a pure form of racing. Surprisingly, this also makes for a more affordable series – as there is not as much of a concentration on research and development, growing engine programs and the like, you can enter into a spec series for a relatively low amount of money. Depending on the spec series, you could get into a vehicle for less than $30,000, which means racers who are talented but may be priced out of big series can take part.

What is the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup?

The Global Mazda MX-5 Cup is the Sports Car Club of America’s spec racing series based around the popular Mazda MX-5 Miata. It is a brand-new series for 2016, to accompany the brand new Mazda Miata that has been introduced for this year. Global MX-5 Cup Cars will feature a 2.0-liter engine, will all be modified by the same Long Road Racing professionals, and will be manual-transmission, rear-wheel drive roadsters – pure driving machines.

Considered an entry-level professional racing series, it is comprised mostly of drivers from the previous MX-5 Cup, as well as newer drivers. The winner of the series will get a $200,000 scholarship from Mazda to move to a higher level series for 2017. All competitors get a chance to race in Europe, Asia, and North America, with the finale being held at the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. An added plus to the MX-5 Cup is that all cars will also be eligible in SCCA, National Auto Sport Association, and many track-day club races.

While we don’t just have them sitting around the lot here at Mazda of South Charlotte, you can actually buy a brand-new, 2016 Mazda MX-5 Cup car through Mazda Motorsports, and join up with the series! Or, if you don’t have the time and money to throw at it, why not just go with the vehicle that inspired it all, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, which we have right here at the showroom for you to take out for a test drive? Maybe you can’t get out and hit the track, but you can certainly get out and feel the adrenaline of open-top roadster drives on the highway.