Chassis 017, the very first Mazda MX-5 race car. Photos by author, unless otherwise noted.
Though no one could have known it at the time, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, introduced to North America at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, would go on to become the best selling two-seat sports car in the world, along with the most-raced car in the word. To honor its heritage and acknowledge its future, Mazda brought its very first MX-5 race car to the 2014 SEMA Show, and used it as a bookend for its announcement of a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Cup race car, tied to a new global racing series.
Mazda brought in three cars for Chicago in 1989, one each in red, white and blue. The red and blue cars have long been a part of Mazda’s collection, but the white car, with a VIN ending in 017, has led a far more interesting life. When its time on the show circuit was over, the plan was to sell the car to an endurance racing team, but funding for the deal fell through. Instead, the car was leased (reportedly for the token sum of $1) to SCCA club racer and Toyota engineer Dan Edmunds. For roughly 20 years, Edmunds hung on to chassis 017, using it for SCCA club and national competition before setting it up to run in rallycross.
The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Global Cup race car.
In honor of the MX-5’s 25th anniversary, Mazda has mechanically refurbished the car to acknowledge the start of the Miata’s racing history. Not only is car 017 the very first MX-5 built into a race car (for SCCA Showroom Stock “C” competition), but it’s also the very first MX-5 to post a race victory. That makes it a significant car for the Japanese automaker, which has a long tradition of honoring its past.
Photo courtesy Mazda Motorsports.
It was fitting, then, that Mazda opted to bring along chassis 017 for the introduction of its latest racing MX-5, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Global Cup car. While Mazda Motorsports has always sold kits to build MX-5s into Spec Miatas, this time the company is doing things a bit differently, and will rely on a third party builder to produce turnkey race cars. Plans are for the 2016 Mazda Global MX-5 Cup to be a worldwide series aimed at non-professional drivers, culminating in a series finale to be held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Among other prizes, the series champion will receive a one-day test in a Mazda TUDOR United Sports Car Championship SKYACTIV prototype race car, perhaps opening the door to a professional career in motorsports.
Photo courtesy Mazda Motorsports.
Mazda hasn’t released many details on its 2016 MX-5, so it stands to reason that specific details on its MX-5 Global Cup car are also lacking at the moment. The automaker has confirmed that it will be powered by a 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G engine, but will spend this winter sorting out details on tire selection, chassis setup and safety equipment. For 2015, the MX-5 Cup will continue to use third-generation cars, until the fourth-generation MX-5s are ready for competition in 2016.
More gadget review in www.mamaktalk.com
