One car that has flooded racing circuits the world over is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, with each iteration improving over the last. The generation being raced doesn’t seem to matter – with a skilled driver, you’ll see a 1990 Miata eating Corvettes and 911s alive through the corners, leaving them far behind by the time the Miata reaches the next long straight. It’s combination of low price, low curb weight, rear wheel drive, reliability, and manufacturer support make this car the perfect platform for both new racers and seasoned veterans alike.

Dave Pratte and Peter Tarach of Speed Academy decided to have a friendly track battle to see who would get a faster lap time, using both the latest production model Miata and a Mazda Motorsports Cup spec model to see how much the $53,000 price tag (increased to $58,900 on September 16th, 2016) really improves lap times.

Dave Pratte (left) sitting on the hood of a MX-5 Cup car, and Peter Tarach (right) sitting on a production model MX-5.

The MX-5 Cup car is built on behalf of Mazda by Long Road Racing (LLR), where they start with the latest production model Miata right off the dealer lot. Once in the LLR shop, the interior of the car is stripped back down where a FiA, SCCA, NASA, and IMSA approved weld-in roll cage is installed, along with a full fire suppression system before buttoning the interior back up. For additional safety, they also include a 5-point racing harness, window nets, and a racing steering wheel.

The same factory 2.0-liter engine is used, with the only addition being a sealed race spec ECU. LLR also worked directly with Kooks to build a custom stainless steel race header and full exhaust to free up some additional power. To keep things cool for increased reliability under the harsh conditions found on a race track, a custom Setrab oil cooler and oversized C&R radiator were also fitted.

To increase cornering speeds and overall grip, two-way adjustable coilovers with custom spring rates were bolted in. When combined with the custom sway bars, front upper strut bar, and BFGoodrich racing slicks wrapped around a set of forged Rays Wheels, the car’s handling was essentially redesigned to ensure all four wheels stay planted on the pavement.

The drivetrain was improved using a sealed six-speed transmission with a Setrab cooler and a sealed limited slip differential,which  also includes a Setrab cooler and thermal controller. This was done in an effort to reduce repair costs and prevent owners from having to worry about mid-season rebuilds due to excess wear and overheating.

Ultimately, the Global MX-5 Cup car is a whole new beast when compared to its factory spec model. Body roll is entirely eliminated, handling is significantly improved, driver safety is maximized, and overheating is a nonissue.

After watching the video, it’s obvious that Mazda is definitely taking their future in grassroots level motorsports very seriously. With no other car besides the MX-5 Cup car will you get a race-ready platform with full manufacturer support, approval from just about every racing sanctioning body in the world, and performance that is leaps and bounds above its production sibling, all for less than $60,000.