Mazda Motorsports has announced a number of revisions for its Mazda MX-5 Cup race car, which are reflected in a price adjustment for the next production run.
Effective September 7, 2016, the price for an MX-5 Global Cup race car will be US$58,900, representing an 11.1% increase versus the US$53,000 starting price of the first 108 units built. Mazda states that this price ‘is a reflection of the continuous improvements made between the first car, delivered in November of 2015, and the 100th car, to be delivered to the Monticello Motor Club later this week’.
MX-5 Cup racecars are purchased directly, and exclusively, from Long Road Racing, Mazda Motorsports’ development and production partner, with the current lead-time from deposit to delivery is four to six weeks
Mazda has delivered retrofit parts and service for the early build cars as-needed to ensure that every MX-5 Cup racecar is maintained at the latest spec. The primary improvements made to the car include a new ‘motorsports-specific’ gearbox, ‘motorsports-specific’ engine brackets, new improved differential bushing inserts, the addition of a fuel pump-out kit, and revised ECU hardware and software.
“When we launched the new MX-5 Cup racecar, our goal was to provide the best value in sports car racing. We believe we have done that,” explained John Doonan, director of motorsports, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “With more than 100 orders to date, many others obviously agree. An old adage is that racing improves the breed, and in just the first few months of racing, we have made a few significant upgrades to ensure that the car remains a great value for many years to come. To minimize the need for mid-season rebuilds, we have switched to a motorsports-specific gearbox. While it uses many of the stock components, it is a track-only part. Likewise we have redesigned the engine brackets to better withstand the constant high-speed pounding that is beyond anything seen on the road. The bottom line, is that this car is even better than it was just a few months earlier and we expect to see even more of them on tracks around the world in the years to come.”
The Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires is the signature spec series for the Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24), the sports car counterpart to the Mazda Road to Indy (#MRTI). On both paths, Mazda-powered champions earn a Mazda scholarship to advance their career. The MX-5 Cup champion earns a US$200,000 scholarship.
