With a price tag of just $53,000, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Cup Racecar is one of the few, if not the only roadster that the average person can afford to buy.
Mazda has announced pricing and details of the roadster that is already competing at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The two-seater is on the track as a pace car for Mazda. Deliveries of the 2016 MX-5 Miata Cup Racecar are set to begin somewhere at the end of this year.
The price for the MX-5 race is actually $27,265 more than a standard, street based, 2016 Mazda MX-5. However, the difference between the race model and the standard model is huge. For starters, the Miata Cup Racecar features a whole palette of track safety gear. Going further, the racecar comes with an optimized suspension, new sealed engine, tires and wheels that complement the racecar look, sport transmission and ECU. And when you compare the price to the used Miata race cars, the 2016 MX-5 Miata Cup Racecar seems like a steal. For comparison, the used race Miata cars cost more than $40,000.
The weight of the 2016 MX-5 Miata Cup racecar is reduced, as there is no convertible top, no air conditioning and no radio. The removal of those features allowed Mazda to shed 230 pounds of the standard street car and get the weight down to 2100 pounds. The reduced weight allows the MX-5 to sprint even faster and accelerate to higher speeds.
The Cup Racecar is ready to race, with Mazda only allowing the racers to add their own seat, as seating is different from one to another driver.
Priority for the Racecar will go to current competitors in the Mazda MX-5 Cup and those who intend to compete in the same cup next year. Mazda is also offering scholarships and prize money up to $200,000 for the champion of the Cup. The racer who will win the Cup will also be able to move to a higher level competition the following year. Mazda is also planning to finish the MX-5 Cup Series with a global finale in Monterey, California. The event is scheduled for next year at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Cup Racecar is also eligible for the NASA racing an SCCA club race.
