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2016 Mazda MX-5 Cup Racecar Starts Final Testing in Laguna Seca

Mazda wants the MX-5 Cup racer to be in top-notch shape for the competitional season kick-off, and as it often happens in motorsports, a lot of testing is involved.
Mazda MX-5 Cup Laguna Seca 22 photos
Photo: Mazda
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After leaving journalists and public in general with a sweet taste in their mouth, the new Mazda MX-5 is also thrown into the racing pit of the Global MX-5 Cup.

Impressing on the raceway is no easy task, even if you are a popular sportscar named Mazda Miata. So Mazda took a couple of MX-5 Cup racers on the asphalt at Laguna Seca, in an attempt to find the optimum combination of components.

Therefore, the Japanese are currently evaluating seven tire manufacturers, eight brake suppliers, and seven suspension kit partners for 392 base combinations.

Besides old-school circuit testing, engineers will also do a lot of measurement on the computer with ample real-world testing to validate the computer model, using 'advanced analytics and simulations'.

“Our goal is to develop a car that is just as rewarding to drive for the expert as the novice. Tom Long has experience with racing every generation MX-5, and is enthusiastic about the latest car. Tom will work with our engineers and racers to develop the next generation MX-5 racecar to maintain our position as the most road-raced car in the world,” explained John Doonan, Director of Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations

Tom Long is the man behind the wheel of Mazda's SKYACTIV prototype, but he also has raced in - and won - with all three previous generation MX-5 Miatas.

After the last tweaking work is complete, Mazda will come out and disclose official specification, but clients will still have to wait for the price until this summer.
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