Mazda Expands Miata Race Series Globally

Mazda Motor Corp. has broadened its MX-5 Miata race series, which was launched in the U.S. 11 years ago to Japan this year and now plans to turn it into a global circuit.

The first Global MX-5 Cup race was held in April in Japan. Races in Australia and Europe also are in the works, with an eventual goal of holding a season-ending world championship that pits regional winners against each other, John Doonan, director of motorsports for Mazda North American Operations, tells reporters at a recent event in Michigan.

Mazda previously sold kits to turn the MX-5 roadster into a non-street-legal racer. Partner Long Road Racing now makes the necessary modifications and sells the race cars for the carmaker. The North Carolina-based company has sold about 150 of the track-only models, which can be purchased for less than $60,000, since October 2015.

It takes about two weeks to convert a stock MX-5. More than 250 motorsports parts are added during the process, including a full roll cage.