Designed to produce affordable, simple racing, the B-Spec class is taking off within SCCA Club Racing, and racers can go pro racing if they choose with the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car B Championship.
Based on subcompact cars – known as B-Segment cars in much of the world, hence the name – B-Spec is a showroom stock class that allows a few modifications in the name of safety and driving fun. Aside from the required safety equipment, the only other allowed modifications are manufacturer-specified and sanctioning-body approved parts kits. These usually consist of springs, shocks and swaybars to improve the handling, and exhaust and intake pieces to add a little noise and power to the equation.
Mazda Motorsports naturally offers a B-Spec kit for the Mazda2, which has done well in the World Challenge TCB class in the hands of Ernie Francis Jr. Included in that kit are Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs carefully chosen for the Mazda2.
“The Bilsteins are revalved,” says Steve Sanders, MAZDASPEED Motorsport Development Manager for Mazda North American Operations. “They’re not just the standard off-the-shelf Bilsteins. The springs are also custom to the car. They’re a specially designed spring rate with helper springs. Craig Nagler at Pro Parts/Tri-Point helped with that, in conjunction with professional racer Charles Espenlaub. They worked together to perfect the suspension kit.”
On the suspension side, the kit also includes front swaybar end links, an adjustable rear sway bar and front crash/camber bolts.
“The camber bolts allow you to adjust front camber. The rear swaybar actually assists with toe – it does more than just act as a swaybar. It can dial in the toe-in and toe-out, which is critical to the handling of the car,” says Sanders.
Other features include Stoptech brake lines, a cat-back exhaust system, Green air filter, oil cooler kit and an air conditioning delete kit. For some tips on building a B-Spec Mazda2, see Ernie Francis Sr.’s take on a successful build. Click here to see the Sports Car Club of America Club Racing class rules.
Remember that all registered Mazda racers receive substantial discounts on parts and even Mazda cars.
Log into your account or call 800.435.2508 for more information.