Panic Motorsports, a recommended prep shop for Miatas, located just outside of Columbia, South Carolina, is offering a rental opportunity for the all-new Spec MX-5.
Panic Motorsports, the team that built Mazda’s Spec MX-5 test car last year as part of developing the new series, has extensive experience with the 3rd generation (NC) MX-5 platform, having built one of the first cars to run in Touring 4 (T4) within the SCCA’s Southeastern Majors series back in 2015. Panic has campaigned MX-5s throughout the Southeast and at the SCCA Runoff’s since, and currently has three NCs under its roof.
Steve Bertok, owner of Panic and a Spirit of Mazda award recipient, along with a long-term customer, are converting one of the shop’s T4 cars to the Spec MX-5 configuration. The race car will be available for a full arrive-and-drive experience in Spec MX-5 Challenge Series marquee events (Charlotte Motor Speedway and Road Atlanta), SCCA STL (double dip opportunities during Challenge marquee events), and potentially other events.
According to Bertok: “The NC platform makes a great, sturdy, reliable race car, as proven by our experience the last five years. We’ve campaigned the cars in T4 and Improved Touring S with great success, but are excited for the new spec series and being able to offer an arrive-and-drive program in support of the new class.”
In addition to the availability of a fully prepped rental race car, Panic also provides its full trackside support services, including data and video analysis from Panic associate Jonathan Black, also a Spirit of Mazda award recipient.
“We have helped many drivers improve both their times and race experience by taking the data and video they generate on track and then applying that data in the quest to discover speed,” commented Black. “Working as a team, reviewing data, set-up, and race strategy, is a positive benefit to driver development, and will be especially useful in a driver focused spec series. When you figure in the added contingency awards for Spec MX-5, we’ve got a pretty special program to be part of.”
Panic Motorsports can be contacted at 803-261-7629 or steve@panicmotorsports.com.
Mazda’s contingency awards can be found here.