Grassroots Club Racing
Grassroots racing comes in many forms. There are track days where you can enjoy your street car on the race track with little or no modifications. Autocross - aka Solo - a timed-test on a twisty, cone-marked course, can be done with a factory stock set up or a highly tuned autocross spec car. And then, there's road racing with many different categories to suit almost any budget. Whichever you choose, Mazda supports them all.
Mazda Team Support Program (MTSP)
The Mazda Team Support Program is free to join, and offers Mazda racers and teams an array of perks and benefits, including special parts pricing, technical support, and contingency awards (prize money and scholarships). Whether you’re an autocrosser, time trial or track day participant, road or rally racer, or a race/prep shop, you may be eligible to join the MTSP, complimentary. Program offerings are specific to the type of racing entered. Sign up by visiting the Get Started section.
Spec MX-5 (SMX) Road Racing Platform Option
Building on the abundance of already fun third generation NC (2006-2015) MX-5s, in 2020, Mazda Motorsports helped develop a new race class and car – Spec MX-5. The Spec MX-5 race car is founded on four key pillars: affordability, reliability, tech-ability, and really fun to drive; these are the prerequisites for fair and fun competition. Mazda Motorsports further developed the Spec MX-5 program by helping to organize sprint and endurance club racing competitions, rewarding racers with the best contingency awards in club racing and the best parts pricing, while assisting on everything from assembly, to set up, and driving. Mazda Motorsports offers nearly every necessary part to convert the road car into the Spec MX-5 race car, intended for everyone from novices looking to make a long-term stay in club racing to those aspiring to ascend to professional racing. While a newer class, SMX has already produced several pro drivers, including four of the six MX-5 Cup Shootout scholarship winners since 2020: Connor Zilisch, Bryce Cornet, Aaron Jeansonne, and Savanna Little.
Call Mazda Motorsports at 800.435.2508 to order your build kit.
Spec Miata (SM) Road Racing Platform Option
Spec Miata, comprised of the first two generation Miatas, is the most popular road racing classes in the world. It’s very affordable and highly competitive throughout the entire field, offering many opportunities to grow the driver’s speed and race craft. Between Sports Car Club of America and National Auto Sport Association, there is not a more raced car.
Several MX-5 Cup Shootout winners who earned the 6-figure scholarship package came from Spec Miata: Connor Zilisch (2020; Spec MX-5 and Spec Miata racer); Jared Thomas (2019), Michael Carter (2018), Selin Rollan (2017) and others.
NASA's Teen Mazda Challenge (TMC)
If a young racer has already done everything he or she can in go-karts or quarter midgets, but is still too young to have a driver's license, their options may be limited. With that issue in mind, the late Ron Cortez and Mazda created a class for those aged 13-20 within Spec Miata known as Teen Mazda Challenge. TMC races are held during regular NASA race weekends, and compete within the Spec Miata class. To keep travel costs to a minimum, there are multiple regional championships within NASA.
TMC is one of the qualifying series for the annual MX-5 Cup Shootout. In addition, TMC drivers are not only eligible for contingency awards as Spec Miata drivers, but receive additional contingency awards. Need proof that it works? Ask Elliott Skeer, Nathanial “Sparky” Sparks, or Chris Nunes. Both jumped directly from TMC to the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires with great success.