The Mazda Miata's 35-year racing legacy stands as a testament to its enduring impact on motorsports, particularly in North America. Since its 1990 debut, the two-seat roadster has launched countless racing careers and dominated multiple racing categories.

Many successful IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers, including Robby Foley, Stevan McAleer, and Patrick Gallagher, started their careers in Miatas. Even NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch raced Spec Miata before becoming a Rolex 24 at Daytona winner.

The Miata's racing journey began in SCCA Showroom Stock, with Randy Pobst claiming the first National Championship in 1992. The car has since conquered numerous SCCA classifications, including E Production, F Production, GT-Lite, Super Touring Lite, and Touring 4.

In autocross competition, the Miata's agile handling and responsive nature have led to unprecedented success. Since Marla Davis's first SCCA Solo National Championship win in 1993, Miatas have accumulated 180 national championships as of 2024.

The introduction of Spec Miata in 1999 marked a pivotal moment in the car's racing history. Created by Shannon McMasters in collaboration with Mazda Motorsports, this spec class featured standardized rules across all SCCA regions, making it highly accessible and competitive. The series included both 1.6- and 1.8-liter models, with the NB generation (1998-2005) later joining the mix.

Spec Miata's popularity exploded, culminating in a 70-car race supporting the 2002 Champ Car event at Laguna Seca. The class evolved into Pro Spec Miata in 2003, providing a stepping stone for talents like Tom Long, who later became a Mazda factory driver.

Today, Spec Miata remains one of America's largest amateur racing categories, with over 3,000 cars built in the U.S. alone. The series continues to produce incredibly close racing, exemplified by the 2023 SCCA National Championship's historic dead-heat finish between Preston Pardus and Nick Bruni at VIR.

The Miata's influence extends beyond amateur competition, serving as a crucial component in Mazda's motorsports ladder system and continuing to shape the future of racing through the professional MX-5 Cup series.

Related Articles

Previous Articles