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Carsales Staff5 Nov 2014
NEWS

Mazda announces MX-5 Cup

New roadster to be showcased in global one-make series

Update, November 5: Mazda has confirmed overnight at SEMA that the one-make series will be officially named the Mazda Global MX-5 Cup. Kicking off in 2016, the series, which will comprise rounds held in North America, Europe and Asia, will conclude with a round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Vehicles taking part will be identically prepared and will be powered by the 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G four-cylinder engine.

"Since the first Mazda MX-5 took the green flag back in 1990, the car has been the ideal platform for both veterans and rookies alike," said John Doonan, director of motorsports for Mazda North American operations, as quoted in a Mazda press release.

"Because the MX-5 is inherently such a good car to drive, it is an ideal platform to learn basic and advanced race-craft, and this has made the professional MX-5 Cup series very successful to date."

Mazda is set to announce a global series for its new MX-5 roadster. The announcement will take place at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas on November 4.

Mazda USA telegraphed the announcement in a release overnight promising "an exciting global motorsports announcement" at a media call at the show.

Mazda Australia officials would not comment on the announcement, nor confirm the existence or any details of the program. However, motoring.com.au understands that the US unveil is a precursor to a standardised one-make series for the new MX-5 in Europe, Japan and other marketplaces.

Australia could potentially be one of those marketplaces, although it's unlikely any such series would kick off until 2016 at the earliest.

The structure of the global program and rules for the series are yet to be confirmed.

Mazda currently supports a multi-round MX-5 Cup in the USA. This year the series will comprise 12 rounds.

Mazda Australia will launch the new MX-5 locally in the third quarter of 2015.

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