LA MOTOR SHOW: Mazda MX-5 racer revealed

Ten years after the successful NC-series MX-5 Cup Racer was launched, the order book is open on Mazda's newest racetrack-ready roadster.

With an introductory price of $53,000 ($A74,725) – and available exclusively in left-hand drive – the 'most-raced production car in the world' will be delivered to its first lucky owners by the end of the year (2016).

Mazda says it will lock-down specifications and regular pricing soon, but adds the identical specification of the Cup Race model will promote a focus on driver performance, rather than budget, engineering capability or fabrication skills.

The car is prepared from a production donor with 'motorsports specific modifications for race track safety and performance' and an increased power-to-weight ratio. Specifics are scarce, but it is known that the MX-5 Cup Race Car has been jointly developed between US-based Mazda Motorsports and Long Road Racing in Statesville, NC.

Long Road Racing – operated in part by Mazda factory race driver, Tom Long – will produce cars initially for Mazda MX-5 Cup entrants and those wishing to compete in the 2016 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup. All vehicles are eligible for club-level racing with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and National Auto Sport Association (NASA) as well as many track-day clubs.

The MX-5 Cup series champion earns a $200,000 scholarship to move to a higher level series with Mazda the following year. The 2016 Global MX-5 Cup series will culminate with a global finale at Mazda Raceway (Laguna Seca) in September.

Mazda says it is currently evaluating seven tyre manufacturers, eight brake suppliers and seven suspension-kit providers – providing a total number of 392 base combinations – for the MX-5 Cup Race Car, and that the final product will come about as a result of both simulated and real-world testing.

"The response from the industry has been amazing with a wide variety of companies approaching Mazda to become involved," said Mazda North American Operations director of motorsports, John Doonan.

"Our goal is to develop a car that is just as rewarding to drive for the expert as the novice. Tom Long has experience with racing every generation of MX-5, and is enthusiastic about the latest car. Tom will work with our engineers and racers to develop the next-generation MX-5 race car to maintain our position as the most road-raced car in the world.

"With the launch of the fourth-generation MX-5, we are raising the bar by making it even easier for aspiring professional road racers to get involved. We expect to sell-out the first batch of cars rapidly," he concluded.

As for the chance of a similar model for right-hand drive, Mazda Australia insists it is "working on it".

Watch this space.