The First 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Cup Car Gets Pace Car Duty
The first production 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Cup race car is also the newest member of the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca fleet of safety vehicles.
Mazda Motorsports debuted the first production 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Cup race car as part of the festivities at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. In addition to pace car duty, the Japanese automaker will use the first production race car to gather additional durability data ahead of the first deliveries to customers. The first race cars will be used in the Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup when the 2016 race season kicks off next year.
SEE ALSO: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Review
The stylish graphics found on the pace car were designed by Mazda Design Studio in Irvine, California and applied by StickyFingers Design. This year’s racing season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will conclude on September 11-13 with the Mazda Road to Indy and Pirelli World Challenge finales.
“For Mazda, this weekend is the perfect blend of past, present, and future,” noted John Doonan, director of motorsports for Mazda North American Operations. “We are celebrating our motorsports heritage on the track with our vintage race cars. We are showcasing our current line-up of race-inspired products in our consumer display in the paddock, and with this pace car, we are giving a glimpse into the 2016 racing season when the latest MX-5 Miata will be racing in the Global MX-5 Cup.”
Discuss this story at our Mazda MX-5 Miata Forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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