Mazda, where are you?

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:21 am

Toyota seems to be backing motorsport with the 86, it would be nice to think Mazda could do something ...

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/toyota-confirms-local-race-series-for-86-20141109-11je8u.html

I don't suggest they should just do what Toyota (or anyone else) is doing, but there are lots of options - maybe back a series, or offer contingency money, or ...

:mrgreen:

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:49 am

Sounds like a fantastic idea, hopefully this puts pressure on Mazda to back a true Spec MX5 series here in Australia and there's room for both to run successfully (adding two new support series' might he hard).

I'm in to watch

I think Mazda at least needs to offer an affordable unregisterable track only version of the MX5 with some racing kit already in it (like how Mitsubishi sells an RS version of the Evo).

Postby **beavis** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:54 am

Discounts on things like:

tyres
fuel
entry fees
servicing items

...would be a great incentive for people to get into a MX5 or Mazda race series.

You could have classes based on a points system, or model type, or both.

And the cost to cover these things would not be high for a car manufacturer.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:23 pm

*Cough*

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/the-2016- ... 8/+pgeorge

Postby **beavis** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:34 pm

Well when you put it that way, if they gave me the car I'd pay the entry fee and cost of tyres :p

mazmad · Postby **mazmad** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 3:56 pm

If you read the story, pretty vague about where it will be held - '...global....Asia....'. I am betting it isn't held in Australia.

MAZDA seem to be doing pretty well in Oz without getting involved in local motorsport to any great extent. Mazda is already supporting Am-racing in the US at a number of levels - discounted parts, MX-5 Cup. Don't hold your breath for similar involvement here, although I would love to see it!

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 3:59 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:*Cough*

Nothing in there that says anything about Australia. You have anything better?

Based on what has happened here (zilch) while the yanks were having Mazda Cups, Mazdaspeed, and Mazda Raceway, I would caution against optimism (sadly).

I will start smiling when I see confirmation on Mazda Australia letterhead.

:mrgreen:

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 6:56 pm

Lou, would you be interested in buying one of these Global MX-5 Cup cars and racing it an official series? Any thoughts on how many others might be keen? If we can put together a strong case, I'll have some ammunition to take to Mazda Australia. Let's get proactive and try our best to make it happen.

mazmad · Postby **mazmad** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:01 am

We already have an MX-5 Cup series in OZ, and you don't need to buy a $50k car to race in it.

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:52 am

Exactly!
and you can buy mine for 7k and have fun! LOL

oztrackdays · Postby **oztrackdays** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 2:04 pm

If you want telly time, ie V8 Supercar undercard etc ...

For the Competitor look at $100k season minimum not including car cost.

Mazda won't subsidise anyone they will just look for wannabes and deluded possibly even talented
people who will jump at the chance for some telly time.

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 5:05 pm

Look at all the not so big dollar single make series in the past that were run on the undercard for the V8's, they all lasted one or maybe two seasons.......

Mini challenge
MG challenge

I can't recall any others other than the Suziki swift series from the early to mid 90's.

These types of series are run on a tightly controlled basis, where for one series the ECU's were handed out at random at the start of the weekend, for another, the cars were maintained and managed by the organiser. You just paid the dollars and turned up, and were expensive.

Even the Suzuki series that was run at the Shannons Nationals is dropping rounds as it finds it hard to keep competitors and turning into a more state based category.

About the only series that has done all right is the Porsche Cup, but that has been around for many years and there is several layers of competition to progress through for the average guy who can raise the dollars.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:02 pm

I don't think that this would be in our/Mazda's long term interests. As mentioned above, expensive (for either, or perhaps both, driver/entrant and organiser - presumably Mazda), and not doing much (anything?) for motorsport, let alone grassroots motorsport. Maybe get some TV time, perhaps raise awareness of the ND, but ultimately going nowhere.

It could be run in conjunction with MX5 Cup and/or MSC, either using NDs (only ND drivers eligible), or on a contingency/prizemoney for any MX5 driver. That would be my preferred option. Would have to work hard to get TV/other publicity though, but the impact on motorsport would be much greater, and potentially continue longer.

My 2c.

:mrgreen:

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:27 pm

Anyone else watch the 86 races in NZ this weekend at Pukekohe?

I enjoyed them, some good battles and tight racing. They had a few incidents but like the commentators said lots of the guys are stepping up from karts and learning to race cars on cold slicks so they should get better as the series goes on.

I feel like Mazda missed a trick with the Australian 86 series kicking off next year since it pushes up the 86's racing image and combined with some marketing it could be a good boost for Toyota.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:36 pm

I wish it were different but Mazda Australia are unlikely to put any funding into anything that will create further demand for a product they can't get enough of from Mazda Japan.