The Mazda Motorsports team has been racing and developing high-performance cars for a long time. Racing is at the core of what this company is all about.
You might not think of Mazda and racing, but you should. This name has been victorious at many of the top races in the world including Daytona and Le Mans. Many amateurs race Mazda cars every weekend, giving them the opportunity to feel the glory and fun that professionals dedicate their lives to. If there’s a racing circuit somewhere in the world, there’s a good chance that Mazda is there adding their mark on the event.
The Mazda racing heritage
Mazda Motorsports began in 1968 when the brand began racing. Once they got the feeling of what it means to race around a track, this brand and its racing team have never looked back. Mazda was the first Japanese brand to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 and boasts more than 200 IMSA race wins. Some of the racing focus from the track has translated to the road, helping to develop the MX-5 Miata and RX-8 along with other RX models along the way.
Mazda puts drivers first
Cars have become extremely advanced over the past few years, but Mazda continues to put the driver first. The driver is the one variable in many car races, especially those races where every car is supposed to be built the same. This human-centric approach keeps things fun and unique at Mazda, making it easy to understand why many drivers turn to Mazda for their racing hardware. This core value and process is what you’ll hear from Yojiro Terarda, who is known as Mr. Le Mans. He earned this name by driving in 29 Le Mans races.
A cup shootout to help propel deserving racers
The Mazda Motorsports team can help many racers move forward in their pursuit of excellence on the track. At the end of every racing season, Mazda identifies deserving amateur racers who could make it at the next stage but need a little help to get there. These racers compete in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout to win a combination of $260,000 in scholarships. One of the top prizes is a $75,000 scholarship for the top female driver, which is to be used the following year at the pro level. This can be a big deal for some amateur racers.
Mazda is huge in grassroots racing
The weekend racing events held at local tracks are often littered with Mazda-brand vehicles. From the MX-5 Miatas to the RX-8s, many cars wear the Mazda brand and often find their way to the front of the pack under the checkered flag. There are more Mazdas racing in road races every weekend than any other car brand, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Mazda’s goal has been to provide fun and active driving on any road, regardless of the Mazda car chosen for the drive.
A more prestigious Mazda Cup race
Those who compete in the Mazda Cup race have the opportunity to represent in a higher-level cup race. This race, put on by Mazda Motorsports and presented by BFGoodrich Tires, is the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup race. This competition brings with it a $1 million purse, which can truly propel an amateur racer into the professional ranks. This is one of the hardest-fought races in North America. Every car is built to exacting standards, and every driver is behind the wheel of a race-winning car. This is an incredible race and one of the best events racing fans can enjoy every year.
The dominance of the RX-7
Although we’re beyond the Mazda RX-7 at this point, this incredible sports car dominated many of the IMSA events during its time on the track. In 1979, the RX-7 took the top two spots in the 24 Hours of Daytona race, but this was only the beginning of the dominating nature of this incredible Mazda sports car. By 1990, the RX-7 had more than 100 IMSA race victories under its belt, making it one of the most successful racing cars of all time.
A crazy entry into WRC
Mazda Motorsports has tried its hand at every racing type in the world. This includes entering the incredibly successful Mazda RX-7 in WRC Group B races during the mid-1980s. If you know anything about this racing series, there were very few rules, making it easy for any manufacturer to enter a car. Unfortunately, this was one area where Mazda didn’t find much success.
Mazda Motorsports has been part of the racing world for several decades and has its own Cup races in which racers can earn the right to move to higher racing ranks. This makes the Mazda team an integral part of racing heritage and modern racing success.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
