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Mazda Reluctantly Offers Hard Tops to Miata Racecars

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Global Cup Race Car Inspiration for Fiat 124 Spider

When Mazda introduced its current-generation MX-5 Global Cup car in 2014, it did so in the same manner as its conventional MX-5—with a retractable soft top, “as nature intended,” according to Mazda.

However, apparently, pressure has been building against nature itself, as Mazda has announced that, for those competing in series that require hardtops for their vehicles, it will be providing a factory-approved unit. The hardtop unit is removable and for track use only.

The MX-5 Cup hardtop will be offered for $4,420, exclusively for Mazda Motorsports customers and those who have committed to buying an MX-5 Global Cup race car. The deliveries will begin in April.

“While our first year was spent concentrating on the successful launch of the MX-5 Cup car in our Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, we knew that was just one arena for customers. Now with an available hardtop, Mazda racers can compete in SCCA and NASA Club Racing and in the Pirelli World Challenge TCA class,” said David Cook, business development manager, Mazda Motorsports.

The MX-5 Global Cup car comes with an MSRP of $58,900, and can only be ordered from Long Road Racing, Mazda Motorsports’ development and production partner. This version of the Global Cup car comes with improvements like a Motorsports-specific gearbox, Motorsports-specific engine brackets, differential bushing inserts, ECU hardware and software updates, and an available fuel pump-out kit.