Which Miata makes the perfect race automobile: NA, NB, NC or ND? | Articles

Miata NA

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Once we mentioned “Mazda’s race-minded public relations workers,” we meant it, because the aforementioned Jeremy Barnes owns and repeatedly races the lovable (sorry, nevertheless it was) yellow NA racer. He competes within the Spec Miata class, which permits NA and NB vehicles.

With simply 115 horsepower from the 1.6-liter four-cylinder, Barnes’s No. 14 confirmed all of the traits that make the Miata an ideal automobile for each newcomers and skilled racers. Steering was gentle however not twitchy, and the nominal horsepower made it vitally necessary to take care of momentum. As a substitute of searching for the quickest line by means of the corners, we regarded for the road that allowed for probably the most exit pace. 

As with every race automobile, you may get into hassle with this one. On this case, that is likely to be from the modest brakes, which nobody would confuse with carbon. However retaining prices down was and is crucial, and for those who determine you need to spend sufficient to make an NA right into a killer monitor day automobile, you may as effectively simply purchase one thing that’s already quicker.

Sadly, we didn’t get to see Barnes’s automobile within the optimum gentle, as a number of of the journalists earlier than us had leaned approach too onerous on its already-taxed clutch. We needed to be much more affected person leaving corners than traditional as we waited for the clutch to catch up. 

Barnes informed us to go for it anyway, however true grassroots racers who’ve really needed to pay for their very own repairs are reluctant to thrash a hurting automobile, particularly when it belongs to a pal. 

Miata NB

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Owned by Mazda designer Ken Saward, No. 16 was a cheerful little automobile that we discovered very comfy, each ergonomically and at pace. The additional energy from the 1.8-liter engine didn’t imply we may now ignore momentum, solely {that a} unhealthy nook may lose us only one place as an alternative of two or three. Just like the NA, this one was additionally ready for the extraordinarily standard Spec Miata ranks. 

The NB carried greater than 100 additional kilos over the NA, however we didn’t actually discover it, maybe attributable to an unlucky life expertise that had us carrying a couple of additional kilos, too. The NB nonetheless appeared very gentle on its ft, and we had been shocked that it was solely a half-second quicker than the NA–though we puzzled how the NA did so effectively with a wonky clutch.

Miata NC

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Tom Lengthy, who pilots the Mazda SkyActiv Prototype within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sequence, stands out as the world’s finest Miata driver. That’s applicable, since he and his father, Glenn–proprietor of Lengthy Street Racing in North Carolina–are constructing a number of dozen MX-5 Cup vehicles for the 2016 season. Like, all the vehicles within the Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Offered by BFGoodrich will come from their store. So Lengthy is an effective one to ask in the case of these vehicles. 

When he didn’t appear to love the NC as a lot as the opposite chassis, we wished to know why. Like the remainder, this automobile was additionally prepped to a spec, kind of–it was principally an outgoing MX-5 Cup automobile fitted with a passenger seat. Lengthy mentioned that he most well-liked somewhat little bit of physique roll, and this explicit NC didn’t have any, arrange because it was for responsibility as a tempo automobile at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 

Yeah, possibly that was a part of it. However you had so as to add in a very uncomfortable driving place, together with a entrance alignment that allowed for a really quick turn-in however zero pure unwinding. Say we went right into a right-hand nook; until we decisively steered again to the left, we’d be doing right-hand doughnuts till we ran out of fuel. It was okay once we received used to it, nevertheless it wasn’t that a lot enjoyable. 

Nonetheless, the 170 horsepower and really planted rear finish lastly delivered the Miata from the strict momentum requirement, permitting for somewhat point-and-shoot motion. Had it been the one Miata race automobile we drove all day, we’d have favored it so much higher. Below the circumstances, although, it was the one one we weren’t wishing to take for extra laps.

Miata ND

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Sure, after all you’d assume that the latest automobile was the perfect one. Nonetheless, we had been somewhat shocked by how a lot higher the ND felt, particularly because it’s down 15 horses over the NC. But it surely’s up on torque–to 148 ft.-lbs.–and lighter by about 150 kilos. And we’re fairly certain each journalist at Streets of Willow that day logged the quickest laps within the ND. We actually did. 

The engine, as you’d suspect, was silky clean, although by the tip of the day there was some proof of a head gasket difficulty. This was the instance, and the engine, that had been thrashed mercilessly as Mazda’s fundamental improvement mule. 

The six-speed transmission was as near telepathic because it will get–we may suppose “fourth gear” and magically it was there. On the very low-mileage 2016 road vehicles we’d pushed, the shifter was a bit stiffer. If extra relaxed shifts are what house owners should stay up for after logging some miles, deliver them on. Clutch engagement was gentle and certain, too. Miata handbook transmissions have been textbook-good for the reason that first 1990 mannequin rolled off the boat, however you simply couldn’t ask for greater than this ND delivered. 

The Brembo brakes had been proper there, linear all the way in which into the near-perfect, unobtrusive ABS. Mazda isn’t fairly able to announce the manufacturers of the suspension bits, brake pads or eventual tires, however belief us, “lowest bidder” shouldn’t be an element until it occurs to explain the best choice.

There was some shocking understeer in two corners, however we had been informed that was extra a perform of setup than something inherent. We’d have favored to play with the tire pressures, however there wasn’t time.

Tom and Glenn Lengthy aren’t actually doing something to the ND that you simply couldn’t do your self. In reality, they’ll be completely happy to level out what they’ve finished, however a lot of it, just like the fantastically welded cage, is fairly evident.

Additionally, that is the automobile (in left- and right-hand drive) that Mazda plans to race globally for years, they usually’re working towards a significant world championship. In 2016, the fledgling world finale shall be at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The winner will get a one-day take a look at within the SkyActiv Prototype race automobile–which can, fortunately, be powered in 2016 by a gasoline engine.

That is the purpose within the story the place, if we had been the Motor Trend of 1990, we’d say, “We’d like to choose a winner, however they’re all so good! And have you ever pushed the brand new Lincoln City Automotive?”

However that is the Grassroots Motorsports of 2016, and we’re calling it: Whereas there has by no means been a nasty Miata or a ensuing unhealthy Miata race automobile, the brand new ND mannequin is an enchancment in each space, each on the road and on the monitor. Did we anticipate something much less?