CSCC to launch Mazda RX-8 class
The Classic Sports Car Club has announced its first one-make race class for the Mazda RX-8, which will start in 2019.
Called the RX-8 Trophy, it will cater for road-legal examples of the Series 1 Mazda coupe built from 2003 to ’08 and will run as a class within the New Millennium series.
The RX-8 Trophy will join the field of post year 2000 production cars and share its 40-minute, mandatory pitstop and one/two driver format. Running to a heavily restricted set of regulations, it is intended to offer value, entry-level motorsport.
Club director David Smitheram said: “I am aware of the barriers that stop people racing. It’s usually a combination of time, money and space. Hopefully this is the answer to all three.”
“Last year I ran in a onemake BMW championship and learned a lot. Since then I’ve moved house and don’t have room for a dedicated tow car and trailer. I still want to go racing but I just haven’t got the room.”
Smitheram has built the first car himself, although he is ineligible to compete in CSCC events.
A sub 30-hour build time is expected and a total cost between £4000 and £5000 for a ready-to-race car.
All retain the road car’s 231bhp rotary engine and rear-wheel drive configuration.cars also have to keep the heater, air conditioning, and stereo to allow racers to drive to the circuit and back – negating the need for a trailer.
“The RX-8 as a road car has flaws,” Smitheram added. “But these largely disappear as a race car, especially with the few reliability modifications the regulations allow.”