Manila Sports Car Club adopts Miata Spec Series
THE COUNTRY’s first-ever one-make sports car series will be flagged off this year as Mazda Philippines, the Manila Sports Car Club (MSCC), and the Clark International Speedway (CIS) collaborate for the 2022 MSCC Miata Spec Series. The series will feature 20 brand-new, track-tuned Mazda MX-5 open-top sports cars to be raced exclusively by MSCC members.
“We are delighted to finally see the much-awaited Miata Spec Series take to the track as the Manila Sports Car Club’s official racing event,” said Mazda Philippines President and CEO Steven Tan. “The one-make format of the Miata Spec Series provides a unique opportunity for MSCC members to hone their skills and to enjoy the pure essence of driving. Mazda’s motorsports DNA and its participation in grassroots racing events around the world has made it simpler for us to institute this partnership with the MSCC and the series’ new sponsors.” The race sponsors include Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC), GT Radial tires and Rota Wheels.
Four race weekends will be held beginning June 11 at the Clark International Speedway. The other three race dates are Aug. 27, Oct. 22, and Nov. 26.
Said MSCC member and 2022 MSCC Miata Spec Series Chairman Windy Imperial, “The MSCC has always considered the Mazda MX-5 Miata as a true sports car. The club chose to run the Miata Spec Series because of its proven reliability and performance on the track. Mazda Philippines’ partnership with the MSCC has given our members the opportunity to once again pursue our passion for sports car racing. And racing in an event that is both sustainable and fun will surely rekindle our love and appreciation for sports cars.”
Meanwhile, Pilipinas Shell has been a major business partner of Mazda Philippines since 2013 — supplying fully synthetic Shell Helix Ultra Professional lubricants for the brand’s dealership network. In 2018, the partnership expanded, and now Shell fuels are the recommended fuel for all Mazda customers and their fleet of vehicles.
As the number-one global lubricants supplier for 15 years in a row, Shell Lubricants continuously develops its products through its world-class network of technology centers to ensure consistent quality and performance. “Together with Mazda Philippines and the Manila Sports Car Club, we seek to empower motorsports enthusiasts through our innovative, top-of-theline motor oils,” said Shell Philippines Vice-President for Commercial Lubricants Steve Quila.
Added Arvin Obmerga, “This strong partnership nurtured all these years has made Shell a trusted partner of Mazda Philippines. The partnership comes alive today, as we witness the synergy between Shell’s most advanced fuel, Shell V-Power and Mazda’s best performance vehicle, the Mazda MX-5. We give our full support to Mazda Philippines and the Manila Sports Car Club, as they jointly promote the growth of motorsports in the country.”
Giti Tire group, one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers, is the official and exclusive tire provider to the 2022 MSCC Miata Spec Series. All competing cars will sport the endurance racewinning GT Radial Champiro SX2 from PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk in Indonesia, the largest integrated tire manufacturer in Southeast Asia. “We are very happy to be a partner in this exciting event that is seen to level up the Philippine motorsports,” says Mannix Ocampo, director for Sales & Marketing of Northern Automax Intersales, Inc., the exclusive authorized Philippine importer and distributor of GT Radial tires in the country.
Philippines Aluminum Wheels, Inc. or PAWI, is a well-known original equipment supplier in the automotive business. As the Philippines’ pioneer and leading alloy wheels manufacturer, it has been a partner of Mazda Philippines since 2014. PAWI has supplied “Illusions” alloy wheels for the Mazda 2 and more recently, “Recce Reloaded” wheels for the Mazda BT-50 Pangolin Edition.
“Rota Wheels has been a part of every major racing event in the country,” said PAWI President Michael Rojas. “We are proud to be a partner of both Mazda Philippines and the MSCC in this unique sports car racing series. Aside from seeing real sports cars race on the track, we believe that the 2022 *
MSCC Miata Spec Series will once again showcase Filipino engineering and ingenuity through the performance and durability of ROTA Wheels on the track.”
The 2022 MSCC Miata Spec Series will be run exclusively at the country’s premier racetrack, the Clark International Speedway. CIS General Manager Dennis Ayuyao has expressed his full support for the event. “We are honored to be the exclusive racing venue for the inaugural MSCC Miata Spec Series,” Mr. Ayuyao stated. “As an international-grade race circuit, CIS will provide an excellent atmosphere for drivers to race safely and competitively with their Mazda MX-5s. We are proud to host this prestigious event along with Mazda Philippines and the MSCC.”
All MSCC Miata Spec Series cars will be raced with showroom stock Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter engines and six-speed Skyactiv manual transmissions. Each car’s suspension components have been upgraded and reinforced with CUSCO sports coilovers and chassis braces to maximize handling and performance on the track while ensuring drivability on the road.
A custom stainless steel exhaust system, developed by local company Drift Xaust, maximizes air flow and enhances the aggressive racing note emanating from the MX-5’s 181 horsepower mill. A Sparco competition steering wheel, racing seat, harness and safety net, along with a new Cusco racing roll cage are all installed in each car to secure the drivers’ control and safety on and off the track.