Mazda Motorsports

Mazda's racing history began in 1967 with the 'Mazda Sports Corner' at a Tokyo dealership, which campaigned the rotary-powered Cosmo 110S. This team evolved into MAZDASPEED, which was brought under Mazda's corporate umbrella in Hiroshima in 1983. The pinnacle of this era was 1991, when Mazda became the first Japanese manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall with the quad-rotary 787B. Following the FIA's ban on rotary engines in prototypes, Mazda shifted focus toward supporting grassroots racing and developing parts for its increasingly popular sports car, the MX-5 Miata. In North America, Mazda Motorsports solidified its presence as the primary support system for the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and National Auto Sport Association (NASA) racers. The launch of the Spec Miata class revolutionized amateur racing, eventually leading to more Mazdas being road-raced in the U.S. than any other brand. To bridge the gap between amateur and professional racing, Mazda established the 'Road to 24' (now 'Road to Pro') ladder system, providing scholarships to talented drivers. In 2006, the Mazda MX-5 Cup was launched as a professional single-make series. The program took a major leap in 2016 with the introduction of the Global MX-5 Cup car, a turnkey race car built specifically for the series. Today, Mazda Motorsports continues to manage the MX-5 Cup, supports the Spec MX-5 class, and maintains a heritage collection of historic race cars that compete in vintage events globally.