---

April 18, 2024, Manila, Philippines--The country’s only one-make sports car racing series, the MSCC Miata Spec Series, returns for a third season this 2024. Organized jointly by Mazda Philippines and the Manila Sports Car Club (MSCC), and supported by Pilipinas Shell, GT Radial, and B.R.M. Chronographes, the first race for the 2024 calendar starts on May 25 (Saturday) at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

As a circuit racing platform, the MX-5 has proven to be both fun, affordable, and reliable. It has won four-, eight-, and twelve-hour endurance races no less than five times in the Philippines. The same can be said in the MSCC Miata Spec Series, where race cars have had a 100 percent finishing record, without race incidents. The majority of MX-5 Spec Series race cars, even from Season 1 in 2022, will go through an entire season only requiring consumables such as change of engine oil, filters, and brake pads. As with the previous years, all fuel, engine oil, and tires are fully sponsored by Pilipinas Shell and GT Radial.

“The MSCC Miata Spec Series is inspired by the largest one-make grassroots race series in the world, the Mazda MX-5 race series across Japan, Europe, and the United States. It is a one-make racing series that puts emphasis on driver skill and talent, and one that is inexpensive and safe.” said Steven Tan, President and CEO of Mazda Philippines. “And because it is co-organized by the Manila Sports Car Club, the entire atmosphere is one of family and community. We hope to get younger and older generations to enjoy the sport of racing together in the MSCC Miata Spec Series.”

As with previous seasons, the MSCC Miata Spec Series is split into three classes—the GT Radial Sportsman Class (drivers who are learning race craft), Shell Pro Class (racers with professional racing experience), and the B.R.M. Chronographes Masters Class (racers 55 years old and above, regardless of past racing experience).

Expect the races to be even more competitive with the return of former Formula 3 driver Tyson Sy and last year’s overall champion and former international karting champion, Juha Turalba. Professional drivers at the top of their game, Angie King and Red Diwa, will also challenge for the top spots.

For those who want to join the MSCC Miata Spec Series this season, 3 newly-built MX-5 Spec Series race cars are available. For ₱2,830,000, the MX-5 Spec Series race package includes all related track fees for the entire 12/14-lap, 4-round, 8-race season. Each race weekend, each car will receive 65 liters of Shell V-Power Racing fuel, Shell Helix Ultra engine oil, and a new set of GT Radial Champiro SX2 tires.

The sports car’s platform has been made stiffer with the use of a Mazdaspeed upper stress bar and front lower arm power brace. Each suspension component has been enhanced with CUSCO Sport S 24-way adjustable coil overs and sway bars (24 mm at the front, 14 mm at the rear) to maximize handling and performance on the track, while ensuring drivability on the road. All MX-5 Spec Series cars race with GT Radial Champiro SX2 215/45R17 tires mounted on Rota Strike 17 x 8.0 J wheels. Repeated hard braking on the circuit also meant improving the brakes, using AutoExe stainless steel braided hose lines and Winmax brake pads.

A custom stainless steel exhaust system, developed by local company Drift Xaust, maximizes air flow and augments the racing note emanating from the MX-5’s 181-horsepower engine. A Sparco R345 competition steering wheel, Grid-Q racing seats, and four-point harness, as well as a CUSCO 6-point roll cage and safety net, are installed to secure the drivers’ control and safety on and off the track.

Being a grassroots sports car racing series, the MSCC Miata Spec Series only has two requirements: owning an MX-5 Spec Series race car and membership to the Manila Sports Car Club. Since the MX-5 Spec Series race car is a recognized sports car by the MSCC, all the racer needs is an endorsement letter from a current MSCC member. 

For anyone interested in acquiring a new Spec Miata, they may enquire at Mazda Makati located at Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati City. For MSCC membership, they may send an email to [email protected].

Bermaz Auto Philippines, Inc. (Mazda Philippines) is the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles and parts in the Philippines. Mazda Philippines’ exemplary after-sales service record has been ranked #1 in the industry twice—in the 2016 and 2019 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study.