There are few two-seaters quite as iconic as the Mazda MX-5. Throughout its various incarnations, it has become the go-to car for lightweight, value-for-money motoring. The latest version of the MX-5 has been designed to offer something for the enthusiast driver, as well as those who prefer taking things at a slightly slower pace.
We headed out to see how Mazda’s famed roadster copes on track – and not just on any track, but Silverstone’s Stowe Circuit.
Mazda has designed the MX-5 as a road car first, which means that it hasn’t been directly setup as a circuit car. Despite this, many enthusiasts use the Mazda for track use, owing to its lightweight set-up and relatively low purchase price. The car’s decent balance also makes it excellent to tackling tight, twisty turns – similar to those we’d experience at Stowe.
The MX-5 has a huge amount of inherent balance, and despite being a little too softly sprung for the track in standard, road car setup, it’s still a huge amount of fun to chuck about. There’s oversteer if you want it; all you need to is be a little more brutal with the throttle than usual and it’ll be provoked into a slide – but it’s easy to hold and predictable at all times. A small downpour of rain at the start of our session decreases the track’s grip levels but increases the fun – the MX-5 can be a little hooligan when it wants to be.
But then, the rain stops and the track dries out. There’s plenty of grip thanks to the MX-5’s low weight and relatively wide tyres, which makes it ideal for the short, snappy Stowe circuit – though we’d argue that it may have been a little underpowered for the far longer GP track. Drive it neatly and smoothly, and it’s capable through the corners, though after a little while the brakes do inevitably get a little hot and begin to fade – it is, after all, a road car.
Enquire Now on a new Mazda MX-5There was one more test in store for both us and the MX-5. With cones lined up, it was clear that an Autotest section would be the next area in which the little Mazda would have to prove itself. The idea behind this type of event is to concentrate on car control and precise driving, pitching the car through slaloms and into coned-off sections while racing against the clock.
We start off quickly – trying to tackle to course at as high a speed as possible. Cones go flying, and our times aren’t anywhere near what they should be.
It soon becomes clear that accurate, smooth driving gets the best times – and the whole process soon sees us trying again and again to beat our own times. The MX-5 feels particularly at home in this environment thanks to its accurate steering and compact size. Anything larger would have been a mission to get around the course, but fortunately the MX-5 is ideal for the job, and is particularly accomplished at doing tyre-shredding circuits around a cone.
We eventually stop doing laps, somewhat happy with our times but still feeling as though we could have done more. Through both events, it’s been easy to see just why the MX-5 is so popular – it’s great fun to drive (even on track), and remains a well-priced option for those who want all the fun of a roadster in a reliable and accessible package.
Test drive a Mazda MX-5