The Mazda MX-5 Spec Series race cars will get handling upgrades for 2026

Alongside the rejuvenated and enhanced Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup with the Tamaraw OMR trucks adding to the local Philippine motorsport roster, we now have the 2026 season of the MSCC Miata Spec Series.

We have the dates on when and where they will take place, as the series will take place at both the Batangas Racing Circuit and the Clark International Speedway, where it will coincide with the two legs of the 2026 Mazda Fan Festa PH as well.

• May 16 – Clark International Speedway + Mazda Fan Festa PH Leg 1
• July 18 – Batangas Racing Circuit
• September 19 – Batangas Racing Circuit
• November 14 – Clark International Speedway + Mazda Fan Festa Leg PH 2

One more interesting aspect that Mazda Philippines President Steven Tan revealed is that the Spec Series race cars will get mechanical upgrades to further boost the performance of these race cars, specifically in the handling department.

These include a new Cusco Limited Slip Differential Type RS 1.5/2-Way, Cusco Sport TN-R Competition Dampers, Cusco Engine Mounts and Cusco Pillow Ball Type Bushes, alongside new flow-forged Concept One wheels, and new brake ducts to be fabricated by Angie Mead King’s shop, Car Porn Racing.

In a nutshell, the new limited-slip differential will further improve vehicle traction during cornering by limiting speed differences between two wheels, which will obviously improve cornering speed and power delivery going in and out of corners.

The suspension setup of these cars already uses Cusco Sport S 24-way adjustable coilovers and sway bars, which will be enhanced with the new competition dampers, which will further improve handling in many aspects, such as additional adjustments and improved damping control.

The metal bearings will replace rubber bushings in the suspension setup in order to improve handling, steering response, and cornering, but at the cost of ride harshness and NVH, which doesn’t matter in a race car.

The car also already uses a Mazdaspeed upper stress bar and front lower arm brace, which already makes the chassis very stiff. The engine mount will also aid with other aspects related to the engine, such as durability, throttle response, and power transfer, at the cost of harshness and vibrations, again.

The new wheels are yet to be finalized, but they will still retain the same GT Radial Championship SX-R semi-slick tires (215/45R17).

The new brake ducts will improve cooling to the brakes—which utilize AutoExe stainless steel brake lines and Winmax brake pads—allowing them to last for longer or be applied more aggressively, which in turn, will make the racing closer and more exciting.

More or less, the same 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G gasoline engine produces 184 horsepower and 205Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Most of these are still stock, save for a custom exhaust system (a one-piece header to muffler) built from a FIA expert fabricator.

Of course, it comes with the prerequisites for being a proper race car, like a Sparco R345 steering wheel, Sparco Grid-Q racing seats, a four-point harness, a Cusco 6-point roll cage and safety net, and a fire extinguisher.

^{Photos by Sam Surla}