Mazda MX-5 Cup EXPLAINED!

[@robertharvey2580]

The MX-5 cup is such a great series. It’s baffling that bigger sports networks will show things like corn hole and darts, but not this incredible series.

[@ryanchandler7308]

I completely agree, I don't understand how one can't be riveted by this series, it's some of the best sports watching out there.

[@offintheesses]

I think it's some of the best racing in the world right now!

[@williamford9564]

It is because the sports are PAYING the networks for the coverage. If IMSA paid ESPN ( which they are not going to do), ESPN would air the races.

[@robertharvey2580]

@@williamford9564 Ah that makes more sense. I assumed it was the other way around. Still unfortunate the series isn’t on TV

[@joshelguapo5563]

I'm just getting into racing but I can see already that the market might just be saturated. I was watching gt world challenge alone and this last Saturday there was like 5 different gt world challenge events happening at once. And they just stream live on KZbin.

[@Rick1984FL]

This series is some of the best racing I’ve ever seen tbh and it doesn’t hurt that I can look in my garage and say without too much stretch of the imagination “yeah I own a legit race car”

[@offintheesses]

It's incredible! Can't wait for the next rounds at Sebring!

[@Rick1984FL]

@@offintheesses as luck would have it I got to meet Connor zilisch Tuesday night at a local Mazda dealership wherein he had his cup car… and because most people still have no idea what Mx cup is I was able to chat with him and his team owner for over an hour unfettered! They were even letting people sign his car. So now I have “sponsored” a race car. Way cool!

[@offintheesses]

@@Rick1984FL that's awesome! Connor is a good guy and it's awesome how people in the paddock are so welcoming and friendly!

[@Rick1984FL]

@@offintheesses agreed it’s one reason I’m a huge INDYCAR and sports car racing fan. Wish I was able to go to Sebring myself but getting over a broken leg means I’ll have to wait until next year; same for the 24 really. Oh well at least it’s something to look forward to

[@jasonbegaming244]

Yeah, I've always thought it would be cool to see True stock car racing make a return. You know, like actual stock cars off the lot. But that means other manufacturers would have to play into that idea and make something like or equivalent to an MX-5 Cup. Even alot of the sportier cars sold are still too heavy and not really ready for the track.

[@AyaxRo]

This is completely true. Best spec series out there by a long shot. So thankful that IMSA now posts them on YT on the same weekend.

[@birdseye2239]

After starting iracing and loving the mx-5 im stoked to see people do it in real life

[@offintheesses]

It's some of the best racing you can watch in my opinion!

[@Heavyanker]

Same, it got me interested in it as well )

[@Rerags_]

it's pretty funny how this championship puts out banger of races almost every single time they go onto a track while in other series like f1 they have maybe one race every season just close to this good

[@offintheesses]

Yeah I truely believe this is some of the best racing on the planet right now!

[@baltousprime7897]

MARTINSVILLE! Let's GO!

[@offintheesses]

It's going to be crazy, there's going to be carnage but my goodness it's going to be fun to watch!

[@matthewakers2659]

I'm not far from there so I'm definitely going!

[@dylanleeFLY]

im one of the mechanics for spark performance in the mx-5 cup series. love the video. and if your at any of the races come by and say hi!

[@offintheesses]

Hey Dylan glad you enjoyed it! I'll be at CTMP for sure and hoping to make it to Petit!

[@f1_onboardsAC]

Mate, do you have any info about real driver’s opinion on iRacing representation of the car? Is ir somewhat close?

[@dylanleeFLY]

@@f1_onboardsAC @sallymottracing

[@sallymottracing]

Hey, I’m a Spark Performance MX-5 Cup driver and I think that Iracing doesn’t do the car justice. That is just my personal opinion.

[@f1_onboardsAC]

@@sallymottracing Really appreciate your answer. Could I ask you something else? In which aspect does the iRacing version fall short compared to the real car? Apart from the too large tire warmup time.

[@thomasp3101]

I fell in love with this series just this year. The racing is great. Very competitive but still able to overtake. Flis performance made a decnt little race platform out of the mx5, i like the way they look. Hope the erseries continues to grow. Hope Imsa sees the potential we all do.

[@staceygarrison4979]

I looooove this series. I've watched every race since 2021 and get excited every race weekend

[@offintheesses]

Yeah this is a must watch series if you're a racing fan!

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Nice video. Thank you for making this video, you had me hyped before but didn't know much about it. 45 minutes is perfect length especially with the massive timezone differences for me. Hopefully you cover more of this series in 2024. Thank you for including where the races will be broadcast. Keep up the good work.

[@offintheesses]

I will be trying to mention in the post race videos the winners of the races and if there was anything notable in them!

[@RickOAA]

This, the Sundae Cup, B-Spec, and 24 hours of lemons are some of the most entertaining racing out there. Plus it's relatable 😄

[@richardplascencia1929]

Really loving this close racing series! Bummer, no races out here in the west coast.

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

I got into the series in 2021. Such an amazing series!

[@uriahmartinez113]

Hands down best racing I’ve ever seen

[@offintheesses]

I agree!

[@pumpkinking5174]

Watched both races at Daytona the other day.....badass. Really good racing.

[@offintheesses]

They were fantastic races!!

[@slipstreamperformance6297]

Come chat with the teams next time at the track. Happy to show you atound on some more technical sides of things on what makes these cars so awesome. VIR is next week then off to Atlanta for Petite weekend. Hope to meet soon.

[@offintheesses]

Definitely will! What team are you with? I'll stop by at Petit!

[@TheyCallHimDietSeth]

Really great video. I've said it many times before, and I'll say it many times again, but the MX5 Cup is the most exciting race series out there right now. Possibly ever?

[@offintheesses]

One of if not my favourite racing to watch, it's always great!

[@ac_motorsports]

I live 1 hr away from CTMP and am so bummed that I didnt even know about it! Its a super high-speed track. I really want to make it out to one of these races in 2025!

[@offintheesses]

Hopefully they will come back to CTMP next year! If they don't then there is a good chance they'd be at Watkins Glen which isn't a bad drive from the GTA!

[@yanal0611]

Great video! But a minor correction: Flis Performance receives Sport trim level cars as those are the cheapest ones to buy; 16inch wheels, no limited slip differential, standard shocks (as opposed to Bilstein's on the Club and GT trims), and cheaper interior plastic.

[@offintheesses]

Thanks for pointing that out! I'll have to check my notes and get that corrected!

[@UGAfan12132]

Can't wait for you to see them at Daytona if you haven't already best races of the weekend for sure

[@offintheesses]

I've been fortunate to see them at Watkins Glen the past couple of years! Really looking forward to seeing them on the high banks though!

[@williamford9564]

I discovered the series on KZbin during 2020 lockdown from You Know What and have been a frequent watcher ever since. The racing is 45 minutes of non stop action and most are decided on the last half lap or last corner. The only potential issue is the close pack racing results in some multi car wrecks that can be very expensive to repair for the teams, which do not have a lot of spare money "lying around". Mathew Dirks withdrew mid season after something like 5 wrecks, only one of which may have been his fault. One of the lady drivers also dropped out at the end of the season.

[@offintheesses]

Yeah there have definitely been drivers withdraw as a reuslt of crash damage or finances running out. The close racing can result in incidents sometimes but regardless of they type of racing that you're doing it isn't cheap and budget restraints can sneak in anywhere!

[@BURDsTheW0RD]

Love the coverage on this! I started watching last season and was hooked now im trying to set up an mx5 spec series in the new forza. We went as far as emailing sedev to get the proper gear ratios so everyone is on the same playing field. Do you have a favorite driver?

[@offintheesses]

That's awesome! Yeah it's a fantastic series! Man idk if I could lock down a favourite driver, I've had interations with a number of drivers/teams and they've all been friendly and very welcoming, hard to pick a favourite!

[@timkis64]

mazda has a great thing going with this series.really tight hard racing WITHOUT the demolition derby mentality of nascar.

[@offintheesses]

It is a great series! There are still some silly incidents from time to time but far from a demolition derby you're right!

[@tmpendergrass]

It’s a bummer the cost of these cars has gotten out of control. What’s started as a $50k turn key car in 2016 is now a $100k to get on track

[@williamford9564]

3:50: The prize fund increase which includes $250,000 to the champion and $80,000 to the top rookie driver makes the cost well worthwhile.

[@lordracer7743]

Small Cars, Big Racing. Thats the point of the Mx5 cup.

[@Bncxx1275]

Now i just want to see they build lmdh

[@Larsonthewoat]

Question Why are all the cars open top?

[@I_Like__bananas]

Does the driver with the fastest race laptime get double the points if it gives him pole for the second race?

[@offintheesses]

There are bonus points handed out for each race of the weekend! So the driver who is on pole for race 2 will also get bonus points!

[@I_Like__bananas]

@@offintheesses thanks man!👍

[@maxskullic9879]

I would have started racing in this class if my back didn't cause me to lose my job and never able to get a high enough paying one to save for racing, only medical bills (I have 3 very bad places in my spine I was born with but didn't find until it was too late to do anything about it) I have the skills I learned over the years doing courier work driving as fast as I could get away with. Now my back is so bad that just driving to the store hurts too much... so much for my dream of ever getting to race.

[@stephenbritton9297]

Don't forget there is the SCCA sanctioned Spec-Miata series too... Or Smash-Miata series as sometimes their fields are just TOO big for their own good!

[@offintheesses]

Yeah it's insane how large some of the spec miata grids can get! Great racing though even if it is a little rough!

[@TexasNightmare24]

Mx-5 cup is peak

[@offintheesses]

I don't think anyone will argue with that!

[@fixitbyLora]

Imsa

[@kasio22B]

They sound more like real Dodge Hornets than Dodge Hornets themselves.😄

[@lukew6725]

That point system really pisses me off. If all the possible point combinations you can get are a multiple of 10 why not just divide all the points by 10 to begin with and have 35pts for a win, 32pts for second, etc.?

[@offintheesses]

It's because they use a very similar system to the Weathertech Championship. The points system in the Weathertech Championship used to be these numbers divided by 10 but with the system they have now it allows for qualifying pts to be handed out. All of the qualifying pts are 1/10th of what the race points are. So the MX-5 cup doesn't give out qualifying pts (except for pole) but I assume they just use the weathertech championship pts format to keep the points system similar across the IMSA sanctioned championships. Hopefully that helps a bit!

[@lukew6725]

@@offintheesses That makes a lot more sense, thanks for the explanation. 👍