The Mazda MX-5 proved to be a quick and reliable racing platform by dominating the 2024 Petron Makabayan Endurance Cup opener last April 14. The #55 Team MSCC Mazda Miata race car completed 114 laps in four hours, a new lap record. The same car also won the two-hour Endurance Cup, lapping the 3.7-kilometer Batangas Racing Circuit 60 times. This is the first time Team MSCC Mazda Miata won both endurance races.
Team MSCC Mazda Miata’s roster of talented racing veterans: Angie King, Tyson Sy, and Juha Turalba drove in both the 4- and 2-hour Endurance Races overcoming the MX-5’s power deficit against its purpose-built race car competition. King, Sy, and Turalba all pushed the MX-5 to its limit, relying on its balanced performance and impeccable handling. They managed to build a four-lap lead ahead of second place in the two-hour race and six laps in the four-hour race.
“This is the first time Team MSCC Mazda Miata has won both the two- and four-hour endurance races back-to-back,” shared Steven Tan, President and CEO of Mazda Philippines. “Short races are often more challenging for the #55 MX-5 with its stock engine and transmission. But traits that worked to our advantage during longer endurance races like reliability and fuel efficiency also proved to be a great asset this time. That, and our quick and skilled driving team as well.”
Team MSCC Mazda Miata is backed by Mazda Philippines, with a support team led by Edgen Dy-Liacco. It is nearly identical to the one-make MSCC Miata Spec Series race car, differing only with minor setup changes to the suspension and chassis for the endurance race. However, its powertrain—from its 184 PS, 205 Nm 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine and 6-speed Skyactiv-Drive manual transmission are stock, proving once again the unbeatable combination of performance, reliability, and durability of the sportscar.
Team MSCC Mazda Miata also continued to race its eye-catching “Imagine” livery for the race. The digitally-printed vinyl wrap uses contrasting colors to exude a sense of power, motion, and energy. Its race number, #55, meanwhile, is an homage to the Mazda 787B which won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Despite racing in a field made up of powerful and tuned race cars, the Team MSCC Mazda Miata put the MX-5’s nimble handling and perfectly balanced 50/50 weight distribution to good use. It used Shell V-Power and Shell Helix Ultra lubricants to help optimize its power and fuel efficiency.
The Mazda MX-5’s 2- and 4-hour victory at this year’s Kagitingan Cup marks the latest endurance race win for the sportscar. Before taking the top step this year, it managed to win the 4-hour Kagitingan Cup last year. In 2022, it managed to take the overall victory at the 8-hour Makabayan Endurance Race Challenge. It won the 8-Oras ng Pilipinas and 12-Hour Kalayaan Cup in 2019, and the 12-Hour Kalayaan Cup in 2021. In 2020, the races were sidelined by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
