Total production of the Mazda MX-5, the world famous Japanese sports car, reached 900,000 units on February 4, 2011.

It is not too much to say that the MX-5 is a most beloved open sports car. The MX-5 was initially certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's “Best selling two-seater sports car” when production reached 531,890 units in May 2000. Guinness updated the record when production passed 700,000 and later, 800,000 units. Therefore, this is the forth time the record has been updated.

MZRacing reports on the breadth of motorsports involving MX-5s, including action from Japan, the US and Europe. There is such a wide variety of motorsports across various classes, styles and scales for the MX-5, it is difficult to grasp them all. In Spec Miata, a race class contested throughout North America, 2,500 or more first and second generation MX-5s participate. It is the largest production car race category in the world.

The MX-5, which is loved throughout the world and is very popular in the field of motorsports, combines the car's fun-to-drive character with the “Man-Machine Interface.” We think the MX-5 is one of the most successful models to bring out to the maximum level the original attraction of cars.

We recently had the opportunity to meet Mr. Nobuhiro Yamamoto, program manager of the current generation MX-5. We asked him to send a message to our MZRacing viewers, and he gladly accepted our request. Mr. Yamamoto was involved in the development of the RX-7, the MX-5, and the rotary engine. He is also one of the developers who took the Mazda 787B to victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991. His love of motorsports comes from the heart and he owns a third generation MX-5 himself. He is a born and bred car lover. We felt his strong feelings about the MX-5 from his measured speech.