Mazda UK has entered three MX-5s into the Britcar 24hr race at Silverstone on 1 October. Two of the cars are production race cars based on the Mazda MX-5 2.0i alongside the world's fastest and lightest Mazda MX-5, the MX-5 GT car. This is the fourth time that Mazda UK has entered the Britcar 24hr race, previously with the rotary engined Mazda RX-8 in 2005 and 2006 and two Mazda MX-5 production cars in 2010.

The three race prepared Mazda MX-5s will be relying on their handling, nimbleness, and lightness to reduce pit time through fewer tyre changes and frugal fuel consumption, while maximising track time to beat the race thoroughbreds including Seat, Honda, Lotus, BMW and Ginetta. The cars are expected to complete 1,000 competition miles in 24 hours making this the most gruelling race in the British motor racing calendar.

The line-up for the MX-5 GT race car see regular drivers, motoring journalist and racing driver Mark Ticehurst, Le Mans veteran Owen Mildenhall, and ex F1 driver Mike Wilds. The first of the two production MX-5 race cars will be driven by a team of four journalists: Andrew Frankel, Jethro Bovingdon, Ben Anderson from Autosport and Matthew Prior from Autocar.

Driving the second production MX-5 race car will be a team raising the profile of British Armed Forces Charities in motorsport. These include The Not Forgotten Association - one of the 2011 chosen charities for the RAF Typhoon Display Team, of which Mazda is the 2011 vehicle sponsor, Help for Heroes, the 'Soldiers' Charity' - the Army Benevolent Fund, Forces Children's Trust and Scotty's Little Soldiers.

Currently, the 850kg Mazda MX-5 GT ranks fifth overall in the championship and third in class, while the Mazda MX-5 production race car, which is essentially a standard MX-5 with safety modifications, is fourth in class and eighth overall.

"The Britcar 24hr race will be a true test of our award winning roadster's ability," comments Graeme Fudge, PR Director, Mazda UK.

[Reference]Mazda MX-5 GT improved
[Reference]Another Podium for the Mazda MX-5 Race Team