mazda hot lap challenge, iracing, simulator, racing

Mazda Hot Lap Challenge 2018

So how did we do? Well, I was able to turn a 1:39.228 around Laguna Seca on the simulator at the track. Almost good enough to get me on the top 5 of the day! But was it fast enough to beat Ian that was using the Base51 simulator?
The simulators we’re almost a little bit too real for Ian. These things are seriously realistic and can be set-up to react just like a real car. So much so that you can even blow up or over-rev your engine. Ian had a bit of a problem getting used to this level of realism and was quite a ways off the “pace”. Which is not a bad thing at all, especially considering that we can keep going to Base51 since it is very close to the MotoIQ headquarters.

Neither one of us qualified to move on to the next round of the Mazda Hot Lap Challenge, but we had a blast trying! The Hot Lap Challenge is still going on and the last round will be held during the final race of the IMSA season at Road Atlanta on Oct 11 through Oct 13. So if you’re going to be at Road Atlanta for Petit Lemans, be sure to look for the Mazda fan zone for your chance to take on the Mazda Hot Lap Challenge. If you can’t make the race, you can still participate by creating an iRacing account and taking on the challenge online.

Quick side note. I would like to add that the new MX-5 was a pleasure to have for the race weekend. It is not the most practical of cars, but one thing that it is for sure is a driver’s car. Everything about the driving experience it does extremely well. Steering feedback and turn-in is superb. The Bilstein suspension and Brembo brakes give an amazingly good balance of performance and daily driving comfort. While the engine provides plenty of corner exiting and freeway passing power. And lets not forget the automatic hardtop. I’ve never been a big fan of convertibles, but this new MX-5 has me seriously considering one. Thank you again Mazda for the great opportunity!

The Mazda Hot Lap Challenge is just a small part of Mazda’s involvement in motorsports. They also have contingency and scholarship programs for grassroots racers. One of their more popular and exciting programs for aspiring racers is their Mazda Road to 24 which is a ladder system designed to help drivers work their way from MX-5 spec racing to Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge or Cooper Tire Prototype Lite series, and then ultimately to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship which host the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

So if you’ve always been looking for a way into professional motorsports, the Mazda Hot Lap Challenge may just be your very first step up the Mazda motorsports ladder. Who knows? One day you may end up behind the wheel of the Mazda backed prototype racing program.

PS: During my time at Laguna Seca I was able to spend some time in the Team Jost pits who run the Mazda RT24 prototype program. So be sure to stay tuned for a full MotoIQ style feature of the Mazda RT24-P!

Sources
Mazda
iRacing
Base51

 

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2 comments

  2. “The young fan above was testing his driving skills around the 2.238 mile long WeatherTech Laguna Seca raceway.”

    It sure looks like the fan is driving at Daytona International Speedway from what I can see.

    Great article!!!

    Reply

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