Mazda MX-5 Cup

TYRES

• Semi-slick compound, front 27.5 PSI cold / rear 28.5 PSI cold — targeting hot operating pressures of 30–31 PSI front/rear. Optimal tyre operating temperature for maximum grip: 80–95°C (carcass avg), peak grip window ~85–90°C. No tyre blankets permitted (spec series, cold start).

ELECTRONICS

• TC: N/A
• ABS: N/A
• Engine Braking / Brake Magic: N/A (fixed spec engine, no adjustment)
• Brake Bias: 58% front

SUSPENSION

• // FRONT
• Ride Height: 110 mm
• Wheel Rate FL / FR: 21000 N/m / 21000 N/m
• ARB: 14000 N/m
• Brake Torque Multiplier: 100%
• Brake Bias: 58%
• // REAR
• Ride Height: 115 mm
• Wheel Rate RL / RR: 18000 N/m / 18000 N/m
• ARB: 9000 N/m
• Diff Preload: 35 Nm
• Diff Coast: 0.5
• Diff Power: 0.6

DAMPERS

AERO

• N/A — no aero package on MX-5 Cup. No wings, no brake ducts adjustable.

KEY SETUP NOTE

• Lime Rock's uphill Climbing Esses and blind Turn 7 reward a softer, more compliant setup that keeps weight transfer predictable — this low-power, momentum car gains far more from mechanical grip and rotation on corner entry than from any stiffness gains; prioritize front end bite into Turn 1 (downhill, heavy braking) by running slightly more front ARB stiffness relative to rear to combat push on entry.

TRACK GUIDE

• Turn 1 (hairpin): brake very late on the downhill approach, trail-brake deep to rotate the car — this is the biggest overtaking/lap-time zone; get back to throttle early but straight-line the exit to maximize uphill run.
• The Climbing Esses (Turns 2-3): committed, minimal steering input, let the car float over the kerbs — lifting here costs more than any other sector; use all the track including kerb edges.
• West Bend (Turn 5): tightens — don't apex too early, patience on throttle application is key to avoid understeer on exit onto the back straight.
• The Uphill (Turn 6) into blind Turn 7: a flat-out or near-flat-out approach is possible with confidence; this is where ultimate commitment separates fast laps — any lift costs significant time on the following straight.
• No-Name Straight into the final hairpin (Turn 7): maximize exit speed from the Esses complex as it feeds the longest flat-out section of the lap.