Mazda MX-5 Cup

TYRES

• Semi-slick (spec compound), Front: 27.0 PSI cold, Rear: 26.5 PSI cold. Hot target ~31–32 PSI front, ~30–31 PSI rear. Optimal operating temp: 80–90°C. No blankets assumed — first lap must build temp through steering/braking inputs before the flying lap.

ELECTRONICS

• TC: N/A
• ABS: N/A
• Engine Braking: Fixed (spec car, not adjustable)
• Brake Bias: 58% front (see Suspension section)

SUSPENSION

• // FRONT
• Ride Height: 95 mm
• Wheel Rate FL / FR: 58000 N/m / 58000 N/m
• ARB: 14000 N/m
• Brake Torque Multiplier: 100%
• Brake Bias: 58%
• // REAR
• Ride Height: 100 mm
• Wheel Rate RL / RR: 50000 N/m / 50000 N/m
• ARB: 9000 N/m
• Diff Preload: 30 Nm
• Diff Coast: 0.5
• Diff Power: 0.6

DAMPERS

AERO

• Front wing: N/A, Rear wing: N/A, Downforce: none (no aero devices on this car), Brake ducts: N/A

KEY SETUP NOTE

• This car has almost no power to mask mistakes — the single biggest time-gainer at Road Atlanta is carrying min-speed through T5 Esses without a rear step-out, because any slide there costs the entire back straight's terminal speed into T10. Keep the rear planted with the softer ARB/wheel rate bias given above rather than chasing rotation with stiffness; rotation here comes from trail-braking, not mechanical grip removal.

TRACK GUIDE

• T1: Late, straight-line brake from ~180 km/h, trail off the brake into the apex — carrying speed here sets up the T2/T3 complex, don't overslow.
• T2/T3: Sacrifice entry speed slightly for a clean, early-throttle exit onto T4 — this is a connector corner, not a time-gaining one.
• T5 Esses: Committed single input through the flow — pick one line, minimal steering correction, let the car float through on a trailing throttle; this is the lap's defining section.
• T6: Tight right onto the back straight — get the car rotated early and get full throttle down as early as possible; this traction zone dictates your entire back-straight speed and thus T10 braking reference.
• T10A/10B Chicane: Hardest braking zone on track at the end of a long straight — brake in a straight line, sacrifice a fraction of entry speed for stability, carry the rotation through 10A into 10B rather than resetting the car; a locked wheel here ends the lap.
• T12: Late apex, prioritize traction over rotation — this exit feeds the main straight, so every km/h here is free time down the straight.