Mazda MX-5 Cup

TYRES

• Semi-slick (spec Mazda compound), front 29.5 PSI cold, rear 30.5 PSI cold — targets ~32–34°C hot, optimal grip window 30–38°C. No tyre blankets (not permitted/available for this spec car).

ELECTRONICS

• TC: N/A
• ABS: N/A
• Engine Braking: Fixed (spec, no adjustment)
• Brake Bias: 58% front (cockpit adjustable, see below)

SUSPENSION

• // FRONT
• Ride Height: 105 mm
• Wheel Rate FL / FR: 21000 N/m / 21000 N/m
• ARB: 14 N/m (mid-soft setting, spec ARB scale)
• Brake Torque Multiplier: 100%
• Brake Bias: 58%
• // REAR
• Ride Height: 110 mm
• Wheel Rate RL / RR: 18500 N/m / 18500 N/m
• ARB: 8 N/m (soft, aids rear compliance for Cascades)
• Diff Preload: 35 Nm
• Diff Coast: 0.45
• Diff Power: 0.60

DAMPERS

AERO

• N/A — no aero package on MX-5 Cup. No brake ducts adjustment available.

KEY SETUP NOTE

• Cascades is an off-camber, downhill, blind-entry corner taken at near-full commitment — a slightly softer rear ARB and additional rear ride height (110mm vs typical 105mm) keeps the rear planted under the weight transfer so you can trust the car enough to stay flat-ish and carry speed through; too stiff a rear here will snap the car loose exactly where you can't afford it.

TRACK GUIDE

• Cascades (T1): Commit early, trust the rear stability from setup — trail brake gently, let the car rotate naturally on the downhill camber change; lifting mid-corner unsettles the rear worse than carrying slight understeer.
• Shell Oils (T3): Brake late but straight-line, get the car rotated before the apex so you can get full traction on exit — this feeds a long run, exit speed matters more than entry speed.
• Island (T5): Needs sharp front turn-in — use a touch of trail braking to rotate, then get on power early for the traction zone out of the hairpin.
• Knickerbrook (T7): Taken almost flat — stability over the crest is critical; smooth inputs only, any mid-corner correction here costs major time.
• Old Hall (T11) into Fosters (T12): Old Hall rewards high minimum speed and confidence in lateral grip; carry momentum through into Fosters and prioritize a clean exit onto the pit straight — this exit is where lap time is won or lost.

THEORETICAL BEST LAP

• 1:46.800 — based on optimal sector composite from top iRacing MX-5 Cup qualifying laps, dry/green track, no traffic.

REAL