Mazda MX-5 Cup

TYRES

• Semi-slick (spec compound). Cold pressures: FL 27.5 / FR 24.0 / RL 26.9 / RR 23.9 PSI. These settle to approx FL 31 / FR 27 / RL 30 / RR 27 PSI hot — the reference lap was logged on slicks in cold (12°C air) conditions, which does not apply here; MX-5 Cup pressures are re-based around the semi-slick's higher optimum window. Optimal operating temperature for max grip: 75–85°C core. No blankets — expect a cold out-lap; the single-lap format means you get essentially one shot to bring these in, so carry slightly higher cold pressure than race setup to compensate for a short warm-up.

ELECTRONICS

• TC: N/A
• ABS: N/A
• Engine braking: fixed (not adjustable on spec MX-5)
• Brake Bias: 74.5% front

SUSPENSION

• // FRONT
• Ride Height: 50 mm
• Wheel Rate FL / FR: 58000 / 58000 N/m
• ARB: 14000 N/m
• Brake Torque Multiplier: 100%
• Brake Bias: 74.5%
• // REAR
• Ride Height: 55 mm
• Wheel Rate RL / RR: 50000 / 50000 N/m
• ARB: 10000 N/m
• Diff Preload: 30 Nm
• Diff Coast: 0.5
• Diff Power: 0.6

DAMPERS

AERO

• N/A — no adjustable aero on this car

KEY SETUP NOTE

• Lime Rock's big uphill 1 (Big Bend) and the downhill kink are both taken flat-ish in the MX-5 with entry speed everything — slightly softer front springs and lower front ride height than a long-run setup help plant the front for rotation into Turn 3 (the tightening left) without scrubbing the minimal power this car has on exit.

TRACK GUIDE

• Turn 1 (uphill right, "Big Bend"): carry as much speed as possible, car wants to run wide on the way up — trail brake lightly then unwind, apex late to set up the blind crest.
• Turn 3 (the tightening hairpin-ish left after downhill esses): this is the main overtaking/lap-time corner — brake later than feels natural, rotate hard on entry with a dab of trail brake, get back to power early since the following back straight is where MX-5 speed differences compound.
• West Bend (final corner complex): a true momentum corner — minimum speed must be high since it feeds the longest straight; sacrifice entry aggression for mid-corner rotation and early throttle.
• Uphill Esses (between 1 and West Bend): smooth, minimal steering input, let the car flow — any scrub here costs exit speed into Big Bend.
• With only 130hp, never scrub speed for a “better line” — this track rewards carrying minimum corner speed over outright braking heroics; protect momentum everywhere.