NC MX-5 Miata = RX-8 on the Track
 

Interesting discussion of how the lighter weight NC MX-5 Miata with wide tires & MS suspension can hold its own on the track with a comparably equipped RX-8:

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=334227

PS: Don't show this thread to Chris! :eyetwitch

I'm not surprised at all.

Lightweight cars shine on the track. HP is great and all, but lighter weight = better handling, better braking, and better translation of the engine's power. Also, it's not like the NC MX-5 Miata is a slouch when it comes to handling and overall balance.

But I'd rather have the sound of a rotary versus the anemic sounds of a NC. I even like the rotary sound over my previous P & P'd High Comp B6 w/ IRTBs.

I'm a bit skeptical.

I'd expect with a professional driver that the 8 would run away on bigger tracks. In the same way that an 8 is easier to drive than an s2000, an MX-5 is even easier to drive fast than an 8. With a pro driver, you'd see a bigger gap between the three cars, but an amateur would have a harder time actually utilizing the ability of the faster cars, so the times would be much closer, which is what I think we're seeing here.

Yea the size of the type of tracks definitely plays an important role.
Tight twisty tracks will always be benefit the lighter, more agile vehicle.
Case and Point, Top Gear track recorded same time for 350Z and RX-8.
In a bigger track with more straightaway, 350Z should run away like the RX-8 would against the MX-5.

Sounds about right given the cars used. One weak spot in the comparision is that he, literally, used the same wheels and tires on both cars. Although that sounds fair, instead having both cars setup to their best potential would be better.

He didn't mention his wheel brand or width (stock RX-8 perhaps? ...as stock MX-5 Club Spec had 16x6.5") ... but if a stock RX-8 wheel was used, certainly 245s on 18x8's (poor for track w/less than optimal sidewall support) would give handling advantage to the MX-5 with it's lighter weight, and penalize the RX-8.

Still it highlights (again) the RX-8's weight and lack of high speed oomph on track despite the lower power of the MX-5.

...and begs the eternal question, why the hell doesn't Mazda put a rotary in the MX-5 and produce the RX-5, a car that would rock on track and off for all ages!

Figure a 45 hp difference between the rx8 and the MX5...minus 400lbs for the miata...doesn't surprise me at all.

They were 6 seconds apart in C&D's lightening lap in the 8's favour, so I don't see how that difference is so easy to make up.

He didnt have wide enough tires on the 8 / thread

The other thing is that the longer wheelbase of the 8 would give it a large advantage on sweepers, so even more reason to run away on big tracks.

Unless I see something like one of the senior drivers from Best Motoring getting similar results, I'm gonna have to call bs on this one...

I wouldn't doubt that a NC Miata would handle just as well if not better than the RX8 with the same tire/wheel set up. I'm not talking about straight line performance though. The NC Miata is basically a shortened RX8 chassis and both share many suspension components. The NC Miata also has a 500+ pound weight advantage.

some racer can run faster with their daily driven car then their track car. it don't matter which car is better, it is the one that the driver drive all the times that have the advantage. unless the other car has 100hp more.

well, is not really fair tho
Miata such a small and light car with 245 tires where the 8 wear the same 245?
at least 255 to 275 if he's saying the same...

The guy on the Miata board just said HIS Miata with HIS setup is as fast as his RX-8.
The guy never said Miata's in general are faster than RX-8s...
A lot of people getting awfully defensive...

an other point is, the same driver is driving it.