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21/11/17 - Motorsport Series 9 #2 - Classes explained

The continuing success of our MX5 Motorsport Championship is largely due to the highly competitive class structure that we developed over the first three years and that we have been fine tuning to maintain ever since.

Originally we had 3 classes of OEM standard MX5s and one modified class. Due to the age of the cars suspensions could be replaced but the entire driveline had to be OEM spec.
Later due to popular request we allowed the fitting of cold air intake and different exhaust components or whole systems but the drive line still had to be OEM.

Unfortunately at the end of Series 5 we found that significant cheating had occurred with several competitors having made engine and engine management mods. At this time it became obvious that it would require enormous effort to police compliance and would necessitate a complex larger class structure. For one none of our volunteers was prepared to do the work to enforce this, besides it would make cheating a challenge. For another in the spirit of club motorsport we wanted a cheap, exciting, enjoyable competition. Most importantly we didn't want the "who spend the most money wins" scenario that exists in every other so called competition.

Motorsport competitions are almost always classed almost entirely on effective engine capacity. We wanted actual competition. Warwick and I analysed the timing data and two factors not normally considered as dividers we found to be class defining. Number 1 was tyres. Just by spending big dollars on good R-Comp tyres you can take in the order of 2 seconds off you time immediately. Second was ABS brakes. Cars with ABS showed a clear multi second advantage over non computer controlled braking. We defined our classes accordingly. This formula works so well that we have on many occasions had many competitors finishing the day within 1 second of their rival and often the top 4 places in each class within 2 seconds over the day. Within our classes driving skill is the determining factor. This is exactly what we want.

For Series 9 very little changes. Classes A is unchanged apart from being into two sub-classes
Class A16 for 1.6s without ABS
Class A18 for 1.8s without ABS
Class B remain completely unchanged.
Class C remains the same except that the new Nankang AR-1 semi slicks has been added to the list of tyres that Class A and B cars could put on and compete in Class C.
Class D is unchanged apart from the tyre restriction has now been lifted to allow the running of any road approved tyre.


Engine

Effective engine capacity for forced induction engine = 1.7 times the actual engine displacement.

Fuel

Any pump purchased fuel up to and including 98 RON.
No supplementary gas.

Tyres
Street tyres - Wear rating of 180 or higher (except Achilles 123s)
R-Comp - Wear rating less than 180.

Classes
The basic structure of the classes remains unchanged

Class A16
Fully functional road licensed roadworthy MX-5
Naturally aspirated 1.6 litre with no ABS on street tyres

Class A18
Fully functional road licensed roadworthy MX-5
Naturally aspirated 1.8 litre with no ABS on street tyres

Class B
Fully functional road licensed roadworthy MX-5
Naturally aspirated 2000cc or under with ABS on street tyres

In a nutshell Class A and B are naturally aspirated MX-5 daily drives split according to ABS.

Class C
Fully functional road licensed roadworthy MX-5 with an effective engine capacity over 2000cc on street tyres and including Achilles 123
Fully functional road licensed roadworthy MX-5 with an effective engine capacity 2000cc or under on Toyo R888 or Nankang AR-1 or Achilles 123

Class D
Unlimited MX-5 class with no tyre restrictions

Includes Unlicenced MX5s, highly modified MX5s, major weight stripped MX5s, engine swapped MX5s, body swapped MX5s

Entrants can change their entry class during the series but points earned are not transferable
A and B class entrants can put on the better tyres as allowed in Class C and run in that class.
Road licensed D class entrants can put on street tyres and run in Class C..