Rallying an MX5

[andy97]

I know that MX5s are raced extensively and popular on track days and targas but they can also be rallied, Particularly on tarmac or the circuit rallies.

A few MX5 Mk1s and 2s have rallied in the MX5 only class in the circuit rally championship over the past 2-3 years and I think that Paul Sheard has also rallied a Mk3 in the “normal” 1600-200cc class in open competition against the Escorts, 205s, Skoda etc etc.
Generally speaking they have done pretty well and certainly seem to be great fun, although most of the competitors were in Paul Sheard supplied “hire cars” I think.
The Mk2 that Paul Sheard built ran with just the mandatory safety modifications made and was on completely standard engine, gearbox, brakes and suspension, so it can be done.
I do know that the class regulations are going to be opened up slightly for the 2020/21 Motorsport News/ MSVR Circuit rally championship, although I don’t know the details of that yet. I think that the intention is to try to make it more accessible to everyone, including the “home preparer”.

My guess is that if you have any MX5 it can be built up for tarmac rallying quite cheaply, and if you already have a car prepared for targa rallies, circuit racing or track days it could be modified quite easily to comply with the rally regs and still be useable in circuit racing or track days or on the road.
I am absolutely convinced that they are the cheapest way in to tarmac rallyIng possible and when I have spectated at a few of the circuit rallies they look great fun.

Of course, once prepared and log booked for rallying they could be used on any rally you think fit, including none circuit rallies like the closed road events etc. Anyone fancy it?

[velocemitch]

MX5's pretty much dominate the Targa Rallies in Northern Ireland, they have become the new Escort over there for Targa.

less so on the mainland just yet, but as noted by the OP they make an ideal cheep way in to Rallying with the added bonus of being RWD.

[df76]

Will be interesting to see what the new regulations are for the 2020/21 season. Think that the MSN Circuit Rally series is a great initiative, just a shame that I'm not local to it.

Have always thought that prepping a sub 1.4 car would be a cheap option, and there seems to be plenty of MG ZRs about that would suit.

[Pugly]

I am also looking at preparing an MX5 - they seem to be one of the best choices for a one car fits all approach. I'd like to build one to MSA logbook spec but retain the necessary interior bits for targa and road rally eligibility, whilst still being fun on a trackday.

The biggest issue I have found is finding a roll cage that fits under a hardtop. If anyone could point me in the direction of a supplier that would be great!

[fat80b]

Pugly said:

I am also looking at preparing an MX5 - they seem to be one of the best choices for a one car fits all approach. I'd like to build one to MSA logbook spec but retain the necessary interior bits for targa and road rally eligibility, whilst still being fun on a trackday.

The biggest issue I have found is finding a roll cage that fits under a hardtop. If anyone could point me in the direction of a supplier that would be great!

I think the hardtop needs to be modified in order to get the cage to fit. The PS mk2 hardtop looks to be about 20mm higher than it should be.

Technically this makes it ineligible for Targa as the silhouette is changed from manufacturer standard so I think to have one car for both needs a bit of careful thought

[Pugly]

fat80b said:

I think the hardtop needs to be modified in order to get the cage to fit. The PS mk2 hardtop looks to be about 20mm higher than it should be.

Technically this makes it ineligible for Targa as the silhouette is changed from manufacturer standard so I think to have one car for both needs a bit of careful thought

Interesting. Thanks.

Going off previous experience of Targa scrutineering I doubt it would present an issue but technically if it's ineligible it's a bit of a gamble.

[velocemitch]

If the hardtop was a factory option I think it unlikely you would fall foul of the rules. I’ve heard people argue spotlights change the silhouette too, but never seen a scrutineer question it.

Always difficult balance trying to do a car for both stage and road events.

[andy97]

Pugly said:

I am also looking at preparing an MX5 - they seem to be one of the best choices for a one car fits all approach. I'd like to build one to MSA logbook spec but retain the necessary interior bits for targa and road rally eligibility, whilst still being fun on a trackday.

The biggest issue I have found is finding a roll cage that fits under a hardtop. If anyone could point me in the direction of a supplier that would be great!

Speak to Paul Sheard Motorsport near Stoke

https://www.paulsheardautos.com/

Paul is the man behind the MX5 class in the MSVR/Motorsport News Circuit rally class and has built and got log booked several cars to the regs. He will know what modifications are required and what the art of the possible is.

ETA you can see in the photos here how the hard top “fits” beneath a roll cage.
https://www.paulsheardautos.com/rallying
The Mk3 fit looks neat.
Of course, you could run without a hard top, if you are hard enough! Nigel Greensall rallied a Mk2 without a hard top at Oulton Park in 2017, I think, and Paul O’Neill May have done similar.

Edited by andy97 on Saturday 6th June 13:02

[andy97]

Do Mk3s have the same issue with hard top/ roll cages?

ETA . Answered my own question by looking at the “roll cages section” of Paul Sheard’s web site. Both options for a Mk3 bolt In cage will fit under a fibreglass hard top but not under the retractable metal hard top.

Edited by andy97 on Saturday 6th June 13:01

[df76]

andy97 said:

Do Mk3s have the same issue with hard top/ roll cages?

ETA . Answered my own question by looking at the “roll cages section” of Paul Sheard’s web site. Both options for a Mk3 bolt In cage will fit under a fibreglass hard top but not under the retractable metal hard top.

Edited by andy97 on Saturday 6th June 13:01

Have a look under "Cyclone Racing" on Facebook, lots of bespoke MX5 rollcage work.

[andy97]

df76 said:

Have a look under "Cyclone Racing" on Facebook, lots of bespoke MX5 rollcage work.

Thanks, that’s useful to pass on. Where are they based though? Nowhere that I can see on their FB page or on any other domain do I see an address!

[df76]

andy97 said:

df76 said:

Have a look under "Cyclone Racing" on Facebook, lots of bespoke MX5 rollcage work.

Thanks, that’s useful to pass on. Where are they based though? Nowhere that I can see on their FB page or on any other domain do I see an address!

Rob has done the rear cage on my Civic and has also done work on two friends hillclimb MX5s, very high standard. He is now based in the North West, but did collect my car from Somerset (he has recently relocated).

[Furyblade_Lee]

I use my MX5 for targa rallies, but there was an issue years back with them having to run a hardtop over a full cage for stage rallies, and how the hardtop is bonded onto the body to be deemed legal? Anyone know how they got around it?

[andy97]

Furyblade_Lee said:

I use my MX5 for targa rallies, but there was an issue years back with them having to run a hardtop over a full cage for stage rallies, and how the hardtop is bonded onto the body to be deemed legal? Anyone know how they got around it?

Speak to Paul Sheard, he knows how it can be done to get a stage log book.

You don’t need to run the hard top, they can be run as an “open car”. Not sure I would want to but it can be done and Nigel Greensall rallied one in thr Circuit rally championship at Oulton Park a couple of years ago.

[andy97]

Latest announcement from the MSVR/ MSN circuit rally FB site regarding rallying an MX5:

“MXING IT UP!

New for 2020-21, our MX5 class gets a revamp:

- Now incorporates all cars from 1595cc to 2001cc
- Hard tops no longer restricted to a Paul Sheard one
For more information on the changes and how to get involved, check out our website:

www.msnrallychamp.co.uk“

So, Mk3s now eligible and fitting a hard top to any of the models is no longer restricted to a Paul Sheard supplied one as long as it complies with the blue book regs, making choice of car and self prep easier.

I think a Mk3 looks like a good option and a quick trawl of the bay and autotrader shows that base 2 litre cars are available from £2500. Lots of spares available, motorsport specific mods available due to the SuperCup series, Duratec engines so easily tuneable, a fibreglass hard top fits over the two Safety Devices cage options etc. If I hadn’t already got a (troublesome) Escort I would be looking at this!

Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 17th June 10:45

[andy97]

I had a go in Paul Sheard’s Mk1 and Mk2 MX5s on a rally/ drift day at Oulton Park on Wednesday. Great fun and I can see why these cars are good and cost effective tarmac rally cars. Really very controllable.
I doubt there is a cheaper car to go rallying in.
Paul’s cars are available to hire if anyone wants to try one themselves, especially if considering a car for budget participation in something like the MSVR circuit rally championship or similar events.

Edited by andy97 on Saturday 12th September 07:49

[Kickstart]

Morning Andy,
Hope you are well
A bit off topic but did you get your race car sorted ?
Are you out at Donington
Hopefully catch up at CC in October as I moved too slow to get Donington entry
Best wishes
Nigel

[andy97]

Kickstart said:

Morning Andy,
Hope you are well
A bit off topic but did you get your race car sorted ?
Are you out at Donington
Hopefully catch up at CC in October as I moved too slow to get Donington entry
Best wishes
Nigel

Hi Nigel, all well thanks, hope you are, too.
The Caterham is in the process of being sorted but also taken the opportunity to upgrade some bits. Won’t be ready for Donington and not doing C Combe. Will try to enter Mallory if we can get the car mapped and tested in time.
I am currently mulling over trying to hire one of the above MX5s for one of the tarmac circuit rallies but unfortunately will only be a reserve for 3 Sisters on 11 October.

[andy97]

So, I completed my first ever stage rally yesterday in the hired MX5 Mk2 at Donington Park on the Dukeries Rally. This rally is part of the MSVR/ Motorsport News circuit rally championship.
I was seeded 93/100 and finished 71/74! I think I was near the slowest or slowest on every stage but I improved on each run. There were a couple of minor indiscretions, caused by me locking up under braking but no damage. I was really pleased with that to be honest - the conditions were very, very difficult and, as you can see, plenty of people didn’t finish, many because they just went off.
My car was almost certainly in the bottom three cheapest and simplest and lowest powered cars there and we were on standard Uniroyal Rainsport 3 tyres (got to get the excuses in) so overall I was very pleased and really enjoyed it.
The entry list was interesting as there was a lot of very exotic machinery out - probably more WRC and similar type cars together in one place than has ever been seen together before, even on WRC events! Not that many budget cars at the back of the pack but there were 3 other MX5s in various states of tune (mine was standard, the Mk1 was on individual throttle bodies for about 170 Bhp and the Mk3 was similar power to that), a couple of MG ZRs, a couple of Micras etc.
I recommend the circuit rally championship and similar circuit type rally events at Croft, Pembrey, 3 Sisters, Knockhill etc etc to everyone, and the MX5 is a great, cheap, fun car to drive in these sorts of events.
A very enjoyable day, more people should try it.
And the funny thing is that at most track days there are a few MX5s out that could fairly easily be modified to meet the Motorsport U.K. blue book regulations and get a rally log book - come on folks in the MX5 community, give it a go!

Edited by andy97 on Monday 7th December 12:37

[df76]

Sounds like a good day out! Pretty amazed that they managed to host it really, so well done to the organisers (would have been a nightmare I'm sure).

Being down south it would never suit me, but a great opportunity to be involved in decent motorsport through the winter. Jealous!