[Video] 17th to 1st in spec MX-5s at Sebring
Motorsport is an incredibly broad church. F1, Indycar, NASCAR, Le Mans Hypercars, the World Rally Championship – these upper echelons are the most publicised but truthfully, a tiny sliver of the enormous variety of racing that takes place. In this video, we find ourselves a world away from an F1 grid, in a pack of spec Mazda MX-5s going wheel-to-wheel around one of America’s most iconic and storied circuits, Sebring International Raceway.
In ways, a spec series is the best way to compare relative abilities of drivers. With no differences in cars, it’s up to the competitors to make their skills be the difference and be what puts them where they finish. It’s one less variable in the test to see who’s best. Throughout the video, lap after lap, we see Axel Cabrera battle and slide his way up from 17th to the lead of the race, before the car slightly lets him down with a dicky gearbox.
In spite of the mechanical issues, there aren’t many cars better suited to spec racing than MX-5s, either, being naturally simple, well-balanced, lightweight and responsive. They’re not excessively fast or excessively hard, making them ideal for handling the rigours of Sebring’s paving.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. You can watch more videos like this here.