This N/A Mazda MX-5 Just Danced Around The Nurburgring In 7m37s

Power isn’t everything when it comes to setting fast laps, and seldom will you see that ol’ nugget of wisdom proven so effectively than in this video.

Uploaded on Wednesday by YouTuber turningperformance, it shows a modified NC Mazda MX-5 with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre motor and a manual gearbox smashing an almost-empty Nurburgring with a mighty (but unofficial) lap of just 7m37.38s.

Despite fairly modest acceleration at the kind of speeds the famous German track draws out of the 1090kg (including the driver) car, sheer cornering grip and a masterclass in how to pilot a low-power, low-weight car on track means this punchy little sports car has recorded a lap faster than most hot hatchbacks that have 50 per cent more power and an extra 20mph at the top end.

This MX-5, riding on unspecified road-legal track tyres, is faster around the Nordschleife as a Lexus LFA, a 991.1 911 Carrera S, an early Nissan GT-R, a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera… and even this modified and totally glorious Honda S2000. Impressive stuff. Speaking of lists, we’ll close with a copied-and-pasted list of what the car is packing. Enjoy.

Quickest lap of this trip. A lot thanks to a almost free track on an event organized by Ringweekends, Destination Nurburgring Ringmeisters Prime! Great event in every single way.

There isn´t “soooo” much done since 2017, the significant things;

• More track time for both the car & myself
• 245/40 17 track tyres, road legal, on 17x9.
• Approx 10kg lighter
• New exhaust with catalytic converter (w/o cat before) & CAI. Propbably similar power as before, didn´t measure old setup.
• Had to fit a dB-insert due to having 134db (Titanium) and I´ve dyno-measured losses to 1,9hp with the insert fitted :-(.
• Rev limit increased to 8000rpm. 8000rpm? On a stock engine? Yes, that is to avoid shifting a few seconds before braking. The car is actually loosing a significant amount of power at those revs compared to peak power at approx 6900-7000rpm. However, it is still quicker than shifting to the next gear, driving for a second or two, braking, just to find yourself changing back to the same gear again + the extra hustle and balance/momentum/harmony disturbance.

The car, a Mazda MX-5 NC 2,0 Sport Roadster Coupé 2007.
Complete Modifications list from stock:

• ECU Remap
• Full Race-exhaust with race-cat and CAI
• Larger coolant radiator with aluminum reservoir
• 245/40 17 track tyres, road legal, on 17x9
• Coilovers with 13/8 Springs
• Aftermarket ARB front, no ARB rear
• 6-Pot at front, OEM at the back, 2 piece discs (oem size), race fluid & pads, cooling
• Carbon fibre drivers seat, no passenger seat
• Aftermarket steering wheel
• Approx 1090kg incl ½tank of fuel and 80kg driver (Yes, driver lost some :-)).
• 5 Speed Gearbox with close ratios gear kit (Originally a 6-speed)
• 4,1 FD without LSD (yes, open diff)
• Light flywheel, OEM clutch
• AC and PS delete
• Cro-moly rollbar, welded
• CF Roof (not retractable anymore)
• Lightened & reinforced front subframe
• Seam-welded rear subframe
• Seamwelded door-openings
• Additional bracing underneath
• Small boot spoiler
• Small front lip

Take care and enjoy!

Text via YouTube/turningperformance