Driving a Rental, Stock 1.6 Power Mazda Miata MX-5 (NBFL) Track Car by D1R Performance at Magione!

It's quite rare that you see some footage of me driving on this channel but this isn't because I don't want to share more and similar stuff with you. The two main reasons are both a lack of opportunities during the year (mainly caused by being too busy), and the fact that I don't own any project car I could use on track every now and then. If it wasn't for sporadic chances where I was able to rent a vehicle I could shamelessly say I've never driven a car on a race track.

At the beginning of January I went to Magione where a dear friend of mine had warned me that I could have probably rented something and enjoyed some laps on the homonymous circuit. The track toy was provided by Marcello from D1R Performance, a workshop based in Perugia specialized in car customizations, set-up and tuning, and it was a second generation (NB), restyling (FL) Mazda Miata/MX-5. I know that you have already read to be a completely stock powered NB from the title but there's something really interesting in this project which I'm going to illustrate to you.

Marcello found this fully stock Mazda up for sale at very low price some years ago and was soon impressed by the qualities of the small Japanese roadster, called by him ''Hebi''. He immediately brought it to Magione circuit in order to check what times it was able to do. He managed to clock a 1'39''9. After this result his next goal was to reduce that lap time by 10 seconds without increasing the engine power. He started a long yet focused work of replacement of all those elements and components that could have improved the car for track-use: Ohlins Road & Track suspensions, lightened flywheel, EBC brakes and Nankang Sportnex AR-1 semi slick tyres. As mentioned before almost everything related to the engine has remained fully stock with both original intake and exhaust (that's why even onboard you can barely hear it). The only further change he did was replacing the original 5-speed gearbox with the 6-speed one of the 1.8-litre NB.

After some attempts, many setup adjustments and still with the stock 110hp, 4-cylinder engine (with more than 200,000 km on the odometer), Marcello managed to lower that initial time by more than 9 seconds. He still has a couple of upgrades to do in order to gain those remaining tenths such as the addition of a TorSen differential which will replace the current open one. Being much improved on the handling side, his Miata has also become very sincere and easy to drive so anyone would be able to have fun on track.

A couple of weekends ago I went again to Magione for other reasons and I took the opportunity to do another 15-minute session on track. Marcello also was very kind to allow me to drive the Mazda with a couple of upgrades that forced him to stay up all night before my arrival: some weight reduction and the addition of a Bride racing seat, which helped me a lot to better feel the movements of the car. Thanks to some precious advice from him and being more focused on setting some good lap times I managed to reduce my 'January' best lap from 1'36''6 to a 1'31''320, only half of a second far from Marcello's best (even though the MX-5 had less improvements when he did his lap one year ago). So I'm more than satisfied with my result.

As soon as Hebi will set an under 1'30'' lap, the next step will be to put the hands on the engine too, probably with a rather interesting swap.

0:00 Details & Walkaround
0:44 Out Lap
2:53 Lap 1 - 1'40''280
4:33 Lap 2 - 1'33''760
6:07 Lap 3 - 1'44''260
7:51 Lap 4 - 1'32''880
9:24 Lap 5 - 1'31''780
10:56 Lap 6 - 1'31''320 (Best)
12:27 Lap 7 - 1'35''380
14:02 Final Lap

#MazdaMX5 #MazdaMiata #MX5NB

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- Camcorder: GoPro Max, Zoom H5 Portable Recorder & Audix Micro-D microphone
- Event: Track Day Magione 13.2.2022
- Where: Autodromo dell'Umbria, Italy

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND SUBSCRIBE!!!

[alexhndr]

Fun fact: When the Miata goes to high revs, you can hear a distinct whine. You might be thinking: hang on. This engine noise, i've heard it somewhere. And you would be right

*That exact noise can be heard on Gran Turismo 2, as the default car sounds for the AI's*

Nostalgia: 💯

[panzercast]

he expanded from watching cars drive to driving the car

[CIARUNSITE]

There's nothing I need more in life than a Miata. And soon one will be mine. Alternative is a motorcycle so really the Miata is the safe and practical choice.

[ArmandoVictorForno]

Bellissimo che il motore di quest'auto è rimasto intoccato. Parecchi i secondi limati via curando il resto dell'auto. Complimenti

[timkramer]

I have a 1.8 NB2 so seeing you rip a 1.6 like that gets me hyped for when I start doing few mods to it!

[lorenzo-mix]

Peccato per queste Abarth piantate in curva che ti rallentavano notevolmente...

[nicolafox]

Hi and thanks Bozzy 😎, be great to see you racing again with the apgrades some nice racing there 😀 ❤

[NATM]

Looks like a lot of fun, nice driving!

[bryan]

It was a really good driving. Driver = respectful and logic, letting pass other users. 1.6L stock MX-5 = feels like driving well and all power usable car. Just one regret is the kph odometer that seems npt working.

[jordanstatler]

Nice work Bozzy! I'm in the same boat with not having a project car (and might not for a while with used cars skyrocketing...lol...sigh...) but I'd love to get into casual racing or track days someday even if it's just with something like this. Looks like a lot of fun especially considering how close to stock it is!

[rolfr]

When hand-signals come with subtitles you know you're watching an Italian haha... Nice driving Bozzy!

Also calling it now: K-swap for Hebi incoming!

[mortythealien]

3:45 davvero il fiesta st150 va così forte??

[JustDrivingK]

Good job, thanks for sharing it, greetings from Just Driving 4K!!

[santalfredos]

Questo e' un gran giro con una fantastica guida e una auto messa giu molto bene, sia come angoli, che come sospensioni che come mappa :D

[JK-jstd]

Bozzy...seems like there is alot of play in the steering wheel? Is that just me?

[PKappa]

Bel video! Complimenti per la guida. Posso sapere che modello è il Bride?

[nihiabstracto]

Very cool video, nice driving. Bozzy, did you try the Mx5 ND ?

[enricocelani]

Complimenti le auto non le sai solo filmare bene, ma anche guidare alla grande. 👍 😀

[kadis_thodoris]

Where did you put the gopro into? I want this pov!!!