the little Miata that could

[Bruce Jibboo]

Its all about the driver, need to start making track days a priority

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is an extremely fast car. It makes a mighty 580 horsepower, and gets from zero to sixty in a scant 2.8 seconds. The car has massive capability in the right hands, and can leave just about anything else on the road in the dust. But the driver of this Turbo S had to learn the hard way that a car's performance numbers aren't everything.

This on-board video comes courtesy of Matthew Jackson, who's driving a Spec Miata at Atlanta Motorsports Park during a Porsche Club HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) track day. Spec Miata is a fantastic one-make racing series that pits race-prepped NA and NB Miatas against each other. The engines are left stock, so these cars typically make around 120-130 horsepower—around four times less than the 911 Turbo S. Evening the odds a bit, your typical Spec Miata weighs around 2300 lbs, more than 1000 lbs lighter than the turbo Porsche.

While the Miata is a purpose-built machine meant for the circuit, it should be no match for the mighty 911. However, with a skilled driver at the wheel, the Miata can do magical things on track. Sure, Jackson loses the Turbo S on the straights, but in braking zones and through corners, he's right on that Porsche's bumper. He finds the better line, and really pushes the Miata's brakes to their limits.

Take a few minutes and watch as this poor, unsuspecting Porsche has its mirrors filled by the tiny track car that could.

Click to read more...

 

[SinisterSHO]

I wish there was some telemetry. I bet that miata is only braking in a couple of those hard turns. The rest he's either still full power and tapping the brakes, or none at all.

 

[10sec]

That and you gotta remember who's driving the faster car. In reality with good drivers, that 911 would be gone, I've seen spec miatas in real life, they're incredibly slow and hard to watch.

It's another "you don't know what you're watching" videos that someone made to make something look better than it is. Just like the Mustang crash video.

 

[boostedguy05]

I was gonna say, must have been a new driver in the 911. Because that is kinda purpose built as well. Miata should not have a chance with a matched driver.

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

I should find that video of this blue auto corvette in front me at the AB basically staying as far away from the line as possible. Said hes a 1/4 mile guy and car was obviously built for that but said he had a blast. I think everyone should get out on the road track at least once even if not running hard if worried about heat etc.

 

[SinisterSHO]

If you flipped drivers, the driver from the miata would still be faster.

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

exactly, its all driver, absolute no shame in cars with 100+ less HP with faster lap times.

 

[SinisterSHO]

I had a shocked miata driver ask me what I was driving after filling his mirrors for 3-4 laps around autobahn full in my buddies car.

 

[RedBeard]

I need to get into road racing!

Wonder how the new WRX would hold up to that kind of abuse since that's at the top of my list for next car.

 

[Thirdgen89GTA]

The RS I begging for some track time.

I must go forth and HPDE.

 

[sickmint79]

The RS I begging for some track time.

I must go forth and HPDE.

one was at gridlife, i think 6 days old?

and since it has a number it was running a transponder, so:

north: 1:16.036
full: 2:57.784
south: 1:39.033

 

[DEEZUZ]

I like the title

 

[chris101]

I've seen spec miatas in real life, they're incredibly slow and hard to watch.

Miata's were running faster lap times than you at Gingerman.

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

burn

 

[10sec]

Miata's were running faster lap times than you at Gingerman.

Was your Miata faster?

 

[sickmint79]

was faster than me

 

[chris101]

Was your Miata faster?

Congrats on being 0.254 of a second faster than the zebra miata!


...but last time I checked, being such a small fraction of a second slower does not exactly equate to 'painfully slow' either.

 

[10sec]

Sorry love, make that 1.6 seconds faster in a normal car, not a RACE-CAR Miata.

 

[chris101]

Sorry love, make that 1.6 seconds faster in a normal car, not a RACE-CAR Miata.

You were talking about watching miata's and them being 'painfully slow' and I was just pointing out they are not but each to their own of course.

 

[10sec]

You were talking about watching miata's and them being 'painfully slow' and I was just pointing out they are not but each to their own of course.

To each indeed, racing is fun AF and I hope to hang with you and crew at the next track day. It's not personal, I posted what I did knowing you would come alive. We need more of us on TCG.

 

[Bruce Jibboo]

I'll see your crew of flunkies against me and the revolution.