This is the new Mazda MX-5 GT, the fastest, lightest Mazda-produced MX-5 ever. Unfortunately, it's also the company's new entry for this year's Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship, so you won't be seeing it on the road anytime soon.
Which is a shame because with an all-in weight of just 850kg, its 275bhp 2.0-litre motor allows it to get to 60mph in just 3.0secs and on to 160mph via a six-speed sequential paddle-operated gearbox.
Jota Sport, the race engineering team that will run the cars in the 2011 series, took 400 hours to build the shell - and ended up with one 17 times stronger than required by the FIA.
As well as the usual safety tweaks required for a car to go racing, Jota and Mazda have added carbon doors, Polycarbonate windows and a shell dipped in acid to help keep weight down, while a lowered engine helps to improve the handling.
The Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship is run over nine races from March to November, including a race at Spa Francorchamps, but the first race is a three-hour endurance race at Silverstone this Saturday (26 March), starting at 3.00pm.
The Mazda MX-5 GT car, prepared by Tunbridge Wells-based Jota Sport features the mandatory FIA approved safety equipment including a roll cage, race seats and harness, external electric cut-off and fire extinguisher, safety catches on the bonnet and boot lids, competition steering wheel and alloy wheels, while the running gear, rear axle, gearbox and engine have been modified to enhance performance.
