Mazda MX5 GT breaks cover

No you can't have one. But just across the water you'll soon be able to see the new MX-5 GT racing around, challenging the likes of Aston Martin, Porsche and Lotus.

Weighing in at just 850kg, it will accelerate from 0-to-60mph in just three seconds and hit a top speed of 160mph

Since the launch of the original Mark 1, the MX-5 has set the standard as the perfect little affordable two-seater convertible, with great handling.

The challenge in putting together the MX-5 GT has been to lower the weight of a car that was fairly pared down in the first place. And not only did the weight need lowering, but it needed to do so while taking to account the extra safety features required to make the car race worthy.

To do this, every nut and bolt was examined to reduce component weight. Power was then matched to the weight in order to create the lightest and most powerful MX-5 ever built.

The car 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.

Jota Sport, the race engineering team that will run the cars in the 2011 series, took 400 hours to build the shell to a specification that ensured it was 17 times stronger than required by the FIA.

During the development they faced a number of engineering challenges such as suspension adjustments, integrating the six speed sequential gearbox, and lowering the engine. Weight saving strategies such as, the removal of interior components, reducing component weight and dipping the shell in acid lost 15kg from the MX-5 race car.

The completed MX-5 GT features a modified Mazda engine to produce 275bhp, a six speed sequential paddle shift gearbox, carbon doors and Polycarbonate windows. On the exterior, the Mazda MX-5 GT boasts a Spirited Green metallic body colour complimented by Jota Sport corporate coloured liveries in orange and grey.

Japanese manufacturer Mazda has recently celebrated a number of MX-5 milestones including its 21st anniversary and producing 900,000 MX-5 units globally since its introduction in 1989, with over 10 percent of global MX-5 sales from Britain.  Meanwhile, the Mazda MX-5 continues to hold the Guinness World Record as the world’s best?selling roadster – testament to its continued popularity with British open top sports car fans.

The Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship is contested over nine races from March to November. In the same way that the Tour de France doesn't only involve racing in France, the British Endurance Championship includes a race at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.

The first race of the season is a three hour endurance race at Silverstone next weekend, Saturday 26 March 2011.