Total MX-5 – July 2019

Summer 2019 | TOTAL MX-5 |^21

[ [ INSIGHT INSIGHT ]]

Away from the major cities, Japan offers MX-5 drivers a wealth of entertaining roads and great scenery: cherry blossom season is a good excuse to get out

resort of Karuizawa. Nice.
Around the same time, Mazda
stages a four-hour Roadster
media endurance race at
Tsukuba, a club circuit north of
Tokyo. Here, teams of car
journalists race against the
clock, so competition naturally
is ultra-fierce. Tsukuba is always
a great Mazda event with a
strong vibe and family feel
(including a Roadster children’s

pedal car race...).

Over the years, Mazda has

developed a succession of

specced-down NR-A racing

Roadsters specifically for this

Tsukuba enduro. From there, a

national championship aimed

strictly at amateur racers has

become established (14 rounds

this year). The Roadster NR-A is

absolutely bare bones in terms

of kit and has a big roll cage in

place of the roof. And yes, you

can drive one on the road...

Japan always surprises. The

cities and suburbs can be busy,

almost overpowering at times,

with many garish signs and

buildings that almost defy logic.

But, say, an hour out of the city,

you can be into some beguiling

forested secondary roads that

are completely empty, unspoilt

and the air is still. Perfect for