MAHLE Motorsport has introducd a new piston developed for MAZDA Motorsports’ spec MX-5. The new MX-5 piston is designed to meet the nationwide rules and spec parts list for the Mazda MX-5 2006-2015 chassis. 

MAHLE Motorsport worked closely with Mazda Motorsports to design the forged piston for the new Spec MX-5 incorporating proprietary piston design, materials and coatings. The MX-5 forged piston developed from 4032 alloy features MAHLE’s proprietary GRAFAL anti-friction skirt coating to reduce friction drag, scuffing and cylinder bore wear, a phosphate dry film lubricant to protect pin bores from galling and ring grooves from micro-welding.  The forged piston has a machined crown, designed with exacting tolerances for a motorsport specific application.

Mazda Motorsports and Winding Road Racing recently announced plans to create new spec race events at marquee events in 2020; adding to spec race opportunities with American Endurance Racing, ChampCar and World Racing League. The new MAHLE Motorsport piston for the MX-5 Miata will be approved for use in all existing spec events via NASA (ST5) and SCCA, and the newly planned spec events. Special markings will allow tech inspectors to identify the piston easily for competition.  

“To be able to partner with Mazda Motorsports and design a forged piston that will benefit the racer is extremely exciting to us and our support of grassroots and club racing.  It was also important that we develop a reliable piston that the racer knows they can depend on, and is of the highest quality,” says MAHLE Motorsport North America Marketing Manager Joe Maylish.

“Mazda Motorsports is committed to providing the highest level of support and value for our club racers,” says Josh Smith, Mazda Motorsports Technical Specialist, Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations. “MAHLE Motorsport has been an excellent partner in this goal as they have a long history of providing cutting edge technology for imports and developing race winning pistons. The R&D team was great to work with and helped us to implement many of the lessons we’ve learned from competing in other successful classes. We were able to build a piston that we feel will have unmatched performance and durability and meet our pillars for the Miata MX-5 spec race program to be affordable, reliable, tech-able and fun-to-drive.” 

For more information: www.mahlemotorsports.com or MazdaMotorsports.com.