How much will it cost you to buy a turn-key race car and begin your semi-professional racing career? If you want a 2016 Mazda Miata MX-5 Cup car, it will run $53,000.

Mazda developed the car to race in the Global MX-5 Cup series and the factory will give priority to current drivers in the series and those who intend to compete in the upcoming season. The cars will also be eligible to compete in club racing events with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). According to Mazda, allowing all racers to purchase identically-built race cars means that driving talent will be the number one determining factor for on-track performance, rather than budget, engineering capability or fabrication skills.

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Global MX-5 Cup is an entry-level professional series. As part of the Mazda Road to 24, it is designed to help promote racers up the racing ladder. The series champion wins a $200,000 scholarship to move to the next level with Mazda the following season. The 2016 season will end with a global finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca featuring racers from around the world. The champion will win a one-day test in Mazda's top-level IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship SKYACTIV prototype race car.

The Global Mazda MX-5 Cup cars start out as 2016 Miatas, but they are race prepped by Long Road Racing, a race shop near Statesville, North Carolina, in the heart of NASCAR country. Mazda factory race drivers Tom Long, Andrew Carbonell, and Kenton Koch helped develop the car.

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For their money, buyers get a car that is race-ready, except for the fuel and seat. Each car is fitted with a roll cage and other safety equipment, as well as high-performance wheels, tires, and brakes. Without a convertible top, radio, or air conditioning, Mazda says the car weighs in at just over 2100 pounds, which is some 230 pounds less than the base street car.

To order your car, go to www.MazdaMotorsports.com. If you order now, you can expect your car before the end of the year, in time for the next Global MX-5 Cup series, which is slated to begin next March.

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