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MX-5 Heritage Cup, a fresh national celebration of the evergreen spirit of the world’s most-favoured sports car, is entering its second season with even more vigour.

The early 2025 series repeats the inaugural 2024 competition’s format in being a four-round title chase, but over a tighter timeframe and now staking firm claim in the South Island.

Three mainland circuits used last summer to high acclaim from competitors, venue administrators and attendees are again being utilised - one favourite twice in quick succession.

That’s Teretonga Park Raceway, near Invercargill. 

The category dedicated to the version with the world-famous classic pop-up headlamp look is there on February 15/16 then comes back on March 15/16 for the fabulous Sound of Thunder meeting.

In the interim, the competitors scoot up to Timaru, for a March 1 club-level zip around the Levels track that is so suited to their style.

The last race meeting is at Euromarque Motorsport Park/Ruapuna, Christchurch, on March 22/23; another great track for the 1.6-litre roadsters and also home turf for a high count of South Island-based competitors.

A second summer down south is a welcome change for the format, which runs over winter at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon.

The Manawatu venue is the home track of the Manawatu Car Club which kicked off the class on Kiwi soil more than a decade ago, having seen the potential from studying the original UK formula.

Heritage Cup is designed as an adjunct to that winter series; it’s just a chance to get in more racing during what had been a down time.

Many Heritage Cup competitors are veterans of the winter rounds, but others are new drivers, based in the South Island.

This year’s South Island rounds were the first chance for Mainlanders to see the MX-5 category in action.

The close racing was a crowd-pleaser, with venue organisers telling Heritage Cup architect and series co-ordinator Sam Murray how massively impressed they were by the cars and the driving. 

Some series’ drivers gave spectator rides at Timaru and many visitors sought out the category to get more information about how to involve in the cost-effective category. 

Murray says that enthusiasm enforced the category has a strong national future.

“The series has been strong in the North Island but now there are a growing count of involvers who live south of Cook Strait; Heritage Cup elevates the whole national feel.”

That more cars are being built in the South Island now is a direct result of that first venture and reminds not just that MX-5 is the world’s highest-selling sports car but also that the first generation model is prolific in New Zealand and, despite being from 1989 to 1997, still has an evergreen feel.

“The MX-5 is a full out sports car, but more due to its excellent handling and driving dynamics rather than its outright speed or acceleration.

“It’s fast, but is designed to provide an engaging and fun driving experience through its lightweight construction, balanced chassis, and responsive steering. All this feeds into a thrilling, door-to-door racing experience.

Murray says what also fuels the category is that it is highly cost effective. 

“Motorsport is renowned for being costly. Now more than ever, the sport needs to try and find ways to make entry level competition accessible to the average person. This is it.” 

Indicative of the close racing is how the last series worked out.

Hamilton-based Dean Evans, the defending MCC winter series champion, was a hot contender at the final at Manfeild, but Manawatu driver Shane Hayter took the spoils. 

That also deprived Christchurch’s Benny Yan, who had been leading until the last round, which he couldn’t get to. Another hot year one contender with mathematical chance was Feilding’s Alex Corpe.