What is it?
Ever since its services were enlisted for a rare-groove turbo conversion 23 years ago, the firm formerly known as Brodie-Brittain Racing has been inextricably linked with the Mazda MX-5.
‘BBR GTI’ is a very different outfit now to the one that used to run Ford Sierra RS500s in the BTCC, mind you – but its link with Mazda’s evergreen two-seater survives. And it’s just spawned the company’s first turbo conversion of the MX-5 in its current form. This one, unlike the original, has nothing to do with Mazda UK. But if anything, that fact seems to have freed up BBR’s hands to turn up the volume as high as it likes on this car. Which, it turns out, is quite high.
Packaging is BBR GTI boss Neil McKay’s challenge with the MX-5. There just isn’t much space to spare under that stubby bonnet. But having already made a supercharger fit, he struck upon the idea of a bent manifold, and consequently produced prototype number one for the new BBR MX-5 Turbo: a car with a Garrett turbo running just under 9.0psi of boost, and producing a decidedly cheeky 285bhp.
That’s from an engine built entirely within the standard confines of the engine bay as well, so no nasty, irreversible structural alterations required, and no changes to the driveline save a reinforced clutch.
As soon as he’d reflashed the ECU, McKay gave the car to us for an early taster. We can therefore confirm how thoroughly indecent that much power feels in this diminutive Mazda. We didn’t have chance to strap on the timing gear, but it feels like it’d crack 60mph in about 5.0sec and 100mph in about the 12.0sec mark. Quick enough to embarrass a Nissan 370Z and most first-order hot hatches, then. Ever wondered what a seriously fast MX-5 would feel like? Wonder no longer.
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Sounds good but.................
........i'd rather have my MX5.
White UK Mk1 1.6 on a K-Reg.
Mini Cooper S Supercharger with a Ford Transit Connect Intercooler. Re-Mapped and now showing 195bhp on the RR at 6200rpm. Stainless Steel Mill-tek exhaust with de-cat pipe. Steel induction pipe with improved breathing through new K&N cone filter.
Uprated coilover suspension with chassis bracing kit and 1.8 Discs with Pagid fast road pads. New brake hoses.
Quickshift gearbox linkage and removed the centre steering wheel bonce protector from the FOC MOMO steering wheel (cheers Mazda!).
Half cage raised behind drivers seat to help for any unneccessary excursions into the undergrowth!
Two sets of wheels, both 15'' Enki's (from a Mk2 Arizona) One set in White with raod tyres and one set in matt black with Toyo semi slick track tyres.
The MX5 cost £500, and the rest cosyt (over an 18mth period approximately £1,500.00, so £2k builds you a similarly quick in a striaght line for a 10th of the cost.
That's the way to do a sporty MX5.