I figured you would; I was actually loathe to post it without further explanation, but work was busy at that moment.
The 1.6 Miata, as we have determined, is competitive at handling tracks and can get pretty close at horsepower tracks, but not quite get over the top there. What seems to be the issue is a combination of two things: Torque off the corners, and speed during the second half of the straightaways.
The reason the car is able to get close is its phenominal handling and consistency over the course of the race distance, where it is still strong at the end while the other cars have degraded.
As the driver of one of the top 3 or 4 prepared 1.6 ITA Miatas in the country, I feel that it is a car that can compete on an even basis with many of the cars in ITA. These would be the "no excuses" CRXs, most of the 240sxs, and the "Almost Developed" Integras. It doesn't seem to be able to touch the "pinnacle" of the class, which is the Developed Integras. We don't know how the Neons, NX2000s, etc are going to do yet.
I am fortunate enough to race with one of the better-prepped Integras in country on a regular basis, driven by a very good driver, and we have determined the following at Road Atlanta: (This is done ASSuming that I am a good driver. I feel I have earned that assumption, but you may disagree)
My car is a touch faster in turns 1-5. Exiting 5, he torques away from me. I catch up a tiny bit in 6 and 7, and he drives out of the draft on the back straight. He gains about double the distance I can make up in the turns on the back straight each lap, even though I am trying to draft him.
I feel that a 1.8 at 2400 would be in a similar situation for about 5 laps, then things would get worse. The tires would go off a bit, the brakes would be taking a pounding, etc. Over the next 10-15 laps of the race, the car would degrade further, taking the fun out of driving it and putting the driver in a defensive position instead of attacking. This late race attacking is what makes the Miata a winner at the twisty tracks, not outright speed.
I guess what I am trying to say, is what is the point of classifying it if it is going to be worse off than the 1.6, less fun to drive, and harder on equipment? If the 1.8 were at an equal or similar weight to the 1.6 (2200-2300lbs) I feel it could be right there with the top cars in the class. Not ahead of them, and probably not as fast as them for the first 2/3 of a race, but fast at the ends and giving them a late-race run for their money.
I, of course, would prefer the 1.6 and 1.8 to be on the same line in the rulebook so I didn't have to build a new tub, but if I thought it had a good chance, I would drop the coin to build the newer one.
That is my opinion, worth what you paid for it.
Bowie
