August 2025 — On behalf of Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI), the Western Canada Motorsport Association (WCMA) is very pleased to provide a mid-season update on the 2025 Spec Miata series and the Spec Miata Contingency Program.
We are at the mid-point of an exciting six race event season as contested on Alberta's two race tracks, having completed two weekend events (five races each) at RAD Torque Raceway (RTR) south of Edmonton as hosted by the Northern Alberta Sports Car Club and one weekend event (six races) at Rocky Mountain Motorsports Park (RMM) north of Calgary as hosted by the Alberta Race Car Association. Remaining are two weekend events at RTR and a single day event at RMM.
Currently nine drivers are in the standings, with Rookie, Justin Kewin, from Fort St. John, British Columbia, leading the pack with his 1996 Miata at 781 points. Three series veterans returned this year after hiatuses, with Sherwood Park, Alberta's, Steve Begg, last seen in the series in 2021, is in second place with his 1990 Miata at 778 points. Consistent series regular, and one of the WCMA Spec Miata series' original three founding drivers from 2012, Mark Burrough, of Edmonton, is in third place in his 1990 Miata at 703 points. The 2024 champion, Zac Burke, is sixth at 350 points, while 2023 champion, Chris Saunders, is seventh at 300 points; both drivers amassing clean sweeps of the singular event weekend which they attended (six wins and five wins respectively). After missing 2024, the 2023 season's runner-up, Dan Shute, is currently fourth at 519 points. Father and son duo, Scott and Clayton Sherman, are ninth at 215 points and fifth at 369 points respectively, while another of the series' founding drivers, Robin Saunders, last seen in 2019, is eighth at 217 points. Missing at the mid-point of the season are several past season's drivers and it is hoped that they will yet make a showing between August and September.
Spec Miata competitors must finish a minimum of 50 percent of the season's individual races over the six race events to be eligible for the Contingency Program's awards at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The projected number of races for the 2025 season is 29 or 30—an increase over the 2023 and 2024 seasons at 24 and 21 races respectively—and yet the leading three drivers in the series have already qualified for the Contingency Program with 16 or 15 finishes to their credit.
MCI's Spec Miata Contingency Program, in its third year supporting WCMA, is set to pay out $5,000 in total to the top-10 eligible drivers in the 2025 Spec Miata championship, with the champion receiving $1,200, second place $1,000, third place $800, and decreasing down to 10th place receiving $100. All nine of the series' current drivers have the potential to be eligible by season finale on the weekend of September 20-21, when a new champion will be crowned.
Spec Miata, comprised of the first two generations of Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA and NB), is the most popular road racing class in the world. It's very affordable and highly competitive throughout the entire field, offering many opportunities to grow the driver's speed and racecraft. Between the various sanctioning bodies and series in Canada and the USA, there is not a more raced car in all its four generations.
One of the oldest retailed Miatas, VIN 108 (which makes it the 19th Miata to be retailed from new), originally sold in Winnipeg, Manitoba, also races in Alberta in both Vintage and Improved Touring classes. Several other Miatas, all former Spec Miatas, run in WCMA GT classes and Endurance races.
About Mazda Canada Inc.
Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people.
Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service, and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, MCI has a nationwide network of 163 dealerships.
Mazda Canada Inc. has supported the WCMA Spec Miata championship series with its current Spec Miata Contingency Program for three years, commencing in 2023.
Five races remaining in the Spec Miata Championship at the forthcoming NASCC Subaru City Trackfest event 4 on September 20/21 at RAD Torque Raceway.