92-Horsepower Miata Shows Who’s Boss In ChampCar

In this video we see Winding Road Team TFB driver Mark Drennan demonstrate that power isn't everything. We pick up the action toward the end of the pace lap for a ChampCar race on May 13, 2017 at Circuit of The Americas. Drennan, who was 2016 Global MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year and 2015 NASA SM national champ, shows that being able to run a fast opening lap can yield real benefits. He is driving the Winding Road Racing ChampMiata, which had a stock 1.6L crate motor (with many races on it) to comply with 2016 Champ rules. He obviously doesn't have more power than many of the cars, but that doesn't really hold him back. Later braking, higher apex speeds and creative lines allow Mark to move up the field seemingly at will (with such limited power, things aren't so easy later in the session when other drivers and their tires are warmed up).