The difference in times is mostly driver, not car. The Miatas are not only a little lighter, but their center-mass is also lower. I don't know anything about their spec suspension, but ours is darn soft. Their best guys are within a second or two of our best times. But within a class there is often 6-8 seconds between the best Spec E30 qual and last on a 2 1/4 to 2 1/2mi track. So the best Miata drivers are going to be 5-8 seconds/lap faster then the last third of the Spec E30 field. Their mid-pack drivers are running times similar to our last third.
I'm mid-pack (on a good day) and the best Miatas kick my ass. This is a little dependent on the track tho. Miatas shine on the turns. You would be astonished at how fast a good Miata driver can take a turn. It's unbelieveable.
Keep in mind that the worst Spec E30 racer would be a DE God. This is not an average crowd. The best racers defy the laws of physics at every turn. The worst racers defy the laws of physics only occasionally.
I'm mid-pack (on a good day) and the best Miatas kick my ass. This is a little dependent on the track tho. Miatas shine on the turns. You would be astonished at how fast a good Miata driver can take a turn. It's unbelieveable.
Keep in mind that the worst Spec E30 racer would be a DE God. This is not an average crowd. The best racers defy the laws of physics at every turn. The worst racers defy the laws of physics only occasionally.

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