I know this lot, this car specifically, and this driver. He is a very talented guy...He bolted on some ZII on some 16x7 wheels and this was event #2 of ownership ( miles 305-309). This event, and the one just a week prior, were done on the stock shocks specifically to see what the car needed in terms of valving for either custom Koni DAs or Ohlins. Needless to say, the car us up for sale as it's looking like he's heading back to RWD (Car#121 for those if you that know him). I had an offer from him to co drive the car that previous weekend, but I was trying out some cold weather setups myself otherwise I would have driven it. I went so far as to accept a partial season co drive in the car to see just how good this would fair against the MINI in HS. That all being said. The lot had a HUGE part to play in this "event". If you watch the video carefully, you'll see a dip driver left just before turn in for that right apex. that compressed the left side suspension enough that when it rebounded off the bump stop, exploded all that energy skyward making the car completely so upset that there was no shock left (after the stock shock valve blowoff) to dampen the turn in; thus bicycle.
I knew from day one, event one, run (and only) one that the Mazda2 was at risk for this same sort of "incident" without installing some sort of custom strut in the car. Back when this car was new (2012), there was only one option (from CS).. Now there are others but I knew this wasn't a good HS car, nor did it have a chance against the MINI in stock class so I chose STF. .Not to bash the Mazda2 HS guys, but you are only one "perfect storm" away from this exact type of incident. I've seen 2 Golfs, a Saturn, and a Civic on their lids, not a fun afternoon filling out incident paperwork. Luckily the most serious of the injuries was a sprained wrist.
I think the SCCA made a great call excluding the car from Street (stock) class. If you run this car in STF with limited prep( tires and no strut improvement)(or your Mazda2 in HS without strut improvement), you are putting yourself and your club( SCCA or other) at risk for rollover potential.. Not to scare you off, but you are.
Now....a note to MAZDA...IF you bring the 2016 Mazda2 stateside, AND you don't lower the current proposed ride height and or widen the track width using a lower offset wheel, THIS vehicle will also become excluded from Street(stock) class, further distancing this vehicle from your sporty customer base and drastically defeating the Zoom Zoom heritage we've all grown to love about Mazdas over the last almost 3 decades. Honda proved 40 years ago that you CAN have a sporty fun to drive car, that gets 40mpg on the highway and is STILL under 5ft tall. Let's get back to that. These B segment cars are getting WAY too tall...
