Mazda has created the ultimate iteration of the MX-5. This stripped out green thing is called the MX-5 GT and will compete with Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche and Lotus at the Britcar British Endurance Championship 2011.

At just 850kg, it's about 300kg lighter than a Mazda MX-5 you and I can buy, and yet there's 275bhp under the bonnet. That brings about a three-second 0-62mph time and a 160mph top speed.

Tuned by Jota Sport, who will also run the competition cars in the 2011 race series, it features a virtually featureless interior, carbon doors and polycarbonate windows. A six-speed sequential gearbox sends power to the rear wheels.

Taking inspiration from Mazda's 'gram strategy', Jota says it looked at every component of the standard car to see where weight could be shaved - even dipping the body shell in acid to that end.

Britcar 2011 starts Saturday 26 March with a three-hour endurance race at Silverstone, and will see nine races in total take place over the next eight months. This is Mazda's fourth time in the competition, with drivers Mark Ticehurst and Owen Mildenhall pairing up.

Mazda is confident of success, with UK PR Director Graham Fudge saying: "With a higher power output combined with the durability, reliability and handling attributes that the MX-5 is renowned for; the MX-5 GT race car will be strong contender against the more powerful race cars in its class."

Mark Nichol - 23 Mar 2011