Partnership FoundationPenske's partnership with Mazda was earned through nearly a decade of proven success, starting with Spec Miata in 2016-2017. When Mazda opened a competitive tender for the series, they invited seven shock manufacturers to a rigorous five-day blind test. Penske's performance was decisive. In the final 30-minute endurance race, Penske shocks outperformed every competitor by 27-30 seconds. That margin of victory convinced Mazda's leadership that the technical excellence and hands-on support were worth the investment. The partnership later expanded to Spec MX-5 and ultimately the pinnacle MX-5 Cup series, where Mazda chose Penske without reopening the tender process.
Penske's role goes beyond simply supplying equipment. When Penske took over the Spec Miata series, competitors were dealing with severe supply chain problems from the previous supplier. Massive backlogs left racers unable to get consistent product. Penske brought both reliability and quality consistency by dynoing every shock and matching each one to strict tolerances. This eliminated the performance lottery where teams with access to dyno equipment could cherry-pick better units and send back the rest. For racers, it means fair competition where setup adjustments and driver skill, not equipment variance, determine your competitive edge.
Penske shocks give MX-5 Cup competitors real control over their car's feel and performance, even within a spec series framework. The new Penske setup delivers superior stability, reduced tire wear, and a usable adjustment range that actually works at the track. Previous shocks theoretically offered wide adjustment ranges, but much of that range was too stiff to be practical in real racing conditions. Penske technicians support drivers throughout the season, helping them dial in setups for specific tracks and individual driving styles. In spec racing, where the driver ultimately determines the outcome, this partnership approach ensures competitors have the suspension expertise and support they need to succeed.
Our partnership with Mazda was earned through consistent performance across three distinct series over nearly a decade. What started with a decisive win in blind testing has evolved into Mazda's most trusted suspension partnership.
Won initial 5-day competition. Established partnership foundation with entry-level series.
Expanded to mid-tier chassis series. Continued proving performance and support value.
Pinnacle series partnership. No tender process - Mazda: "You're the best partner we have. We don't need to waste everybody's time."
