RX8 Cup came into inception in mid-2017 as the brainchild of long-time production car racer Ric Shaw. Ric wanted to apply his knowledge base to create the most cost-effective one-make national production car based category in Australia, and the rapid expansion of the category is testimony to the dedication of Ric and the rest of the management team.

The philosophy of the category was to base the vehicles around 3E Production Car specifications, using a series 1 Mazda RX8 as the base, with further restrictions applied to simplify construction and maintenance.

The RX8 is well-balanced, with inherent performance and handling characteristics that suit motor racing applications. The RX8 is also a modern looking vehicle, which has attracted a loyal following of rotary enthusiasts.  The rotary motors have proven to be bulletproof – in the time the category has been running, a number of competitors are still using their original engine, and the expected lifespan of an engine is two to three seasons with the correct maintenance.

The cost of building a competitive RX8 race car is $10,000-$14,000, if you do the work yourself, and cars in this price range are capable of running at the front of the field.

The RX8 Cup has become one of the core categories on the AMRS program, due to its affordability, consistently high competitor numbers and close, entertaining racing. It is a category that provides a fun environment for racing, and one where talented drivers are able to demonstrate their abilities at a national level.