A record number of Mazda Miatas descended on Lime Rock Park October 23-24 for the fourth annual MiataCon presented by Piloti, setting a new event participation benchmark while delivering year-over-year growth across all major areas of the event, including attendance, racing entries, commercial partnerships, vendor involvement and driving experiences.
Nearly 1,100 Miatas filled The Park over the two-day celebration of the iconic Japanese roadster, including a combined 750 Miatas participating in SCDA-sanctioned racing and high-performance driving sessions, MiataX presented by SuperMiata and the Moss Miata Car Show and Corral. The record turnout was accompanied by a 30% increase in attendance over 2025, reflecting the event's continued growth and expanding appeal among Miata enthusiasts. The Coca-Cola Fan Zone doubled its vendor participation compared to 2025, while on-track competition entries increased nearly 10%.
Intro to MiataX presented by SuperMiata, designed to introduce Miata owners to performance driving, recorded more than a 90% increase in driver participation, while Saturday's MiataX presented by SuperMiata sessions also sold out. Representatives from Mazda North American Operations joined a delegation of Mazda designers and engineers who traveled from Japan to connect directly with Miata enthusiasts, gather firsthand feedback and conduct market research to bring back to Mazda's global headquarters in Hiroshima.
"What's exciting about MiataCon presented by Piloti is that its growth is being driven by the enthusiasts themselves," said Lime Rock Park CMO Jamie Kistner. "Both events demonstrate the growing influence of grassroots motorsports and automotive lifestyle culture, bringing communities together through competition, driving experiences and a shared passion for cars."
SCDA-sanctioned competition saw a 10% increase in participation, with 115 driver entries across 75 Miatas representing 10 states, including several members of the Lime Rock Drivers Club. All four generations of the Mazda MX-5 took to the track Friday and Saturday for wheel-to-wheel racing, an endurance race featuring driver changes and high-performance driving education (HPDE) sessions. Close competition throughout the weekend saw drivers battle for podium positions, with top class finishers earning contingency awards from Piloti, Hoosier Tire East and Lime Rock Park.
The Moss Miata Car Show and Corral brought together more than 500 Miatas over the two-day event, with dedicated groups for all four Miata generations and a separate section for JDM cars and kei trucks. Moss Miata recognized Car Show winners with custom awards for Best Stock Miata, Best Modified Miata, Miata I’d Most Like to Own and the new category Best Miata Costume.
The FCP Euro Proving Grounds hosted two days of Miata-focused driving experiences. Friday's Intro to MiataX presented by SuperMiata emerged as one of the event's fastest-growing programs, recording a 91% year-over-year increase in driver participation. Among those participating in Saturday's sold-out MiataX presented by SuperMiata was Trever Lowe, who returned to the FCP Euro Proving Grounds just two weeks after winning the LIQUI MOLY Autocross Invitational Shootout, where he set a new course record of 40.566 seconds in his 1999 Mazda Miata.
On Friday, participation extended beyond the racetrack, with all three 45-mile scenic drives hosted by the Nutmeg Miata Club reaching full capacity. The Coca-Cola Fan Zone also experienced significant growth, doubling its vendor participation from the previous year. The expanded midway featured performance specialists, aftermarket suppliers, automotive lifestyle brands and local food trucks including Piloti, Mazda of Milford, 949 Racing/SuperMiata, Planet Miata, Artis Race Labs, LIQUI MOLY, Spite Performance, Archaic Lighting, PeopleKars and Avants, among others.
"As MiataCon presented by Piloti continues to grow, we're seeing increased interest from automotive brands that recognize the value of connecting directly with this community," said Lime Rock Park Partnership Development Director Steve Fields. "From racing and driving experiences to the car show and vendor midway, the event creates unique opportunities for our partners to engage with enthusiasts who are genuinely passionate about their cars and the brands that support them."
MiataCon presented by Piloti marked the final major event of Lime Rock Park's 2026 season, closing out a year highlighted by record-setting attendance and growing participation across several of The Park's signature events.
