MAZDA is building on the success of its MX-5 GT4 race car in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship by building customer MX-5 GT4 race cars to order for the 2013 season.

Earlier this month at Snetterton, the Mazda MX-5 GT4 finished on the podium again with a second place, demonstrating that this car is a real title contender.

Built by Jota Sport, the Mazda MX-5 GT4, weighing in at 1,000kg, will cost £125,000, excluding VAT, and is now available to order for the 2013 season.

The car will benefit from further development during 2012 and will be a fully homologated car for GT4 racing.

Powered by an MZR two-litre turbo unit, the MX-5 GT4 produces 320bhp and will come ready to race.

The Mazda MX-5 GT4 features a fully prepared shell with FIA spec roll cage, carbon fibre doors, front splitter, rear diffuser and rear wing as standard.

Inside, the MX-5 GT4 has a carbon fibre dash and centre console, Pi Omega D2 display and data logger and a six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shift as standard.

The Mazda MX-5 GT4 will be eligible for numerous domestic and continental GT & GT4 championships throughout the world.

Sam Hignett, managing director of Jota Group, said: “We have spent the season getting the car to the front of the field.

“We started from the base of last year’s GT car and set ourselves the aim of finishing the 2012 season with a car that would be competitive in GT4.

“At this stage in the season we are very pleased with the progress and believe any team buying the MX-5 GT4 will have a potential winner ready to race.

“The car is an easy car to race and would even suit track day enthusiasts. We are still developing the car, but we are now at a point that we can offer this car to customers safe in the knowledge that it is going to be a front runner in any GT4 field.”

Subaru has announced both a new price offer and a performance upgrade on its iconic WRX STI.

Currently priced £26,995, the WRX STI is also available with a finance offer costing under £300 a month.

The new 340R power upgrade, which adds £1,599 to the price, is available alongside the 320R (with 320PS and 450Nm) which was first launched to market last year. Both the 340R and 320R power upgrades can be applied retroactively without affecting a car’s warranty.

Available immediately, the WRX STI 340R boasts 340PS and 490Nm of torque – substantial increases of 40PS and 83Nm over the standard WRX STI.

The 340R power upgrade features different ECU settings to allow the 2.5-litre horizontally opposed, four-cylinder Boxer engine to produce more power, while airflow has improved as a result of a new exhaust system.

The 340R will accelerate from standstill to 60mph in just 4.7 seconds, an improvement of 0.5 seconds over the standard WRX STI. There is also even stronger in-gear acceleration.