Mark has been racing in competitive motorsport for 20 years, starting in road motorbikes and later in motocross – where he was a nationally ranked rider on a Honda four-stroke CRF450, until age and family encouraged him out of racing bikes. Having competed for so long, doing nothing was not an option, so he joined the Auckland Car Club and built a road-legal MX5 turbo race car. In his first year, he finished third in the Classic Japanese Class. Mark’s first year at Leadfoot was 2015 and after such a fantastic time having posted times up Rod’s driveway very near the times of the famous cars he grew up dreaming of, he was very keen to return and try to match or better his last year’s time of 56.55secs. This year he is trying for a 55!

Mark Collier - 1989 Mazda MX5 Turbo

Mark has been racing in competitive motorsport for 20 years, starting in road motorbikes and later in motocross – where he was a nationally ranked rider on a Honda four-stroke CRF450, until age and family encouraged him out of racing bikes. Having competed for so long, doing nothing was not an option, so he joined the Auckland Car Club and built a road-legal MX5 turbo race car. In his first year, he finished third in the Classic Japanese Class. Mark’s first year at Leadfoot was 2015 and after such a fantastic time having posted times up Rod’s driveway very near the times of the famous cars he grew up dreaming of, he was very keen to return and try to match or better his last year’s time of 56.55secs. This year he is trying for a 55!

1989 Mazda MX5 Turbo:

Mark and his nephew Kasey decided that an MX5 was a good, affordable way to go racing and that the Auckland Car Club’s Classic Japanese Class offered a great, cost effective series. They built a 1989 MX 5 1600 Turbo that won best presented car in its first season, secured multiple race wins and third in class in its first year – all in one of the only road legal cars in the class. Mark is proud that “Wee1” was invited to the 2015 and 2016 Leadfoot Festival and traded times with cars he dreamt about as a huge motorsport fan growing up. This 1989 MAZDA MX5 has a 1600cc turbo with about 250hp at 14 PSI boost, 6 speed gearbox, 15×9 6ul racing wheels with Nitto 225×45 NT01 tyres, 300mm Willwood big brake kit and Koni race coilovers.