Buchanan Racing
Buchanan Racing number 267 Miata lined up for the GridLife Laguna Podium Sprint

Competition

Earn the result. Learn from the lap.

Time attack, local competition and selected endurance races—with testing and preparation between events.

2027 direction

The 2027 season

The season builds on Laguna: a wider tire package, offseason setup work and a return to competition across several formats.

Target program

Global Time Attack

Limited RWD

The highest-performance configuration: more tire, deeper aero and chassis development, and an emphasis on outright lap time.

Target program

GridLife

TrackMod

Build on the Laguna podium with a package designed for quick adaptation, short sessions and high-consequence sprint competition.

Target program

NASA endurance

ST2 / STE-compatible

A reversible endurance configuration focused on repeatable pace, consumable management and mechanical reliability.

2027 competition and preparation plan · updated October 5, 2026
Event / activityTimingProgram focus
Offseason test daysBefore March 2027Sort the 275/35R15 package; refine alignment, spring rates and ride height as needed.
GTA ThunderhillMarch 6–7, 2027Limited RWD · entry registered
GridLife Laguna SecaQ3 2027 · date to be confirmedTrackMod · return to the 2026 benchmark
Third marquee time attack2027 · event to be selectedAnother major competitive outing
NorCal Miata TT / local eventsThroughout 2027Competition and repeatable setup evaluation
OnGrid track daysSelected 2027 datesPractice, testing and development
Selected 3–6-hour endurance races2027 · dates to be selectedRepeatable pace and durability

Dates will be added as organizer calendars and the season plan are finalized.

Selected history

Built over time.

The short version: early Spec Miata competition and 25-hour experience, years spent building an engineering career and family, then a focused return with a very different Miata.

  1. The start

    Nick Buchanan begins driving and developing cars on track.

  2. Spec Miata · SFR SCCA

    Wheel-to-wheel competition establishes the racecraft and mechanical foundation that still informs the program.

  3. Thunderhill endurance

    Two 25 Hours of Thunderhill class wins with Team 949 Racing: E2 in 2011 and E1 in 2012.

  4. Return to competition

    The LS Miata enters a focused competition program after years of owner-led development.

  5. 3rd · TrackMod Podium Sprint

    A 1:33.158 personal best and third place in the GridLife Laguna TrackMod Podium Sprint establish the new baseline.

  6. One-platform campaign

    Targeted development for GTA Limited RWD, GridLife TrackMod and NASA ST2 / STE-compatible endurance racing.

GridLife Laguna driver graphic for Nick Buchanan and the number 267 MiataGridLife Laguna Festival · 2026

Benchmark

Laguna Seca

Third in the TrackMod Podium Sprint. A separate 1:33.158 weekend personal best. A real competitive baseline for the next iteration of the car.

  • EventGridLife Laguna
  • SessionTrackMod Podium Sprint
  • Finish3rd
  • Weekend personal best1:33.158
See the Laguna media
White and orange number 94 Miata in wheel-to-wheel racing from Nick’s racing archive
From the racing archive · original photographer credit retained in the image.

Experience that carries forward

Racecraft. Teamwork. Endurance.

Spec Miata competition began in 2009. Class wins with Team 949 Racing at the 2011 and 2012 25 Hours of Thunderhill added experience in preparation, driver changes and keeping a car racing through a long event.

Those lessons inform the same priorities today: arrive prepared, manage consumables and deliver consistent track time.