Mazda BT-50: Win on Sunday, Work on Monday

The BT-50 is versatile. You’ll see them working on farms and in forests. You’ll find them on worksites and campsites. And on weekends, they’re often busy towing caravans and boats along Australia’s vast freeways.

It’s easy to see why this stylish and hard-working ute is one of this country’s most popular Mazda models.

But there’s an unexpected place where the BT-50 also excels, a place where it’s delivering a different kind of Zoom-Zoom – and it’s been showing a clean set of (w)heels.

Australia’s V8 SuperUtes is an action-packed circuit racing series. This six-round national motorsport contest sees Australia’s most popular dual-cab utes battle for victory on some of the country’s fastest tracks, including Bathurst’s famed Mount Panorama circuit.

Among these unlikely combatants is the Mazda BT-50. But between the showroom and the winner’s circle, these fiery BT-50 racers undergo some changes. Don’t be fooled by appearances; they’re more racehorse than workhorse. Here’s a quick look.

Engine and transmission

Aussie ute drivers expect performance. Mazda delivers it with two DOHC turbo-diesel engine choices in the BT-50 range.

A 110 kW 1.9-litre that delivers up to 350 Nm of torque, and a 140 kW 3.0-litre with 450 Nm from just 1,600 rpm, making it perfect for carrying a load and towing.

The BT-50 SuperUte takes a slightly different approach. An LS3-based 6.2-litre petrol V8 brings 298 kW and a lot of noise. These ‘crate’ engines are fitted across the entire SuperUte field to keep performance levels the same (and the racing close).

Plenty of power means plenty of speed. It also means plenty of fuel. No such issue with the road-going BT-50, which uses as little as 7.7-litres per 100 km (BT-50 XT dual-cab pick with manual transmission; combined-cycle testing according to ADR 81-02). You won’t achieve that figure with the V8 racer.

The 4x4 BT-50’s serious off-road abilities are well known, thanks to technologies like Hill Decent Control (HDC), Traction Control System (TCS) and a separate low-range transfer case. The rear-wheel-drive racing BT-50 is more sports car-like. It’s fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox that connects to a live axle at the rear, which is fitted with a mechanically locked differential for maximum traction under acceleration.  

Chassis and suspension

The BT-50’s body-on-frame design underpins its abilities to withstand rugged and difficult driving conditions. A rigid body structure makes extensive use of high-tensile steel for optimal performance and safety. For example, high-strength 980 MPa-grade steel reinforces the B-pillars, upper and lower cabin frame rails, and the upper and lower rear bulkhead rails.

Such rigidity helps the racing version with its high-performance suspension system, which has been adapted for use across the entry field.

The BT-50’s standard double wishbone design at the front is replaced by a coil-over-shock set-up.

At the rear, it’s all about handling, not handling a load in the tray. In place of the tough and durable leaf-spring suspension is a coil-spring design mounted in a ‘cradle’.

Interior

The BT-50’s cabin is the result of careful human-centric interior design. From optimised seat structures to high-quality materials, the result is a blend of comfort, style and functionality that creates a calm and relaxing place to be.

Not so with the BT-50 racer.

Its stripped-out cabin is home to a fixed racing seat and a simplified digital dashboard that gives the driver essential information. There’s no sat-nav, only the driver’s memory of the circuit; cabin cooling comes from a hole in a window; and a constant V8 roar replaces the eight-speaker surround sound system.

The driver’s small racing steering wheel, which carries switches and controls, is upholstered in a suede-like material, not leather, to maximise grip when steering.

Safety

The BT-50 has a full 5-Star ANCAP safety rating. Its multi-year new-vehicle development program involved a vast number of crash tests, both real and computer-simulated. Its array of Advanced Driver Assistance technologies – such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) – helps drivers on the road every day.

But in the Aussie BT-50 racer, these give way to a different collection of safety items.

An extensive built-in roll cage adds extra stiffness and protection from a significant impact. An onboard fire extinguishing system is plumbed inside the vehicle. And a multi-point racing harness replaces the driver’s seat belt.

Oh, and with the BT-50 racer, you’ll need to dress for success. This means wearing an approved safety helmet, racing overalls, gloves and driving boots.

Wheels and tyres

The different model grades in the Mazda BT-50 dual-cab range offers a variety of 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels in assorted designs. They’re stylish, strong and ready for all terrain types.

It’s a different story with the BT-50 racer. All V8 SuperUtes use a control wheel and tyre package. An 18 x 9.5-inch forged alloy wheel is used across the grid. They all wear 255/40/R18 tyres from the same manufacturer.

The BT-50 comes with a full-size spare wheel. The racer comes with a pit crew.

At the Track vs. On the Road

Competing in the six-round V8 SuperUtes series takes some preparation and effort. After building an approved racing Ute that meets the category’s technical rules, there’s the matter of transporting the car and team to each event. (This year’s races are in Bathurst, Darwin, Sydney, Gold Coast and Adelaide).

Then there’s the matter of ensuring a ready supply of fuel, tyres and necessary parts. And when you’re at the track, you’ll need the right race-engineering know-how to adjust and set up your V8 SuperUte for maximum performance.

And once you’ve nailed all of these, just push your way to the front of the pack and go for the win. Sounds like fun.

But if you want the best from your BT-50 ute any day of the week, just jump in and go. And if you need to tow or carry anything, Mazda’s handy online Payload Calculator makes it simple.

The Australian V8 SuperUtes series might be a fast and furious choice, but Mazda’s BT-50 is the winning pick to make every drive enjoyable – on any Sunday.