Mission Motorsport and Mazda UK have revealed their latest poppy ‘art car’ – following on from the 2015 Mazda MX-5 Mk4 race car and the 2024 Mazda MX-30 R-EV course car. The latest ‘art car’ creation places a poignant tribute livery onto Mazda UK’s 1995 Mk1 Mazda MX-5 1.8-litre heritage car, which will be at this year’s Race of Remembrance on display and taking part in demonstration laps.
Revealed today at the 2026 Race of Remembrance Media Day at Thruxton Circuit, where Mission Motorsport once again announced their plans to mark Remembrance Day with their now established and unique motorsport event held at Anglesey Circuit in North Wales – the Mk1 Mazda MX-5 art car features a one-off bespoke livery.
Mazda UK has been a supporter of Mission Motorsport since its founding in 2012 and of the Race of Remembrance since its inception more than a decade ago. In 2015, the Mk4 Mazda MX-5 poppy ‘art car’ took part in the race honouring the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families, while in 2024 a special Mazda e-Skyactiv MX-30 R-EV course car with a unique poppy design supported the event.
This year, Mazda is proud to collaborate with Mission Motorsport to create a third Mazda poppy ‘art car’, which has once again been designed and implemented by the vehicle wrap team at Mission Motorsport – this time using the iconic shape of the original MX-5 as the canvas for the poignant remembrance inspired livery.
Commenting on Mission Motorsport’s latest ‘art car’ creation with Mazda, Mission Motorsport Managing Director, Alex Atherton, said: “for the last 15 years, Mazda has been an incredible supporter of Mission Motorsport, helping us create opportunities for those affected by military service through the power of motorsport. The new Mission Motorsport poppy car is a powerful symbol of that enduring partnership, honouring the Armed Forces community while showcasing our shared commitment to making a lasting difference. Adding, “what better way to do that than on one of the most iconic Mazda road cars of all time”.
This year, the Race of Remembrance will see teams compete for 12 hours across two days with the race starting at 3pm on Saturday and running into darkness until 10pm. The cars and drivers are rested and repaired overnight before racing resumes at 9am on Sunday. Most importantly, the circuit falls silent at 11am on Sunday when more than 1,000 people will pay their respects, before resuming racing to the finish. Across the weekend, competitors, spectators and officials will not miss the stand out livery of the Mk1 Mazda MX-5 poppy car on display.
Commenting on the reveal of the Mazda Mk1 MX-5 poppy ‘art car’, Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director, Mazda Motors UK, said: “the respectful and stunning livery of this Mission Motorsport poppy car is a sobering reminder of the sacrifices and bravery of our service personnel and their families. I’m delighted that once again Mazda can play a small part in assisting Mission Motorsport to honour this with the Race of Remembrance and their fantastic ongoing work with service veterans” Adding, “it’s also great that we can mark our long running association with Mission Motorsport with a unique design on one of our most iconic and timeless heritage cars”.
Prior to and after the 2026 Race of Remembrance the Mk1 Mazda MX-5 poppy car will be in use across the country in support of the Armed Forces Community and will be on display at several motoring and veterans’ events. Taking place in aid of Mission Motorsport and their work to provide respite, rehabilitation, vocational training and support to veterans, the 12th running of the Race of Remembrance takes place from 6th to 8th November at Anglesey racetrack in North Wales.
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Mission Motorsport
The Forces’ Motorsport Charity, whose motto is “Race Retrain Recover” is MoD’s competent authority for motor sport as a recovery activity initiative and is supported by Help For Heroes and Walking with the Wounded. As part of the MoD’s Career Transition Partnership, the charity helps those leaving the military under medical discharge to find employment in the automotive industry. A City and Guilds training provider, Mission Motorsport’s Training Wing delivers Level 3 Diploma courses and full apprenticeships which allow service leavers to bridge the gap between military service and second careers as civilians, beyond injury. Further detail can be found at www.missionmotorsport.org
