First drive: BBR's hot Mazda MX5s

Almost as soon as the original Mazda MX5 was launched in 1989 its fans noted that the rear-wheel drive starlet could benefit from an injection of pace.

And almost as soon as it was launched, the tuning masters at Northamptonshire-based BBR set about rectifying that perceived lack of power. Twenty years on, they are still working their magic and have created two masterpieces to celebrate the little roadster's birthday.

We drove our own standard MX-5 up to BBR headquarters to see if the beefed-up machines were up to scratch.