[John Rogers]

"Racing" is a widely variable term and an autocross, fast laps, driver ed events ALL will put more stress on all parts of any car wither a Mazda or BMW or Porsche. The parts that will face the highest stress all need to be strong.......but you already know that which is why you asked. As I said I would find a "race" shop, no matter the make and listen to what they say about your question. Also, as I suggested, check with the organization that runs things, but you already know that too.

An example of cutting corners was found in a couple "race cars" in the first race I did south of the border in Tijuana MX when the tech inspectors found exhaust tubing had been used to make the roll cages in a pair of VWs! The chief inspector thought the cages looked too good and slightly too large to be real, so he broke out his sonic wall thickness meter and whoa....way too thin! Called the shop that did the fabrication and such and there was a lot of angry Spanish flying, seems that was all the tube he had and Gonzalez Brothers Exhaust Shop in Mexicali MX!
John