Racing takes so much more than raw physical talent—it takes commitment, determination, strength of character and support from your community. The high-stakes world of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series is no different, demanding levels of dedication, resilience and passion from every racer, no matter their experience. And for women in this demanding field, these thrilling challenges and triumphs show up for every race weekend, both on and off the track.
See what it takes to compete in the MX-5 Cup by checking out First to the Finish, a new original series on Prime Video, and meet the competitors before you watch it.
WHAT IS FIRST TO THE FINISH?
First to the Finish, a new six-episode original series on Prime Video, that chronicles the 2024 season of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series, follows three incredible female competitors as they compete and succeed in this sport they are passionate about.
MEET THE COMPETITORS
RISING STAR HEATHER HADLEY
The Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship is a competitive racing series where drivers race identical, specially prepared Mazda MX-5 Miata sports cars on professional tracks, showcasing skill and strategy in an accessible motorsport format.
“Compared to other series I've raced, as well as other series I've watched, MX-5 Cup is by far the most competitive and the most close racing,” Heather Hadley, a second-season racer and one of two female racers in the series, said. “Most of the time, the entire pack is separated by 2 seconds, and there's typically about 25 cars... You have to stay on your toes the entire time."
The pressure is on Heather as she starts her second season as a racer.
“[The races in this series] are 45 minutes of all-out mayhem,” Heather said.
She’ll have to keep up her career’s rising momentum and attract more sponsors—all while finishing an accounting degree, moving cross-country and going through a tough breakup and a strained professional relationship. These personal setbacks would be enough to shake anyone’s professional confidence, but can Heather rally her support system and rise to the challenge?
THE ROOKIE, SALLY MOTT
Sally is experiencing the world of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series for the first time. She’ll struggle to work with a new coach, work to harness her aggressive driving style—without crashing—and learn the hard way how important sponsorships and money are to her future.
“Getting used to all the eyes on [the race], all the external pressure, and then pressure of being a female,” Sally Mott, rookie racecar driver, said. “Trying to make a good name for women in motorsports while also doing my best to put everything together… it's been tough.”
Will a close bond with her coach help her turn things around in time? Or will a budding romance knock her off track?
“I think I've learned the most in one year than I've ever learned in a year of school, in a year of anything honestly,” Sally said. “This series kind of chews you up and spits you out but I've come out so much stronger than I ever thought possible."
THE TRAILBLAZER, SHEA HOLBROOK
Shea Holbrook, first-time team owner and BSI Racing principal, said she views the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series as the purest form of motorsport because it’s entertaining, and it enables racers of all experience levels to participate.
“You can come here [to the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series], and you can be a development driver moving up the ladder, or this can be a destination where you stay and make a career,” she said. “What Mazda Motorsports puts behind racers at this level [financially] to continue a career, time after time after time, you see repeat champions come back. You see five-, six-year veterans coming back.”
Shea steps into this season juggling multiple roles and responsibilities. She’s a leader, a mother, an unofficial therapist, manager, and more.
“I have drivers that I'm bringing up through the ranks that are here and want to be in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship series” Shea said.
Shea’s hopes for the team and the season couldn’t be higher, but with drivers leaving the team and conflicts with the remaining drivers, she’ll have to sacrifice more than she imagined to reach her ambitious goals.
“MX-5 Cup is my life. It's the livelihood of my business, it's how I feed my children,” Shea said. “I had my children in this series. The crew guys have helped me raise my family in this.”
BE A PART OF THE TEAM
Whether First to the Finish is your introduction to racing, or you’re a longtime fan of the sport, shop the Mazda Collection and show your support for drivers and for Mazda. Get quality gear that matches your drive and looks great anywhere you go.
