The Mazda MX-5 Cup is receiving the ‘Drive to Survive’ treatment.

The Mazda MX-5 Cup is receiving the ‘Drive to Survive’ treatment.

      Mazda

      The cherished Mazda MX-5 is set to have its own reality TV series. Produced by the creators of Welcome to Wrexham and Cheer, First to the Finish will spotlight the long-running MX-5 Cup. Indeed, Miata racing is about to receive a Drive to Survive-style treatment.

      First to the Finish will follow three main characters sharing their behind-the-scenes perspectives during the 2024 championship: rookie driver Sally Mott, second-year driver Heather Hadley, and BSI Racing team owner Shea Holbrook. Adding to the challenge of racing, Hadley is also managing her senior year at UNC-Charlotte, while Mott, a recent high school graduate, is fully committed to her racing career with no backup plan—racing is her life.

      While the competition doesn't involve $100 million salaries like those of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton or the extraordinary speeds of Formula One, the stakes are still highly significant for those in the MX-5 Cup. As a series sanctioned by IMSA, every road race is broadcast and accessible globally, meaning professional teams scrutinize every move, from turns and corners to passes and spins. Racing inevitably comes with its stresses, which can be especially intense for teenagers.

      When the MX-5 Cup was introduced in 2006 as a successor to the two-division Miata Cup, it featured 22 emerging racers. Since then, this single-make series has distributed millions in scholarships and prize money while helping numerous young drivers advance their professional racing careers. Annually, over $1.2 million is awarded to MX-5 Cup drivers, including a $250,000 prize for the season champion.

      A noteworthy point highlighted in the show’s trailer is that no woman has ever clinched the MX-5 Cup Championship, although several have finished in the top 10. In 2020, Savanna Little made history as the first woman to win the MX-5 Cup Shootout, securing her opportunity to compete in the Cup.

      First to the Finish is set to debut on March 25 on Prime Video.

The Mazda MX-5 Cup is receiving the ‘Drive to Survive’ treatment. The Mazda MX-5 Cup is receiving the ‘Drive to Survive’ treatment.

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The Mazda MX-5 Cup is receiving the ‘Drive to Survive’ treatment.

"First to the Finish" will offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on the MX-5 Cup from the viewpoint of two young drivers, one of whom is an emerging rookie.