Mazda MX-5 Cup Race #5 - CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORTS PARK
Highlight weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park! I got my best career finish and overcame the challenge of learning a new track. This is huge!
After weeks of preparation on the simulator, testing, and at the gym, we started the weekend off with a track walk on the 2.5 mile circuit.
James, Sally, and Bryce discussing the track to prepare for the race weekend.
On Friday, we had two practice sessions. My goal was to get used to the track, chip away at finding speed, push my braking zones, and then get consistent.
After making progress in each practice session, I was ready for qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday.
In qualifying, I found a group of cars and got a draft. I qualified 13th after finding more speed and confidence in the car with new tires and setup.
Starting Race 1 on the inside (P13), I put my focus towards getting a good start, keeping my nose clean, and moving forward in the field.
Throughout the race, I struggled with car setup. As the race went on, my car got looser and looser. Towards the end of the race, I was battling to keep the car on track, let alone click off fast laps.
We finished Race 1 in P13. Considering the conditions I had to work with and my experience at this track, I feel like we did the best we could with what we had.
After a night of studying race footage and trying to take away as many lessons as possible from Race 1, I felt that Sunday was going to be a new day with new possibilies.
Starting Race 2 in the same spot (P13), I felt confident in our new setup and what I needed to do on track.
After the start, I tucked in and stayed in line. For 1/2 of the race, we drove in a 15 car train, bumper to bumper. As I got faster, I started to gain more and more confidence in the track, the car, and myself.
After a long full course yellow, we went green for a few more laps. Then more incidents up ahead, causing two more full course yellows. One incident causing 5 cars to go off track or slam on the brakes to avoid crashing. I had to react fast and weave through traffic, causing me to gain a few positions.
Ending the race on a yellow flag, I was sitting P8 because I raced clean, avoided the incidents ahead, and had my fastest laps of the weekend. Then after post race penalties, we ended the day off with my best career finish: P6!
Sally and Alex Bachoura (Spark Performance teammates) sharing a podium shot together with their best finishes of the season.
With my teammate, Alex, getting his best finish of the season (P3) and my best career finish, I would say that this race is definitely a highlight for me. Although I would’ve liked to have driven my way up to 6th, I’m still so stoked for how it all worked out!
Getting P6 also means my first Top 10! For those of you who don’t know, I made a deal with my crew chief, Brad. The deal was when I got my first Top 10, he would have to permanently dye his hair hot pink!
For celebration, we went to the AirBNB and I got to spray Brad’s hair pink! Although it’s temporary for now, we will be getting it bleached and dyed for the rest of the season soon.
What an amazing weekend! I’m so blessed with such an awesome dad, team, crew chief, support system, and sponsors. Not all race weekends end on such a positive note. With that being said, I’m going to take this forward momentum into VIRginia International Raceway by training harder than ever to keep earning the results I know I can acheive.
July 12, 2024
