Motorsports fans are about to get an intimate look at the passion, perseverance, and high-stakes competition of grassroots racing with the upcoming docuseries First to the Finish. Premiering March 25 exclusively on Prime Video, this six-part series dives deep into the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship—one of the most competitive spec racing series in North America. The golden age of car media is upon us and this might just be one of its finest moments.

An Inside Look at the MX-5 Cup

The Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship has long been celebrated for its close-knit community and the fierce, wheel-to-wheel action it delivers. Drivers from all walks of life come together, united by their love for racing and the iconic Mazda MX-5. First to the Finish captures that spirit by following the journeys of three standout women: drivers Heather Hadley and Sally Mott, and team owner Shea Holbrook.

But this isn’t just a racing highlight reel. In true Drive to Survive fashion, the series offers a raw and revealing look into the lives of these competitors on and off the track. We’ll see the intense physical training, the strategy sessions, and the personal sacrifices that happen before and after race day. In today’s streaming era, you can catch most races on YouTube or other platforms, but rarely do you get to see the emotion, preparation, and mental toll behind the scenes. That’s what makes documentaries like this so valuable: they add layers of humanity to the sport. Whether you root for them or against them, learning who these drivers really are makes for compelling viewing.

The Essence of MX-5 Cup Racing

The Mazda MX-5 Cup is a premier spec racing series that blends grassroots authenticity with professional-level intensity. It’s designed to showcase pure driver talent, not budget or horsepower. Every car starts life as a standard MX-5 roadster from Mazda’s Hiroshima factory and is then shipped to Flis Performance in Daytona Beach, Florida, for a meticulous transformation. Over 250 motorsport-specific components are installed, including a sealed SKYACTIV-G 2.0L four-cylinder engine, a SADEV six-speed sequential transmission, and a Bosch competition ECU. These standardized upgrades ensure a level playing field across the grid, putting the emphasis squarely on skill, strategy, and racecraft.

And it works. MX-5 Cup races are known for being incredibly tight, often decided by tenths, or hundredths, of a second. The spec nature of the series means there’s no room to hide behind horsepower; drivers need precision, awareness, and grit to stay competitive. Every position matters. Every corner counts.

Adding even more weight to the competition is the financial incentive. With a season purse of $250,000, the largest in grassroots sports car racing, and over $1 million in total annual prize money and scholarships, the series is as financially meaningful as it is competitive. Mazda’s commitment to developing driving talent is no joke, and this series continues to serve as a proving ground for future stars.

Meet the Competitors

The heart of the series centers around three women shaping the future of motorsport drivers Heather Hadley and Sally Mott, and team owner Shea Holbrook. Their journeys reflect the grit, growth, and diversity that define the modern racing world.

Heather Hadley enters her second season in the MX-5 Cup, building on lessons from a tough rookie year. With a background in karting, she’s tackling the steep learning curve of professional racing while navigating the pressures of a male-dominated paddock. She frequently highlights how tight the competition is, often with the entire field separated by just two seconds, leaving no room for error. It’s high-stakes, high-speed chess, and she’s determined to play at the top level.

Sally Mott, just 19 years old, brings youthful energy and a fast-rising trajectory to the grid. After starting in go-karts, she earned the prestigious Mazda MX-5 Cup Women’s Initiative Scholarship and finished an impressive 12th in her debut season, with a personal best of sixth place. But Sally’s ambitions go beyond the driver’s seat. She’s vocal about her desire to support young girls in karting and help create a more inclusive motorsport culture—something this series helps shine a light on.

Shea Holbrook is no stranger to speed. A veteran racer turned team owner, Shea leads BSI Racing with a mix of competitive fire and mentor-like leadership. Her transition from driving to managing has brought new challenges from sponsorship negotiations to crew logistics and everything in between. The docuseries promises to pull back the curtain on what it takes to run a top-tier MX-5 Cup team, offering insight into the sacrifices made both on and off the track.

A Personal Perspective

As someone entrenched in the automotive world, the announcement of First to the Finish hits home. The MX-5 Cup has always been one of those series where talent rises fast, and seeing the spotlight turn toward the individuals who make it special feels overdue and incredibly welcome.

The decision to focus on female representation is also noteworthy. Motorsports has long struggled with inclusivity, but the tide is changing. Highlighting these stories helps show that talent comes in many forms, and the paddock is better when it’s more diverse.

Beyond that, the racing itself is just wildly entertaining. If you’ve ever seen an MX-5 Cup race, you know what I mean, constant drafting, three-wide corner entries, wild last-lap shootouts. It’s hard not to get hooked. If this production team can capture even half of that adrenaline, we’re in for a treat.

Looking Ahead

With First to the Finish set to premiere on March 25, you already know I’ll be tuned in. This docuseries is positioned to deliver everything motorsport fans crave: drama, speed, behind-the-scenes access, and a human connection to the racers we cheer for. It’s a celebration of grassroots racing, told through the lens of real people fighting for their shot at greatness.

And remember, even when we’re talking documentaries, Miata is always the answer.