Earl Bamber Returns to MX-5 Cup for St. Petersburg GP
Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans champion Earl Bamber will make his return to the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup at this year’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, marking his first race in the series since his debut at Martinsville Speedway last October.
Bamber, who is driving the #21 Mazda MX-5 previously piloted by Westin Workman at the season opener in Daytona, expressed enthusiasm for the street-racing challenge: “I’m really looking forward to getting back into the Mazda field and into the car… It’s such a welcoming paddock,” he stated.
The New Zealander recently secured a second-place finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona with his Cadillac Whelen (Action Express Racing) teammates. Following the St. Petersburg event, Bamber will shift focus to the FIA World Endurance Championship, where he competes for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA in the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R.
Competing alongside Bamber will be Sébastien Bourdais, who is set to drive for McCumbee McAleer Racing in St. Petersburg as part of a charity initiative for Kart4Kids. Bourdais’s participation adds to the competitive landscape of the MX-5 Cup, where emerging talent will also feature prominently.
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup races are scheduled for February 28 and March 1, supporting the IndyCar Series opener. Fans can watch both events live on the IMSA and RACER YouTube channels.
