Feb 11, 2026
St. Petersburg, FL – [February 11th, 2026] – McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) is proud to announce that four-time IndyCar champion and IMSA veteran Sebastien Bourdais will join the team as a guest driver for the upcoming Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup event at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix. Bourdais will compete in the No. 38 Mazda MX-5 in a special celebrity and charity-focused entry, taking place on his birthday weekend in his home city.
The St. Petersburg event marks Bourdais’ return to competition on the iconic downtown street circuit, where he has enjoyed notable success throughout his open-wheel career. In preparation for the event, Bourdais will complete a test with MMR at Carolina Motorsports Park, February 17th, to be acclimated to the highly competitive MX-5 Cup machinery.
This special entry supports Karts4Kids, a charitable organization benefiting Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, with the St. Petersburg race weekend serving as a key platform to raise awareness and funds for the cause. The official Karts4Kids fundraising event will take place on February 25th, ahead of the race weekend.
About Sebastien Bourdais
Sebastien Bourdais is one of the most accomplished and versatile drivers in modern motorsports, with a career spanning Formula One, IndyCar, endurance racing, and sports car competition at the highest levels. A four-time IndyCar Series champion and multiple IMSA race winner, Bourdais is widely respected for his precision, adaptability, and deep technical understanding of racing.
Bourdais reached the pinnacle of global motorsport when he competed in Formula One with Scuderia Toro Rosso during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Teamed with a young Sebastian Vettel, Bourdais impressed early in his Formula One debut consistently demonstrating strong qualifying pace and racecraft, earning multiple top-10 starts and championship points.
Following his Formula One career, Bourdais went on to achieve sustained success in North American racing, including championships and victories across IndyCar and IMSA competition. He has also built a reputation as an exceptional street circuit specialist, particularly on the streets of St. Petersburg, a track he considers home and where he has previously claimed open-wheel victories.
His participation with McCumbee McAleer Racing as a guest driver in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup represents a unique crossover moment—bringing elite, world-class experience to one of North America’s most competitive spec racing series while supporting a meaningful charitable mission through Karts4Kids.
Driver & Team Quotes
“I’m super excited to once again race on the streets of St. Petersburg,” said Bourdais. “It’s a real thrill to join the Whelen MX-5 Cup at such a meaningful place. St. Petersburg is my home, and I’ve been fortunate to have success in open-wheel racing on that track. Many thanks to Mazda and MMR for putting this together, and to Cadillac Hertz Team Jota for allowing me to pursue this opportunity.”
“The entire focus of this effort is to raise funds for Karts4Kids, which benefits Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Anyone interested in supporting the charity can donate and have their name or company featured on the car. Donations start at $5,000 and directly support children and their families. Since its creation, Karts4Kids has continued to raise the bar, and with the exposure from racing in one of North America’s most popular series, I hope we can generate even more support for this very worthy cause.”
MMR Co-Founder Stevan McAleer welcomed the opportunity to bring the accomplished driver into the MX-5 Cup paddock:
“I’ve known Seb through IMSA for many years. It’s very cool to have him join us at St. Pete, and I’m excited to see what he thinks of the cars and the series. I did warn him—he’ll be much busier than a GTP race for this one.”
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup event at St. Petersburg will give fans a rare opportunity to watch one of the sport’s most accomplished drivers compete in one of North America’s most competitive and accessible racing series—while supporting an impactful charitable initiative.
For more information about Karts4Kids, including donation opportunities, please contact Charlie at pros@kart4kids.org.
Important Dates & Event Details
Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup – St. Petersburg:
Race Weekend: February 27 – March 1, 2026
Guest Driver Entry: Sebastien Bourdais – No. 38
Location: Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida
Karts4Kids Charity Event:
February 25, 2026
Proceeds benefit Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Donations begin with donor or company name placement available on the No. 38 car.
For more information on how to support Karts4Kids, please contact Charlie at pros@kart4kids.org.