A Test of Perseverance: Part 1
Jumping In Head First
After the shortest off-season of my career, I boarded a flight to Florida on New Year’s Eve—no time to rest, as the challenges of Homestead and Sebring marked the start of the 2025 season!
The Plan
The first round of Spec MX-5 this year was held at Sebring, but before Sebring we started the season early at Homestead as a warm-up. The goal of the weekend at Homestead was to get an idea of where the car was performance-wise and get me more seat time in the car to learn the nuances of the Spec MX-5 car.
A Difficult Start
It quickly became clear that mechanical issues would define the weekend. From ABS failures to overheating brakes, electrical problems, and being down on power, we faced obstacle after obstacle. Long days at the track—starting at 7 a.m. and stretching past midnight—were grueling, but I knew there was no other option but to keep working as hard as possible. Each challenge was an opportunity to learn and adapt.
A Tough Reality
As a result of all the problems, we were two and a half days behind all of our competitors from a car setup point of view. With such a pace deficit, I knew there was no chance of being competitive so I switched my mindset and expectations to be all about learning as much as possible to put myself in the best possible scenario for Sebring a week later.
Reflect, Relax, Reset
After Homestead, I took a brief break with my family in Key West to reflect and recharge. Despite the frustrations, I felt prepared to tackle Sebring with a fresh mindset and a clear plan. Leaving Key West, we felt confident about what we needed to address heading into Sebring. However, we were met with an unexpected challenge: wildfires back home in Los Angeles. To ensure everything was safe, we decided to send my dad back early to be prepared in case conditions worsened.
Jan 20, 2025
POST RACE
Homestead-Miami
January 2-5, 2025


















