Sebastien Bourdais has raced in just about everything over the course of his career. However, this weekend in St. Petersburg, the Frenchman is set to take on the Mazda MX-5 Cup for the first time.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously we talked about it — that it would be fun to do a guest appearance at a race somewhere — and we talked about it for a long time,” Bourdais said. “Then it was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, we need to make this happen.’ And then, in typical last-minute fashion, it kind of came together. Jonathan was cool enough to pick up the tab and have me over, then leave the car blank so I could sell the sponsorship and give the money to the charity. We raised $40,000 for All Children’s, so that was goal number one.’

“Then obviously for me, it was about trying to have fun and discover something new. It’s definitely super different from anything else I’ve ever driven. There was a lot to take in in a short amount of time — a short practice, a red flag in the middle, and then the car broke down early in the session. So, it wasn’t ideal. But yeah, it’s a fun little car to drive.”

“The big thing is you have to drive it very differently from anything I’ve ever driven around here, so it definitely takes a little getting used to. The biggest thing is really the ABS because it gives you a strange feel under braking. You feel like you’re just not going to stop. That’s been the biggest adjustment. But overall, it’s been fun trying to catch up and be a bit more competitive. Hopefully we get a decent run tomorrow, turn some laps, find some pace, and mix it up with the big boys at the front.”

The Mazda MX-5 Cup has become an IMSA staple for fans, known for its tight, close-quarters style of racing.

While Bourdais is used to racing with different manufacturers in WEC and IMSA competition, he is enjoying the opportunity to compete in a single-make series.

“Everybody has the same car, and it’s a big, dense field. The differences are small, and you’ve got to get your stuff together to be in the mix. So yeah, it’s definitely not easy. I’ve got a couple of very fast teammates, so I don’t really have any excuses. It’s just fun to learn something new. Even though you’re in your 40s and you’ve driven plenty of things, this is a completely different experience.”

This weekend marks the first time Bourdais has returned to St. Petersburg since 2021, when he last competed at the circuit in IndyCar.

As a local resident, any return to the track is special — especially at a venue where he won back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.

“It’s where I live. I live 10 minutes away, so it’s a special place. I’ve got a lot of friends around, and obviously the charity we run for All Children’s. It’s cool to associate and combine a few things together and get friends to come over and share those experiences. It was also the site of my first professional race in 2003 when I first came over in Champ Car. So yeah, it’s a pretty special place in my heart for sure.”

As for whether there have been any changes to the circuit since his last appearance, Bourdais said, “Not really. Obviously, the rest of the track has aged a little bit, but this car is so much more compliant than anything I’ve driven here before that it actually feels pretty smooth.

“They repaved the Turn 4-5 complex, so it’s a lot smoother and a lot grippier — much more gentle on the tires. Overall, it’s the good old St. Pete. They repave bits and pieces — kind of patchwork — never the whole track, just here and there in different places. So it’s never exactly the same, but it keeps its character.”

Bourdais will remain busy in 2026 with a return to the FIA World Endurance Championship as part of Hertz Team JOTA’s Cadillac program.

With several changes for both the team and the series, Bourdais is focused on getting up to speed for the upcoming season.

“Yeah, Porsche’s out, Genesis is in,” Bourdais said. “Everybody got re-homologated. There’s a new aero kit for a bunch of cars, including ours, so we’re trying to understand the consequences of those changes and really understand the car.”

“Obviously, I raced at Daytona, but I’m not part of that full program, so I’m trying to catch up a bit with the guys like Earl and Jack who have been doing everything. Testing in Qatar was decent. I think we learned quite a bit. We’ll test in Bahrain in two weeks.”

“There’s a lot going on — lots of trips to the Middle East, which from here is about a 24-hour journey, so it’s a lot of traveling. But it’s a cool program, a great team, and good people. We’re having a good time trying to piece it all together and chase those Ferraris because they’re damn fast, that’s for sure.”

As for IMSA plans, Bourdais’ next move remains unclear. After stepping away from Tower Motorsports a few weeks ago, there is no defined plan in place.

“I honestly don’t know what 2027 looks like for me — with Cadillac or not. The opportunities for me in IMSA are very limited, pretty much LMP2 and that’s it. There’s no room in GTP, and there aren’t really GT opportunities other than maybe Corvette, and there’s not much available.”

“So, it doesn’t leave a lot of room this year. The program wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and it was better to step away before I became the person I don’t want to be.”

“At the same time, I love IMSA. I’d love to do Sebring and everything. But with the timing of the prologue, it probably wasn’t a terrible thing. Otherwise, the three of us would have landed at 6 a.m. Monday after the 12 Hours and had to do the entire day of the prologue. That’s pretty messed up.”

“For me, just showing up at 6 a.m. and saying, ‘Hey, I’m here to have fun in the P2 car,’ didn’t feel right. Jack doing the Cadillac program in IMSA is different — that’s justified. For me, it was harder. So, I decided to be the wise man in this one. But honestly, I have zero visibility past the end of this season. I have no idea what’s next.”

As for this weekend, the race has already been a success.

After raising thousands of dollars for Kart4Kids, Bourdais is simply looking to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

“We already won. The goal was to raise money for the charity. We didn’t raise as much as I was hoping, but it’s still a pretty decent amount. We’ll be really close to $300,000 total this year between the program, the auction, and the project.

“It’s the largest charity benefiting All Children’s. So, we already won. Then the cherry on top is that I get to have fun and drive a race car. Hopefully I keep getting a little closer to the front, have a good day tomorrow, bring the car back with four wheels on it, and then go racing on Sunday.”

(Photo Courtesy to Mazda Motorsports/Ignite Media)