Ethan Lampe, the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout runner-up, held off a train of challengers over the final 15 minutes to cross the finish line first in Race 1 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). However, a post-race penalty elevated BSI Racing’s Bobby Gossett to his second career victory in series competition.
As is customary in MX-5 Cup racing, the opening stages featured a flurry of lead changes, with Race 1 polesitter Nathan Nicholson leading the field to the green flag in the No. 56 Advanced Autosports Mazda. Nicholson was among several drivers to take turns at the front, alongside Lampe, Bobby Gossett in the BSI Racing No. 44 Mazda, and Jeremy Fletcher in the McCumbee McAleer Racing No. 22 Mazda.
Ultimately, Lampe emerged as the race leader, pacing the lead pack for multiple laps until the first full-course caution flew with 24 minutes remaining. The caution was triggered by hometown driver Carlton MacFarlane, whose McCumbee McAleer Racing No. 51 Mazda sustained significant damage in an incident entering pit lane that ended the Canadian’s race.
The yellow flag allowed the field to bunch back together, with Lampe leading the pack to the restart with fewer than 16 minutes remaining. Lampe continued to fend off the challengers behind him, as Jared Thomas led the charge aboard the No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering Mazda.
However, the battle for the victory came to a head with just two minutes remaining when Fletcher made contact with Thomas, eliminating both drivers from contention for the win and knocking them out of podium position.
The incident opened the door for Bobby Gossett, Marcello Paniccia in McCumbee McAleer Racing’s No. 38 Mazda, and Justin Adakonis in McCumbee McAleer Racing’s No. 23 Mazda to battle for the remaining podium positions. Gossett and Paniccia ultimately finished second and third on the road, respectively, as the race ended under full-course caution after a wheel came off Fletcher’s car.
However, a post-race penalty assessed to Lampe elevated Gossett to the Race 1 victory, while Paniccia and Adakonis were promoted to second and third, respectively.
The final race of the weekend for the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup begins Sunday morning at 10:05 a.m. ET, live on IMSA’s official YouTube channel and IMSA.tv.
