Noah Harmon, an 18-year-old racing driver from Toronto, has won the prestigious Mazda MX-5 Cup Scholarship Shootout, earning a fully funded ride for the 2025 season.

Harmon's path to victory included strategic preparation through participation in three Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup rounds in 2024, gaining valuable experience with the race car. This experience proved crucial compared to his first attempt at the Shootout the previous year.

Unlike many of his competitors, Harmon's racing journey began relatively late. He started with rental karts at age 14 in Orlando, Florida, quickly progressing to competitive karting from 2020 to 2021. Despite his late start, he achieved notable success in Florida state competitions and national events.

After just two years of karting, Harmon transitioned to race cars through the Lucas Oil Racing School. He then moved to Spec Miata racing in 2023 with BSI, followed by competing in Spec MX-5 with Greenwood Motorsports in 2024. His standout achievement includes a fourth-place finish in MX-5 Cup at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

The 2025 season will mark Harmon's first full championship campaign. "I think representing Mazda this year in MX-5 Cup and being the Shootout winner and just getting to do a full season is gonna be a big, big deal," he says. The victory holds special significance for both Harmon and his father, who has supported his racing journey from the beginning.

Harmon credits his success to substantial testing time in the MX-5 Cup car and support from sponsors like Street Side Classics. His journey will come full circle when he returns to Daytona International Speedway in January, not as a spectator but as a professional racing driver.

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