RAFA Racing's Caroline Candas banked vital knowledge in her debut appearance in the Mazda MX-5 Cup, where she rallied from 35th on the grid to finish 17th in Daytona, marginally missing out on the highest finishing female in race 2.
Caroline Candas rallied from 35th on the grid in her debut appearance in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup to finish 17th at Daytona International Speedway. The RAFA Racing Team by MMR driver battled changeable conditions throughout the weekend as she banked experience in the closely-contested one-make championship.
After picking up a puncture in qualifying, Candas started race one from 33rd position and drove smartly to finish 28th in dark and drizzly conditions. Caroline negotiated a spectacular opening lap incident in race two and although receiving damage, she gained 18 positions to secure a top-20 finish, while missing out on the prize for the highest finishing female driver by less than two hundredth of a second.
Following an exceptional debut year stateside claiming runner-up honours in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, Candas embarked on a new challenge to begin her 2025 campaign. Remaining with RAFA Racing Team, Caroline entered the opening round of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup at the legendary Daytona International Speedway.
Candas lined up as part of a sizeable grid for the curtain-raiser, with a record entry of six female drivers taking part in the event. Working in partnership with RAFA Racing Team, experienced squad McCumbee McAleer Racing provided technical support on her first entry into the series. Caroline was joined by former F1 Academy racer Maite Caceres with the pair of RAFA Racing Team by MMR drivers aiming to get up to speed quickly as they adapted to a new style of racing.
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup has quickly become a fan favourite with close-quarters racing guaranteed, particularly at Daytona International Speedway where the powerful slipstream effect plays a significant role. Candas was relishing the challenge of competing at the World Center of Racing, in support of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, with the first of two practice sessions held on Wednesday afternoon.
Session one was held in tricky conditions and thus gaining familiarisation with both the car and circuit was challenging. Nonetheless, Candas steadily improved her times and ended first practice in 29th position. In the second session, the RAFA Racing Team by MMR driver ran confidently in the slipstream, banking vital experience ahead of the two races. Caroline was therefore able to make significant lap time improvements and ended the day in 26th position.
Qualifying was held on Thursday afternoon over a shortened duration of fifteen-minutes. This increased the intensity among the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup drivers as all 36 racers hunted for the all-important slipstream.
As the drivers were set to begin their first flying lap, Candas received contact at turn one and although she was able to make it back to the pits with a puncture, she had not set a representative lap time. A great job by the RAFA Racing Team by MMR crew allowed her to rejoin, however she just ran out of time to start a final flying lap.
Following the challenging qualifying session, Candas had set the 35th fastest time and was later promoted to 33rd following two post-session penalties for drivers ahead.
Prior to race one getting underway, light rain had begun to fall and the race was subsequently declared wet with all drivers required to start on the grooved tyres. This proved tricky for the entire field, since the track was still predominantly dry with low track temperatures at Daytona International Speedway.
Due to the change in conditions, the race initially got underway behind the safety car in order for the drivers to assess conditions, before the green flag was displayed on lap two. Candas held her position at the end of the first racing lap as she battled for position with fellow female racer Ashlyn Speed. After Nate Cicero pitted to change onto slick tyres at the end of lap three, Candas was up to 32nd position and working with Speed to maintain good speed in the slipstream.
By lap five, Candas and Speed had swapped positions with Caroline also getting her first circuit racing experience under the lights. Reigning champion Gresham Wagner then retired from the race which promoted Candas back to 32nd spot, before the rain began intensifying at the halfway point of the contest. The RAFA Racing Team by MMR driver was racing smartly in the tough conditions and remained in close proximity to Speed as the drivers continued to gain experience.
The track became increasingly treacherous in the second half of the race and on lap 13, Farhan Siddiqi retired with damage. A nice move on Speed then saw Candas enter the top-30, with visible spray now apparent on the banking of the oval. Caroline’s speed in the wetter conditions was now more competitive and she began to close in on the group of cars ahead.
On lap 17, Christian Hodneland retired with a technical issue and after flames appeared from underneath his car. This resulted in a late full course yellow period and with Glenn McGee also pulling to the side of the circuit with damage, Candas was up into 28th position. With little time remaining in the race, the contest was ended behind the safety car with Caroline enjoying a productive debut in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup.
Weather conditions had improved for the second race of the weekend which was held on Friday morning. Candas lined up from 35th on the grid and when the green flag waved, a significant incident occurred on the approach to turn one. Almost half of the field had received damaged, while 13 cars immediately retired from the race. Candas received damage to the front of the car, but she able to drive back to the pits for repairs to be made.
Following superb work from the RAFA Racing Team by MMR crew, Candas rejoined the race while remaining on the lead lap as the drivers circulated behind the safety car. Caroline was already up to 22nd position, before gaining three further places as her rivals pitted for further repairs. The cleanup process was extensive, however the race resumed with a little over fifteen-minutes remaining.
Candas made an excellent restart and immediately moved past Sally McNulty and Ethan Tyler, with the latter spinning in the infield section. A resurgent Ethan Goulart was able to pass Candas on the restart lap, however a drive-through penalty assessed to Helio Meza elevated the French racer to 17th position.
Candas was battling hard with fellow female driver Ashlyn Speed with the duo vying for the $2000 prize of being the highest-placed female racer.
On lap nine, Candas moved ahead of Speed and into 16th position while working hard to remain in the slipstream of the drivers ahead.
This proved difficult with the damage to the car and instead, Caroline fought well to resist the challenge of Speed. The pair regularly raced side-by-side and with one lap remaining, Candas was just two tenths of a second behind her rival. A thrilling final lap saw Speed hold onto 16th position, and the $2000 bonus, by less than two hundredth of a second.
Nonetheless, it was an excellent recovery from Candas in her debut even in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup. Gaining 18 positions during the course of the second race, while developing her racecraft in a highly-competitive championship, Caroline banked vital knowledge in her debut appearance with the RAFA Racing Team by MMR crew.
Candas will be looking to build upon these new experiences throughout the 2025 season as she continues her motorsport career stateside.
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