The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout winner has been announced, and you will find out who it is and learn more about the program in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have tips on how not to fail as a driver, opportunities to race and much more!
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Stallone Nets $150,000 as 2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout Winner
A new chapter in the long-running story of Mazda’s motorsports support was written last week as a total of $350,000 in scholarships were handed out at the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout on Wednesday. The big $150,000 check went to Max Stallone. A pair of $100,000 checks were handed to Ethan Lampe and Charlotte Traynor. The Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout started in 2007 and has given millions of dollars to promising driving talent ever since.
J.G. Pasterjak of Grassroots Motorsports explains how the Mazda Shootout nurtures the future of racing through competition. “It’s still true, that tagline we’ve been using for years,” says Mazda Motorsports director Jonathan Applegate. “On any given weekend, there’s more Mazdas being road raced than any other brand. So it’s a real honor to be able to be such a meaningful part of the journey of young racers.”
This Is Why Top Drivers Fail (It’s Not What You Think)
How To Ace Your Rookie Season
Here’s how to nail your rookie season in any category!
A Motorsport Class with Kimi Raikkonen
Vroom Kart goes behind the scenes of the Rotax Max Mini Racing School, a two-day school organized by Kimi Raikkonen and launched with the support of Kartshop Italia (Rotax importer for Italy and organizer of the Rotax Max Challenge Italia). as 14 drivers participated in the first edition of a school project that could set a standard.
The initiative brought to the track by the former F1 World Champion aimed at preparing very young drivers for competition proved successful, complete with a written test. Get the full story here.
F4 Driving Experience Middle East
Live your racing dream at the Bahrain Internatioanl Circuit! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced driver, the F4 Driving Experience offers 200 km (Full-Day Package) or 100 km (Half-Day Package) of high-speed action, expert coaching, and data analysis to sharpen your skills. No track experience needed, just bring your passion for speed!
‘People Would Love to See an American Back in F1. But We Have to be Good’ – Herta on F2 Move
For a number of weeks it has been clear that Colton Herta was set for a move to Formula 2, but until the team was officially confirmed, it remained just a plan. Now the final piece of the puzzle is in place, with the Californian racing for Hitech in 2026 as he returns to the Europe and a place on the single-seater ladder just below Formula 1. But he understands that he has to be good and not just make up the numbers. Read more at RACER here.
Available Slots on the Formula Winter Series Grid
Slots on the Formula Winter Series grid are coveted. The Formelaustria.at Race Academy team Renauer Motorsport e.U. has been assigned two spots. If you are an up and coming F4 driver looking for race experience in a high calibre off season championship, then contact them now!
FIA Launches First “Arrive and Drive” World Cup to Make International Karting More Accessible
The inaugural FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup will take place from 14 to 16 November 2025 at the LYL International Circuit in Malaysia, bringing together 107 drivers aged 12 to 19 from 50 countries. The event introduces a new concept designed to make international karting more accessible and affordable, based on the “Arrive and Drive” format: all competitors will race in identical karts supplied by OTK Group, eliminating technical and financial disparities. Full details can be found here.
Who’s Who in Motorsport – And Why It Matters More Than You Think
Minds on Track has put together an excellent Who’s Who in Motorsport to help you understand who does what and why when it comes to motorsport professionals. This is a perfect introduction to the importance of connecting with cerified motorsport Professionals, something the new Motorsport Prospects Directory will help you achieve. Get ready for a revamped directory to launch next month!
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Brexton Busch Prepares for the Future with SimCraft
SimCraft has announced the addition of Brexton Busch to the SimCraft Academy for Driver Development. The son of two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and future Hall of Famer Kyle Busch, Brexton has already captured more than 20 wins this year across multiple disciplines. Recognized as one of the most exciting young drivers in motorsports, Brexton is now training on a SimCraft APEX 4 CT racing simulator to prepare for the increasing demands of national-level competition.
“Brexton’s natural ability and determination are undeniable, and pairing that with our APEX CT platform gives him a serious advantage as he climbs the ranks,” said TJ Halsema, Director of Driver Development at SimCraft. “Our mission is to equip rising stars like Brexton with the same professional-grade tools trusted by champions across the industry.”
Thousands in SCCA Women on Track Scholarships Ready for the Taking in 2026
Each year, SCCA Women on Track distributes thousands of dollars in scholarships to women looking to advance their motorsports dreams. For 2026, the overall scholarship total tallies to $11,500, exceeding last year’s offering and greatly extending the reach of this essential program.
From Solo to RoadRally, RallyCross, Road Racing, Time Trials, and volunteering, these scholarships aid women in a variety of competition types, offering financial support that enables them to participate on a level they may otherwise not be able to.
Scholarship applications are open now. Some scholarships have an application deadline of Jan. 15, 2026, while the deadline for other scholarships is May 31, 2026. Applying for the scholarships, meanwhile, couldn’t be easier. Get the full details here.
A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation Raises More Than $100,000 in Grants for Female Racers
The Shift Up Now Foundation is thrilled to announce that its second-annual, in-person fundraising event – A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation presented by PenFed Credit Union and Tom Wood Porsche – raised just over $100,000.
More than 175 people showed up to the Tom Wood Aviation Hangar in Fishers, IN, for an unforgettable evening with an electric feeling in the air. Surrounded by race cars and airplanes, guests were treated to amazing food catered by Cunningham Restaurant Group and craft cocktails from Simplicity Cocktails, while listening to live music from local artist Kenna Loren and panels featuring Shift Up Now Foundation grantees and other special guests.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
The Motorsport Sponsorship Follow-Through
The motorsport sponsorship follow-through is one of the topics covered in last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver. I also had details on when Katherine Legge almost fell victim to a sponsorship scam and much more!
From the Sim Racing Roundup
From Esports to Porsche Race Driver
How one person went from esports to Porsche race driver highlights last week’s edition of the Sim Racing Roundup. I also had news on a NASCAR racer’s son is using sims to train, Operation Motorsport sim racers visit the Ford Racing Technical Center and much more!
Don’t forget also that ead Simulator Consultant David Desjardins of Vthrotl Simulators has put together a Beginner’s Guide to Sim Racing Rigs which will be published in installments over the next few weeks. In last week’s installment, David looks at entry-level sim racing rigs.
Driver Journeys
GB3’s Abbi Pulling: ‘I Just Want to Race and Do Well No Matter What’
After a tough mid-season spell in the GB3 Championship, Rodin Motorsport’s Abbi Pulling rediscovered her form at Brands Hatch, securing her first podium in the reverse-grid final race. Speaking to Feeder Series afterwards, she discussed her ‘up and down’ 2025 season up to that point. “I’m just here to race. It’s nice to set some records or accolades, if that’s what you want to call it, along the way.”
SCCA Member Emy Kissick
Emy Kissick hasn’t been road racing for long, but she’s certainly made the most of her time. From Spec Miatas to earning a Mazda Motorsports scholarship that put her in the action during the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour and SCCA National Championship Runoffs, Emy is going places, fast. But how did she get where she is, and what are her thoughts on women in motorsports? Watch the video above to find out.
From Rebuild to Rise: Thomas Ingram Hill’s Rookie Season to Remember
A top-six finish in the ultra-competitive GB4 Championship has firmly established Tom Ingram Hill on the motor racing map following his first season in single-seaters. The 16-year-old English racer had never started a race in an open-wheel car before the 2025 season opener at Donington Park in April, but by the finish of the campaign he had climbed to sixth position in a series that features grid sizes in the mid-twenties. It was a strong end to Ingram Hill’s first year under the wing of Dan Wells Driver Management.
Read more about Thomas’ journey here.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects and the host of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
