Richard Mille Young Talent Academy application deadline is September 1st and if you have not applied, I have the details in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have details on when a driver starts earning money, more debate over F1 Academy and much more!
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
10 More Career-Defining Lessons from the Motorsport Prospects Podcast – Part 1
When I published 10 Career-Defining Lessons from the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, one thing became clear: the same question — “Based on your experience and expertise as a motorsport professional, what would be the one most important piece of advice you could offer a current or aspiring race driver?” — keeps producing answers that are anything but simple.
Ten more guests. Ten more answers. Here are the first five, in their own words. Later on this week I will follow up with the final five and highlight the themes found across all ten episodes.
Want more insights like these, delivered every week? Subscribe to the Motorsport Prospects Podcast for real conversations with driver coaches, sponsorship experts, team owners, and industry veterans — covering racecraft, mindset, sponsorship, and the business of being a race driver. New episodes drop weekly on all major podcast platforms.
When Does a Driver Actually Start Earning Money?
One of the questions families ask Drivers Lab Dan Wells’ least often is one of the most important. When does a driver actually start earning money? The answer surprises almost everyone, and not pleasantly. Understanding it early changes how a family plans the entire journey. Read what Dan has to say in his LinkedIn post here. And get more advice from Dan on the Motorsport Prospects Podcast here.
The Business Side of Racing with Lawyer Ed Holloran
On the podcast last week I spoke with motorsport lawyer Ed Holloran. Ed explains the importance of treating your racing career as a business and offers critical advice that can save you money in both the short and long-term. Listen to the full episode here!
Instinct versus input: How I Race with Mari Boya
Mari Boya talks driving style, preferences, and how he’s learned over the years and across his rookie F2 season. “To be honest, style, I don’t think it’s changed that much. Maybe at the start, you don’t have more knowledge about things and your instinct is changing on its own, just because of having more knowledge, but the style itself doesn’t change that much.” Read the full feature here.
Beyond the Stopwatch: Dr Fran Longstaff on Using Science to Transform Female Motorsport Talent
Dr Fran Longstaff explains how research, data and innovation are helping More Than Equal redefine driver development and unlock female motorsport talent. “Many assumptions about female performance in motorsport have persisted without rigorous scientific validation. Questions surrounding physical benchmarks, cockpit ergonomics, talent identification, and cognitive performance have often been answered through convention rather than research. As conversations around diversity in motorsport continue to grow, so does the need for evidence-based approaches that move beyond anecdote and towards measurable performance gains.”
You can read the full article here.
Opinion: F1 Academy, When the Spotlight Moves On
F1 Academy has dramatically increased the visibility of female drivers, but what happens when that spotlight moves on? This Racers – Behind the Helmet analysis examines the first generation of graduates and questions whether the series is doing enough to help its strongest drivers progress into the next stage of their careers. With rising costs, limited funded opportunities and relatively few graduates continuing in single-seaters, it argues that visibility is only the beginning—F1 Academy ultimately needs to create sustainable pathways beyond its two-year program.
Motor Racing-Grassroots Key to Getting a Female Driver to F1, says Chadwick
Jamie Chadwick believes the path to a female Formula 1 driver begins long before F1 Academy or the junior single-seater ladder. This Reuters report looks at her efforts to get more girls into karting, create a more welcoming grassroots environment and give young female racers the opportunity to develop from an early age. With 50 years having passed since a woman last raced in F1, Chadwick argues that building a deeper grassroots talent pool is essential if the sport is ever going to produce a female F1 driver again.
Women in Motorsport Don’t Have to Prove Anything
Female drivers in motorsport are often expected to carry a burden that their male counterparts simply don’t face. This Mlle Racing article challenges the tendency to turn every successful woman into “the next big thing” or a potential future F1 driver, arguing that their performances should be judged on their own merits rather than as evidence of what women as a group can achieve. It is a thoughtful examination of the pressure, scrutiny and expectations placed on women in motorsport—and why genuine inclusion means allowing female drivers to simply be competitors.
Beyond VO₂ Max: The Critical Lever for Female Racing Drivers
Physical fitness is a crucial part of racing performance, but traditional measures such as VO₂ max don’t tell the whole story—particularly for female drivers. This Flow Racers article examines the physiological factors that can influence female driver performance and argues for a more nuanced approach to training, recovery and preparation. It highlights why understanding the specific demands placed on female athletes could help coaches and drivers develop more effective performance programs.
Surviving the Road to Indy: The Real Costs of Chasing IndyCar
Everyone talks about the Road to Indy like it’s a clean, simple ladder to top-tier IndyCar racing. But for young drivers climbing it, progress isn’t just measured in race wins and podium finishes. It’s measured in late-night sessions searching telemetry for tenths of a second, hours logged in the gym, and levels of anxiety from pitching potential sponsors so funding lasts beyond the weekend. Read the full article on the real costs of chasing IndyCar here.
How to Become a Porsche Factory Driver
How do you actually get paid by a manufacturer to race for a living? Check out this Instagram post on how to become a Porsche factory driver.
Road to Cup: The Changing Path to Sundays in the Next Gen Era
The road to the NASCAR Cup Series is no longer a single, predictable path. This NASCAR.com feature examines how the Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series prepare drivers for the radically different demands of the Next Gen Cup car, with insights from drivers and team owners including Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Austin Cindric. The bigger lesson is that adaptability, racecraft and decision-making may matter more than which rung of the ladder a driver climbs first.
Powering the Rookies at TwOth Autosport
Turning rookies into race winners is the focus of this profile of TWOth Autosport’s driver-development program. Both Evan Cooley and Tim Pernod won on their Radical Cup Canada debuts, with Pernod going on to string together five consecutive podiums and put himself in championship contention. More importantly, the article outlines TWOth’s structured development ladder—from track days and Radical racing through LMP3 and ultimately toward LMP2 and major endurance races such as Daytona and Le Mans.
Homeschool at 300 km/h
What does education look like when your classroom is a motorhome in Italy, a hotel room in Sweden or an airport between races? Written by 12-year-old karting driver Liam Nachawati, this personal account explores how homeschooling allows him to balance international racing with his education—and the sacrifices that come with that lifestyle. It also shows how motorsport itself can become a classroom, turning subjects such as physics, mathematics and time management into practical lessons learned at the track.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
The Richard Mille Young Talent Academy Applications Close September 1, 2026
Your chance to take part in this year’s Richard Mille Young Talent Academy and compete for a seat in the 2027 F4 Spanish Championship. Applications close on September 1. Apply now via this link: https://allroadmanagement.com/richardmilleyoungtalentacademy/
F1 Academy Expands 2026 Rookie Test with New Training Camp Supported by Loughborough University
Following last year’s F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test success, the series has announced the return of the Rookie Test for 2026, alongside the launch of a new Rookie Training Camp, supported by Loughborough University.
The Rookie Training Camp and Rookie Test have been designed to help identify, develop, and support the strongest talent from an increasingly competitive and global pool of female drivers.
McLaren F1 Academy Selects Two More than Equal Drivers for 2026 F1 Academy Rookie Test
McLaren F1 Academy, operated by Rodin Motorsport, has selected More than Equal drivers Alexia Danielsson (Sweden) and Zoe Florescu (Romania/United States) to participate in the 2026 F1 Academy Rookie Test this September, recognizing the pair’s continued progression through junior single-seater racing.
Mathilda Racing Navarra Shootout — Women Only
On 02–03 September, Mathilda Racing is heading to Circuito de Navarra to find the next female racing talent. This is your chance to show your speed, consistency and potential behind the wheel. The best-performing drivers will receive part sponsorship for the 2027 F4 Germany season with Mathilda Racing.
Circuito de Navarra
02–03.09.2026
Women only
Entry fee: €8,000
Part sponsorship opportunity for the 2027 F4 Germany season
Interested in taking part or want more information? Contact: Jakub.starzynski@mathilda-racing.de
On the Podcast This Week
Why You Should Never Give Up Featuring Scott Goodyear
This week on the podcast is a special extended edition of the podcast featuring IndyCar winner Scott Goodyear. Scott explains the importance of never giving up both on and off the track. Scott also explains his role as the race director of the F4 United States and FR Americas Championships and recounts some great motorsport stories from his motorsport career.
The episode drops Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST. You can listen to the episode and subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast platform here.
Karting
Ever Dreamed of Becoming a Racing Driver? Win a 2027 MINI CHALLENGE Trophy Season Worth Up to £100,000
Your motorsport journey could start here, with the chance to win a fully supported 2027 season in the Cooper Class of the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, worth up to £100,000.
TeamSport Karting FastTrack, powered by EXCELR8 Motorsport, is a five-stage programme offering aspiring drivers the opportunity to learn, develop and demonstrate what it takes to progress from indoor karting into circuit racing.
It’s not simply about finding the fastest driver. Entrants will develop and be assessed across driving, fitness and communication, as well as their attitude, improvement and overall potential.
The FastTrack journey begins with a £99 karting development event at one of ten TeamSport venues across the UK. Entrants selected to continue can choose to enter further paid karting stages, culminating in eight finalists driving an EXCELR8 MINI CHALLENGE race car.
One finalist will win the ultimate motorsport prize: a fully supported 2027 season with EXCELR8 Motorsport in the Cooper Class of the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, worth up to £100,000.
Five stages. Eight finalists. One ultimate prize.
Think you’ve got what it takes?
Find out more here https://excelr8motorsportshop.com/products/fasttrack-stage-1, check your eligibility and read the full competition terms before entering. https://excelr8motorsportshop.com/pages/fasttrack-competition-terms-and-conditions
Max Verstappen to Hunt Down 100 Drivers in Silverstone Karting Spectacle
Four-time Formula One World Champion returns to racing roots to face 100 competitors in Red Bull’s ultimate go-kart race ‘Max vs 100’ on September 16, live on Disney+ and the ESPN App
Four-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen, who recently extended his contract with Oracle Red Bull Racing until the end of 2030, will return to his racing roots when he attempts to overtake 100 drivers in “Max vs 100’’. Taking place at Silverstone in England, one of the sport’s most iconic circuits, Max will start from the back, with the task of overtaking every single one of the 100 challengers in one of the biggest go-kart races the world has seen.
The exclusive, closed race is built around a bold question: could you beat Max Verstappen if the odds were stacked in your favour?
Like many F1 champions, Dutchman Max Verstappen started out racing go-karts from the age of just four in his bid to reach the top of the motorsports world and competed in championships at the age of seven.
After dominating in Belgium and the Netherlands, he reeled off a string of World and European titles culminating in a spectacular 2013 season that soon propelled him into the F1 ranks. fi
This time around, Max will not be pitted against other drivers but his 100 competitors come from every corner of sport and culture: ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, basketball shooting phenomenon Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews and freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones – will share the grid with streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel and TheDonato, plus content creators, personalities and everyday fans invited from around the world.
For Max, it’s a return to his roots. Before the titles and the records came the karts, the training ground where he developed the instincts and craft that shaped his career.
Max Verstappen said: “In go-karts you learn all the basics: starts, defending, overtaking,” he says. “Of course, I spent a long period of my life go-karting, so it’s always nice to return. It’s about understanding the grip of the go-kart. I’ve done so many years in go-karting that you quite naturally get back into things.”
The circuit at Silverstone has been purpose-built for the occasion by Race Director and French racing driver David Terrien – a renowned kart designer and youth karting world champion. “Creating a track for 100 drivers at the same time has never been done, never been seen,” says Terrien. “So it’s very exciting.”
With Max usually at the front of the field, this challenge will recreate the format that shaped his early career as the sheer number of rivals makes the outcome anything but certain.
Terrien added: “When you have Max Verstappen chasing everyone, I think that’s going to be the experience of a lifetime for all the drivers. You’re going to have Max showcasing all these skills of looking through the traffic, trying to prepare and plan where he can overtake people, and going through the traffic at the fastest speed he can because he doesn’t want to let the drivers at the front pull away.”
Ahead of race day, the layout was shaken down at a Kart Silverstone test, with Terrien and test driver Sebastian Job on track. “I think to overtake 100 cars is going to be extremely difficult,” says Job, two-time iRacing World Champion and Simracer, Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing. “Today we did it with 50, and even that was a challenge to do it in the allotted time. He’s got his work cut out for him big time.”
Asked what Max Verstappen was most looking forward to, his answer was simple. “Just seeing the carnage unfold in front of me.”
The race will bring fans closer to the action with game-inspired graphics and cinematic drone footage. Live race data and on-screen insights will be displayed on screen ensuring fans can follow every stage of the race as it unfolds. In a unique twist, Max will be able to communicate directly with his competitors during the race, offering fans an unparalleled insight into the conversations that help shape the race as it unfolds.
Max Verstappen vs 100 drivers, on one grid. The world can watch it all play out live globally on Disney+ on 16 September 2026. “Max vs 100” will also air live on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers in the U.S. before a delayed ESPN2 broadcast later that day.
USPKS and ROK Cup USA Announce Multi-Year Partnership Beginning in 2027
The United States Pro Kart Series (USPKS) and ROK Cup USA are excited to announce a new partnership beginning with the 2027 season, bringing the two organizations together for a series of back-to-back national event weekends throughout 2027 and 2028.
The collaboration will give karters and teams the opportunity to compete in two national-level events over consecutive weekends, creating the option to race twice within a single trip. Details surrounding additional paired events on the 2027 and 2028 schedules will be announced in the coming weeks.
Full details can be found at EKN here.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Motorsport Sponsorship Advice You can Use
Motorsport sponsorship advice that you can use has always been the goal of The Business of Being a Race Driver and last week’s edition is heavy on motorsport sponsorship video content. Sit down, take out your notepad, digital or analog and watch and learn.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
How Sim Racing is Disrupting Driver Development
How sim racing is disrupting driver development will become quite clear in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I had details on sim racers transitioning to real-life racing, using a sim rig to prepare for a race and much more!
Driver Journeys
Calan Williams on Life After F2 and the Junk Email that Changed His Career
Calan Williams traded in Formula 2 for sports car racing almost four years ago. Now well versed in an entirely new discipline of racing, the Australian caught up with Feeder Series ahead of his third outing at the 24 Hours of Spa to share what life is like for the drivers who’ve left the junior ladder behind.
From FKL World Finals Podium to British F4 Podium: Jackson Wolny’s Journey
A year ago, Jackson Wolny was racing with FAT Karting League in the Midwest. Today, he is a British F4 Rookie podium finisher at Donington Park. This is the story of how he got there.
Jack Beeton Reflects on his Time in Europe and the Journey that Shaped Him
For Jack Beeton, chasing his motorsport dream meant taking a leap of faith and moving halfway around the world from Australia to Europe. After making his single-seater debut in 2022, the Australian took the next step in his career in 2023, joining Van Amersfoort Racing for a campaign in the Italian F4 and Euro 4 Championship. This marked the beginning of his journey through the junior single-seater categories in Europe.
Speaking exclusively to Pit Debrief last month, Beeton reflected on the decision to leave Australia, the highs and lows of his racing journey in Europe, and the successes and achievements that shaped his career before he made the move to Indy NXT.
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.
