A Macau Grand Prix opportunity awaits drivers competing in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy and I have the details in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have news for Estonian rally drivers, how Iron Dames is changing motorsport and more.
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ Offers Biggest Ever Prize Opportunity for its Champions
The 2027 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy Champion and Trans-Tasman Trophy winner will secure themselves a spot on the starting grid of the 2027 Macau Grand Prix.
“One driver could become only the third driver after Roberto Moreno and Richard Verschoor to have their names on both the New Zealand and Macau Grand Prix trophies, which is a very special achievement given they are the only two FIA-sanctioned events outside of F1 to legitimately be able to refer to themselves as Grands Prix.”
Full details can be found here.
WRC Promoter Backs Young Estonian Talent with €100,000 Support Package
WRC Promoter and the organizers of WRC Delfi Rally Estonia have launched a €100,000 support package aimed at helping the next generation of Estonian rally talent progress on the international stage.
The initiative combines a €50,000 prize fund for young Estonian drivers competing at this year’s WRC Delfi Rally Estonia with a further €50,000 grant to the Estonian Next Rallystar Fund in support of Patrick Enok’s development programme.
The event prize fund will reward the top three eligible crews in the final classification, with the highest-placed driver receiving €25,000. A further €15,000 will be awarded for second place and €10,000 for third.
Full details can be found here.
Entries Open for 2026 FIA GT World Cup as New Silver Cup Launches
Registrations for the 2026 FIA GT World Cup are now open, marking the start of the countdown to the world’s most prestigious sprint race for GT3 machinery. The event will take place on the legendary Guia Circuit in Macau from 19–22 November and will introduce a new initiative designed to support the next generation of talent.
The 2026 edition will once again welcome an elite field of Gold and Platinum-rated drivers competing for FIA GT World Cup glory. At the same time, a significant new step has been taken to recognise and encourage emerging talent with the creation of the new Silver Cup.
Introduced in response to the growing strength and visibility of Silver-rated competitors in GT racing, the new category will provide recognition for the top-performing Silver driver in Macau. The Silver Cup winner will receive a dedicated podium ceremony and will share in a prize fund totalling USD 22,000.
The initiative creates a pathway for talented drivers seeking to establish themselves at the highest level of GT competition. By racing alongside some of the sport’s most accomplished professionals on one of the world’s most demanding circuits, Silver-rated drivers will have a unique opportunity to demonstrate their speed, race craft and resilience on a global stage, while gaining valuable experience among the GT racing elite.
Registrations will remain open until 17 July, with drivers and teams invited to submit their applications for the ninth edition of the FIA GT World Cup. For more information regarding the registration process, visit: fia.com/events/gt-world-cup/season-2025/registrations
Solid Advice from Dan Wells of Drivers Lab
If you are not following Dan Wells from Drivers Lab on LinkedIn or Instagram, you are missing out on some valuable advice. Here are a few of his columns that you should check out.
How Iron Dames Is Changing Motorsport
In the world of motorsport, the color pink – specifically the bold shade #FF8DA1 – has become more than just a visual identity. It has evolved into a symbol of ambition, opportunity, and change. Since its founding in 2018, Iron Dames has grown into a global movement dedicated to increasing opportunities for women in motorsport. Built on the belief that “when one woman moves, a door opens,” the project has become a powerful force for progress within the sport.
Mlle Racing looks at how Iron Dames Is changing motorsport.
Parents in Motorsport Need Mental Coaching Too
In her 2-part series for Motorsport Prospects, Maja Czarzasty-Zybert looks at why the emotional state of parents silently shapes young drivers’ performance and why motorsport still ignores it.
You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Katherine Legge Argues There’s “No Reason for Segregation” as She Raises F1 Academy Concern
Katherine Legge, who has competed in various championships including the IndyCar Series, NASCAR Cup and Formula E, has delivered a strong assessment of F1 Academy. The British driver described the all-female racing series as a “gimmick” that needlessly segregates women and ultimately halts their career progression on the traditional single-seater ladder.
“And I want to say, like, 10, 15 years ago, there were six of us racing professionally. It was a snowball going down a hill. There was more and more and more and more and more. And then the F1 Academy came along, and kind of sucked all of the young female talent out of those lower echelons. And they haven’t moved out there.”
You can read the full column where she explains her reasoning here.
What Comes After F1 Academy?
In a related article to Legge’s argument above, the Slipstream Effect notes that since its creation in 2023, over 50 women have competed in the female-focused single-seater series as a stepping stone for their careers. But what happens after their two-year stint in the series comes to an end?
Click here to read the column to find out.
Jack Doohan Lifts the Lid on ‘Shock to the System’ of Alpine F1 Axe
Jack Doohan has opened up to Motorsport Week on the events that led to, and after, his ousting from the Alpine Formula 1 team, describing it as a “shock ot the system”.
Read the full column where he explains the effect it had on him and his career here.
From the Paddock to Progress: Matt Bishop on LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Motorsport
Matt Bishop has spent almost three decades at the heart of Formula 1 and British motorsport. As a prominent figure in motorsport promotion, initially as editor of the groundbreaking F1 Racing magazine before moving into communications for the McLaren and Aston Martin F1 teams, W Series and now the British Touring Car Championship via his Diagonal Comms agency.
As one of the most prominent openly gay figures in the paddock, he has witnessed first-hand how attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people have evolved across the sport. As part of our Pride Month series celebrating LGBTQ+ voices in motorsport, Matt reflects on the progress that’s been made, the challenges that remain, and why he believes motorsport’s future can be more inclusive than ever.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Ethan Jeff-Hall crowned 2026 Motorsport UK Academy Young Driver of the Year
Wera Tools F4 British Championship title challenger Ethan Jeff-Hall has won the Motorsport UK Academy Young Driver of the Year following a shootout at iZone Driver Performance.
Each year, five standout second-year students from the Enhanced Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme are shortlisted for the award, which recognises sporting excellence as well as academic performance, along with attainment, effort and overall engagement.
Ben Mulryan (McLaren Trophy Europe), Cian Geraghty (Radical Cup UK Championship), Ethan Jeff-Hall (Wera Tools F4 British Championship), Nathan Tye (Spanish F4 Championship) and Sam Neser (McLaren Trophy America) were the nominees, with Ben and Sam joining Ethan for the final shootout.
Read how the winner is picked here.
Happy Birthday, Formelaustria Race Academy!
After a year and a half of preparation, founding partners HM Sports and Renauer Motorsport presented the Formelaustria Race Academy at Lugner City in Vienna in June 2024. Among the guests were Academy ambassador and 1992 F1 runner-up Riccardo Patrese, as well as Simon Schranz and Alexander Scheiblecker as the first drivers.
Since then, not only have two racing seasons passed, but the Academy has also established itself internationally as a junior driver program. Patrese has since been joined by former McLaren and Williams F1 team principal Jost Capito, as well as Vitantonio Liuzzi, an F1 driver for Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso, Force India, and HRT. Media training for the drivers is handled by former F1 press officer Alexandra Schieren. Austrian former FIA F3 ace Joshua Dufek has joined the staff as a Driver Coach.
Simon Schranz secured the F4 title in the Carbonia Cup in 2024 and two podium finishes in the F4 Central European Zone in 2025. The young Tyrolean was the first graduate of the Formelaustria Race Academy and is now successfully competing in the Ligier European Series, on his way to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Canadian Hady Mimassi shone in his debut season in 2025 with three podium finishes and narrowly missed out on the first FIA victory for an Academy driver at the Slovakiaring, finishing second after leading for much of the race. Mimassi’s compatriot Nicola Havrda prepared for her F1 Academy appearances with Academy partner Renauer Motorsport and made the jump to the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge this season. Young Czech driver Kristýna Kalistová is gaining race experience in the Porsche Sprint Challenge.
To date, over 20 drivers have completed training courses through the Formelaustria Race Academy. Luis Moser was the fourth Austrian to join the Academy and, after a first learning year, is now competing successfully in the ADAC GT4 Germany series. With the addition of Lithuanian Tomas Rudokas and Swiss Andreas Lo Bue to the Formula 4 CEZ campaign in 2026, two more nationalities have joined the Academy.
The Formelaustria Race Academy achieved a unique marketing coup producing the feature film RACE ACADEMY – A True Motorsport Story, the world’s first movie about Formula 4 racing. Following its premiere in February of this year, RACE ACADEMY has already been broadcast on all major Austrian and several German television channels. From summer 2026, it will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in English.
Accordingly, Academy Director Harry Miltner is pleased with the progress saying: “I think we’ve done our homework well. Our collaboration with Renauer Motorsport couldn’t be better, and as a result, we’ve already managed to make a significant impact on young talent.”
For more information about the Formelaustria Race Academy
Motorsport Girls Academy Camp
The Motorsport Girls Academy Camp is a three-day program that provides a unique opportunity for 20 students aged 13 and older to learn the fundamentals of motorsports, including driving techniques, kart/car mechanical terminologies and understanding, racecraft and strategies as well as life skills of team building and much more.
Running for a second year, it will take place from July 5-7 at the Formula-k Circuit, Benoni in South Africa. Hosted by Fabienne Lanz. her coaching brings sharp insights and a hands-on approach to identifying talent, passion, coachability, and tenacity.
Full details on the camp can be found here.
On the Podcast Last Week
The Mindset Shift That Will Help You Identify Sponsors Featuring Jim Bowie
On this week’s podcast, motorsport industry veteran Jim Bowie explains why drivers need a fundamental mindset shift when it comes to securing sponsorship. From the power of B2B partnerships to identifying the right prospects and leveraging AI-driven research, Jim shares practical insights that can help drivers build more effective sponsorship programs.
Listen to the full episode here!
Karting
Entries to open for 2026 FIA Karting World Championships and World Cup
The countdown to this year’s FIA Karting World Championships and World Cup is underway as entries for the events will open next week on Monday 29 June at 10:00 CET.
Entries for the following events will be open for applications on the FIA Karting website:
- Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship (OK)
- Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship (Junior)
- Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship (KZ)
- FIA Karting World Cup (OK-N)
- FIA Karting World Cup (OK-NJ)
- FIA Karting World Cup (KZ2)
- FIA Karting International Masters’ Super Cup (KZ2 Masters)
Entries for each competition are capped at 51 drivers for the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship (KZ), 126 drivers for the FIA Karting World Cup (KZ2) and 72 drivers for the FIA Karting International Masters’ Super Cup (KZ2 Masters). There is no limit on driver entries for the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship (OK, Junior) and FIA Karting World Cup (OK-N and OK-NJ).
Last year 633 driver entries were received for the 2025 editions of these events, contributing to a record year of growth for FIA Karting which saw driver entries rise by 25% compared to 2024.
The entry platform and further details are available at: https://www.fiakarting.com/page/inscriptions
Summary of FIA Karting Decisions Taken by World Motor Sport Council
The FIA World Motor Sport Council met on Tuesday 23 June 2026, as part of the FIA Conference currently underway in Macau, SAR. A number of decisions were taken by the World Council regarding FIA Karting which you can read about here.
Team Omnia Joins the Official Prize Pool of the 2026 Rotax Max Challenge Euro Trophy – Omnia Racing
The strategic partnership between Porsche Carrera Cup Italia and Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy continues to grow in synergy and commitment to talent development within motorsport.
Starting in 2026, Team Omnia will offer a full test day in the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup as a prize for top-performing drivers in the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy, further strengthening a pathway designed to promote emerging talents through direct exposure to GT racing.
The winners of the Senior MAX and DD2 categories will be invited to take part in an official evaluation test day with the same cars that Omnia Racing fields in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia. The session will take place at Cremona Circuit, one of Italy’s most modern and technically demanding racetracks.
This initiative reflects a shared vision among all parties involved: to create an integrated development program capable of guiding the most promising karting drivers as they transition into professional car racing.
Full details can be found here.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Why Now is the Time to Start Preparing for 2027
It is time to start preparing for 2027 and last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver explained why. I also have a webinar you should attend (hint it happens today), bottom-up branding explained and much more.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Kimi Antonelli’s New F1 Simulator
Kimi Antonelli headlines last week’s Sim Racing Roundup with a look at his new sim rig and all the details behind it. You’ll also get a great behind-the-scenes look at Cadillac’s Formula 1 simulator with Valtteri Bottas, plus plenty more sim racing news and insights.
Driver Journeys
How James Roe is Grinding Toward his IndyCar Dream
When James Roe arrived in North America from Ireland at age 18 some eight years ago, he possessed little more than a relentless work ethic. The early days were spent living out of a suitcase that clung to the shop floor of Wisconsin-based outfit ArmsUp Motorsports while running – and winning – in the entry-level junior formula ranks. Now, that same kid from Naas, County Kildare is closing in on realizing an IndyCar Series dream.
Motorsport.com explains how here.
Martinius Stenshorne on Life After McLaren and the Long Road to His First F2 Win
As the only Norwegian currently competing in the Formula 1 support paddock, Martinius Stenshorne faces a certain level of expectation to become Norway’s next F1 prospect. But despite his ice-cool demeanour, Stenshorne found himself on something of a hot streak in F2 when he joined the Feeder Series Podcast a few weeks ago. You can watch the episode above.
Thomas Bearman Plots His Own Path After Italian F4 Move with VAR
As Ollie Bearman makes waves in F1, his younger brother Thomas has followed his footsteps into Italian F4, but has his own distinct objectives. Formula Scout looks how he is doing it.
“I’m not a rookie driver, but it’s also my first time at all of these tracks. So, in some ways, it’s a lot more difficult for me than the guys that raced here last year. But I didn’t see that as a setback.”
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.
