Tips on boosting your cognitive performance are just one part of this week’s jam-packed Driver Development News & Racecraft Tips & Techniques roundup.
I also look at how a sim racer is applying his sim racing skills to real world racing in the GB4 Championship, how you can grab the attention of motorsport talent scouts, an amazing tuition program you can apply to and some incredible news in the work to support deaf drivers competing in motorsport.
All this and much more in this week’s Driver Development News & Racecraft Tips & Techniques roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
The video above and the article How one rising star is using sim racing to their advantage in Autosport explains how sim racing helps Cooper Webster’s motorsport career.
“There are some things that translate perfectly between real life and sim racing,” highlights Webster. “Your racing IQ is really important, such as choosing when to defend or when to push, and being under pressure. The pressure you feel in sim racing is the same or even more so than what you have in motorsport. So putting yourself in that position, such as going into qualifying and you’ve got to do that one lap, it’s the exact same as real life. That’s what I find really helps me.”
On the iRacing website, with the introduction of the Ray FF1600 as one of iRacing’s newest cars, they interviewed iRacing-sponsored Max Esterson whose car was replicated in the sim. In the interview, Max was kind enough to offer them not only his feedback throughout their development process, but also a primer on the kind of racing you’ll be getting into, and some expert tips.
“Now to the specifics of driving the car. A little bit of sliding is good, but don’t overdo it. The rear of the car should never be completely settled but it should be pretty forgiving in terms of catching slides. The car’s behavior on entry is quite dependent on how you brake. You’ll need to hold onto the brake for longer than you would in a downforce car to keep weight on the front tires. Once you drive it you’ll realize how much control you have over the car with the brake pedal… I like to say, “steer with the brakes.””
In his latest Ask Ross columns, Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets answers the question, “Should my car feel as though it’s “on rails,” or is being “messy” okay to be fast?“
In Ross Bentley’s Coach’s Corners column on the Hagerty Motorsports website he discusses braking in Braking is not a matter of playing chicken. “It’s not how late a driver brakes that makes them fast. It’s the other end of the braking zone that makes the difference.”
Samir Abid of Your Data Driven has put together an informative article on the process of setting up a car called Your Car Setup Process: Ready to Go Beyond Tips & Tricks?
“Improving your car setup processes might sound dull, but refining your techniques can more quickly improve your handling, confidence, and lap times than nearly anything else. You’ve probably come across countless resources that discuss car setup concepts, but many of them fail to provide a clear process for applying those concepts. You’re not alone. Everyone is looking for that magic formula or insider tip that will give them an edge. But what if the key to success on the track is actually a lot simpler?”
Tom Long explains how to prepare for an annual high-performance driving event.
“While plenty of high-performance drivers carve out multiple to weekends to visit local tracks, some other shoes (including yours truly) look forward to making an annual pilgrimage to a destination track. In my case, every IMSA event is at a track that I only visit once a year. Whether it’s an HPDE event at your local track or an annual endurance race, it’s important to be prepared for a one-off weekend.”
The Drive explains Here’s How You Start Drifting. “There are a handful of experiences that most motorists would agree are pivotal moments in behind-the-wheel excitement. One is taking to the streets for the first time after the DMV hands you a hot-off-the-press driver’s license. Another is the first time you matte the throttle and spiritedly accelerate from a stop. The best, though, has a more lasting effect and absolutely never gets old: learning how to successfully drift a car.”
Race Driver Development News & Resources
in the video above, Enzo Mucci explains How To Grab The Attention Of The Motorsport Talent Scouts. “A few things here that help you grab the attention of F1 and other talent scouts that are all looking for their next driver. Stand out, be seen and show them that you are worth backing by executing in the areas that most drivers do not.”
Hintsa gives you 3 Ideas for Using Physical Activity to Boost Your Cognitive Performance.
“For this sport an athlete needs to be cognitively fit. But did you know that boosting your cognitive function is not just about training your brain and mindset? Physical fitness plays a huge part in cognitive fitness. But specifically – how? Our clients, both athletes and business professionals alike, often ask: what type of physical exercise should I do to boost cognitive performance? So, let’s recap some basics about cognitive function and share a few practical tips to boost both physical and cognitive fitness.”
Aston Martin Racing has revealed the 24 Driver Academy candidates that are set to compete for AMR support and a test in a Vantage GT3 in 2024. The initiative, run annually, is designed to fast-track talent from within AMR’s partner team network and is open to drivers aged between 17 and 26 competing in Vantage GT3 and GT4 race programs in eligible championships.
The prize on offer for the successful graduate includes financial support towards their 2024 race program, as well as assistance and guidance from the factory, tailored to their season plans. Further evaluation of the most outstanding candidates may also include a test in a Vantage GT3 at the end of the 2023 season. Romain Leroux is the latest graduate of the program.
Meanwhile, Fabian Schiller and Mikael Grenier have been promoted to Mercedes-AMG’s roster of ‘Performance’ factory drivers. The two graduates from Mercedes-AMG’s Junior driver initiative form part of an 11-man lineup at the highest rung of the German manufacturer’s three-level system.
With the announcement that the F1 Academy will be racing exclusively on Grand Prix weekends in 2024, Females in Motorsport looks at the series in Get to grips with F1 Academy – the all-new single-seater series for women. “The 2023 grid will see five teams run by current F2 and F3 constructors, each entering three cars to make up the grid of 15 drivers.”
The 2023 Motorsport UK Academy Co-Driver programme, which aims to train the Co-Drivers of the future, started its year of training with a two-day visit to the famed M-Sport HQ in Cumbria on 30 and 31 March. The recently announced partnership with the seven-time World Rally Championship-winning team guarantees the new programme cohort will benefit from top level support, industry opportunities and insight.
Dr Pepper and 23XI Racing have announced the return of the Dr Pepper and 23XI SPEED Institute Tuition Program for 2023. The program provides $5,000 each to 23 college students pursuing their interest in a career in the motorsports industry. Two tuition recipients will also receive an internship in their field with 23XI Racing through the 23XI SPEED Institute.
The Dr Pepper and 23XI SPEED Institute Tuition Program was established in 2021 to amplify the efforts of the 23XI SPEED (Scholarship, Professional Education, Executive Development) Institute in support of the team’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals. The initiative continues a longstanding Dr Pepper tradition of supporting academic excellence through sporting events, with the brand having awarded more than $13 million in tuition to deserving students since 2008.
Students interested in applying for the Dr Pepper and 23XI SPEED Institute Tuition Program must be between 18 and 24 years old and pursuing a career in any of the following fields: marketing, communications, human resources, finance, engineering, or trade disciplines in the automotive industry. Individuals meeting these qualifications can apply via a simple video submission process, sharing their story and explaining why they deserve a tuition award. The application process will open on March 19, 2023, and the deadline to apply is April 30, 2023.
For Official Rules, eligibility, and more information about the tuition program, visit https://www.23xispeedinstitute.com/drpepper.
Motorsport UK is collaborating with the BWT Alpine F1 Team to create a new Girls Mentoring Scheme.
BWT Alpine F1 Team’s Girls Mentoring Scheme, developed together in partnership with Motorsport UK and Girls on Track UK, aims to provide a support network for young girls looking to pursue a career in motorsport.
The Girls Mentoring Scheme forms part of the Alpine Rac(H)er Programme, which was launched last year, with the aim of increasing diversity and investing in female participation at all levels of motorsport, from aspiring drivers to future engineers.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team is gifting a rare opportunity to the 2023 ROKiT F4 British Championship Certified by FIA winner. The driver who tops the 2023 standings will receive a Formula One simulator experience at the team’s state-of-the-art campus in Brackley. Hugh Chambers, CEO Motorsport UK:
“On behalf of Motorsport UK and the British F4 Championship I’d like to thank Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 for this generous contribution. We are very much about development of our drivers and this prize is a great step in their career. We know that our F4 championship helps to give drivers the skills they need to succeed as evidenced by having three drivers in F1 already and more heading through the ranks of Formula 2 and Formula 3. The grid is looking to be very strong this year so it will be interesting to watch the battle for the title. The winner then having the simulator experience and the opportunity to engage with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is fantastic.”
Team BRIT is announcing the latest addition to its management team. Claire Pagano has joined the team as a project director, taking the lead on an initiative to develop new technology which will support Deaf drivers competing in motorsport.
Claire has a 4.5 year old son who is Deaf as a result of CHARGE syndrome, which was a driving factor behind Claire’s passion for supporting the organisation to become more Deaf aware, and ultimately working towards becoming a disability confident employee. During her time at Williams, she trained 300 staff in deaf awareness, had hearing loops installed, secured funding for 10 employees to undertake the British Sign Language qualification and examined the guest services to make sure they were Deaf friendly.
Claire explains: “Currently, Deaf racing drivers face a massive disadvantage in motor racing due to the challenges they face when communicating with the pit crew and with regards to the sensory experiences of the environment in and around the car. Deaf people may also chose to wear cochlear implants which enable sound to be heard to some degree, but these cannot fit under standard race helmets. Caleb for example, races in silence because of this.
“Although there a number of technical solutions to parts of the overall challenge, nothing is truly enabling equal access to motorsport for Deaf people. There is a compromise with every current option.
“As part of my work for Team BRIT, I’m reaching out to key partners such as UK Deaf Sport to create a way forward with the project, and will be looking to secure the support of sponsors that wish to help us create something truly revolutionary for racing.”
Anyone looking to learn more about the project should contact claire@teambrit.co.uk.
Men’s Journal have a great introduction to Nitro Rallycross and the next generation of women drivers who are competing in it.
“Among a group of racing royalty—which, over the years, has included the likes of creator Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan, Terry Madden, Jenson Button, and more—the current crop of Nitro Rallycross drivers comprises a growing list of talented women—notably Amanda Sorensen, Leticia Bufoni, and Demi Bagby—fueling goals to expand the sport’s appeal and demographic draw.”
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with local nonprofit DriveStrong to host the first “AMP’d Up: Take it to the Track” event April 29 from 6-9 p.m. at Atlanta Motorsports Park, according to an April 3 press release. The event is free to attend, and the driving activities are open to residents from Dawson, Forsyth and Lumpkin counties on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in driving must pre-register at getampd.org and purchase a $25 driver wristband.
DCSO partnered with DriveStrong because of the organization’s ability to teach local youth real safe driving skills, both on and off the track, the press release stated. Founded seven years ago, the nonprofit provides defensive driver training and advanced development opportunities for teens, teaching skills that go well beyond the typical driver’s ed curriculum.
“Take It to the Track” aims to discourage street racing, “stunting” and other dangerous driving behaviors on public roads by providing a safe venue for these activities.
Driver Snapshots
Learning from the experience of others is key to succeeding in any walk of life and racing is no different. In Driver Snapshots, I will feature the experiences of various drivers where you can get some perspective on what they have gone through (and continue to go through) as they work to make their motorsport careers happen. I hope you can take some lessons from these experiences and apply them to your own motorsport careers.
Enaam Ahmed
Proudly waving the flag of Pakistan across the world in Formula racing circuit, Enaam Ahmed has become the first-ever and the only Pakistani to be a World Champion in Karting, beating the records of Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Not only that, Enaam Ahmed is also the British Formula 3 Champion, the first-ever high-level Formula Championship winner in the history of Pakistan, smashing the record of Ayrton Senna by winning 13 races in one season.
Nathalie McGloin
Podium Life has a great article on Nathalie McGloin calling her One of Racing’s most Inspiring Drivers.
Nathalie McGloin has faced more adversity in life than anyone ever should, but she’s still hellbent on putting others first and letting people know that motorsport can be accessible, there’s a role in some capacity for everyone. In 2015 McGloin became the first tetraplegic driver to get a race license in the UK, which she has now added to with a rally license as well.
“It was rugby that really stopped me from being a disabled wheelchair user and turned me into an athlete,” McGloin explains. “And then I started to focus on my strengths instead of my weaknesses.”
Nathalie McGloin – One of Racing’s most Inspiring Drivers
Juan Manuel Correa
AutoWeek profiles American race driver Juan Manuel Correa in Facing Possible Amputation, American F2 Racer Juan Manuel Correa Is Defying the Odds.
“I feel like I’m properly a racing driver again, and this year I can really start to show what I’m capable of,” he says. “I’m feeling quite good, both with the car and the team, and really I feel like the potential we have is quite high.”
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former 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.