Do you have the motivation to succeed? That is the question you need to answer after reading and watching this week’s edition of the Driver Development Roundup. I also have details on how F1 teams use data to scout drivers, a free webinar you can attend and a new program providing mentorship opportunities to disabled people in the world of motorsport.
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Are you in motorsport for the right reasons? Do you have the motivation? In the video above, Enzo Mucci explains why this is critical to your success.
Vincenzo Landino at the Business of Speed has an informative article on how F1 teams use data to scout drivers. “A major team focus is drivers’ ability to perform under changing conditions. Wet-weather performance, in particular, is now heavily data-driven. Teams evaluate hydroplaning recovery and how drivers adapt to varying grip levels.”
Now it is important to understand that data is just part of what teams are looking at as not everything is measurable as the quote below emphasizes.
“Live telemetry and simulator data are essential for evaluating drivers, but some qualities can’t be measured purely with numbers. Skills like leadership, clear communication with the team, and handling unexpected race scenarios often fall outside the scope of data analysis. Even with F1 teams tracking over 300 performance metrics, these less tangible factors still play a major role in decision-making.”
Read the complete article here to get an understanding of how data is used in driver scouting.
MotiV8 Training is holding a free webinar on February 27, 2025 called Fuel, Focus & Fitness. “Discover how to train smarter, fuel your body, and sharpen your mind with proven strategies designed specifically for Motorsport athletes. We’ll cover fitness programs to build endurance and strength, customized nutrition tips to sustain your energy on race day, and mindset techniques to help you stay calm, focused, and confident.” More details can be found here.
Speaking of MotiV8 Training, I was a recent guest on MotiV8 Training’s Motorsport Coaching Podcast. We discussed all manner of topics of interest to the current and aspiring race drivers, as well as their parents! You can listed to the podcast here.
Want to get on track? As David S. Wallens of Grassroots Motorsports emphasizes, the first step is just taking the first step. “We hear a lot of questions involving the future. How to become a professional race car driver. How to get more involved in the sport. Or, God forbid, how to become a magazine editor. The short answer: Do it.”
Power Wheels are motorized electric vehicles that give young gearheads their first taste of what its like to drive something. So, it’s only natural that drag racers would find a way to line them up and race them. Organized Power Wheels racing has been steadily growing, and it gives kids a chance to try out drag racing. Find out more at Dragzine.
For the first time, the FIA has launched a new program providing mentorship opportunities to disabled people in the world of motorsport in partnership with the FIA Disability & Accessibility Commission.
Designed to build a sense of community and global connection, increase awareness for disabled people in motorsport, and facilitate personal and professional growth, less experienced individuals – mentees – will be paired with more experienced peers – mentors – connecting individuals and enhancing confidence through these relationships.
With 50 seats available on the program, applications will open on 6 February and will be processed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Click here to register interest: https://forms.office.com/e/nHyLFCHXFV
More details can be found here.
The Skip Barber Racing School and the T4 KartPlex have announced a new partnership that will provide karters with opportunities to progress their motorsport careers through the Skip Barber Racing School. This new relationship between SBRS and the T4 KartPlex expands upon the pairs’ relationship with Tillotson Karting and the globally recognized T4 Series. RACER has more details.
Autosport looks at how arrive-and-drive is on the rise in club racing in the UK. “Gone are the days when the vast majority of club competitors turned up at a track with a race machine on a trailer and a few friends or family members to act as mechanics. Now a whole industry has developed to assist the time-deprived amateur driver.” You can read more about this development here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
The Girls on Track UK community has transformed the lives of so many women aspiring to work in motorsport. The video above celebrates some incredible success stories from those who have taken part in the program, breaking barriers, pursuing their dreams, and making an impact in the industry.
With the 2025 race season kicking off last weekend at Sebring International Raceway, Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) has named 14 drivers to its 2025 class for the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship. Fulfilling the company’s purpose of enabling racing dreams, the scholarship will provide assistance to drivers competing in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.), Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) and Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). You can read who this year’s winners are here.
The Touring y Automóvil Club del Perú (TACP) kicked off 2025 with a successful Motorsport Festival at Kartódromo de Asia in Lima, offering five accessible racing activities to engage fans and promote grassroots participation. In line with the FIA’s commitment to inclusion, affordability, and growing global participation, TACP ensured low-cost or free entry for several activities, encouraging broader community involvement. Read more about the festival here.
Sheona Mountford at GP Fans feels that Filipina driver Bianca Bustamante no longer being part of McLaren’s Driver Academy is a warning sign.
“The ending of this partnership poses an interesting question in regards to female participation in motorsport; how are F1 teams aiding the development of female drivers once they leave the F1 Academy? F1 teams must ensure their support for female drivers goes beyond a box-ticking exercise, and focus on developing their talent, even when they leave the F1 paddock.”
You can read the complete opinion piece here.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Sim racer Sean Terre will be making his motorsport debut in the 2025 all-electric NXT Gen Cup and last week’s Sim Racing Roundup has all the details on how he got there. I also have news on a whole bunch of other sim racers making the leap to real-world motorsport as well as how you can get a chance to sim race your way to the Race of Champions.
Driver Development Pathways
In an exclusive feature for Motorsport Prospects, law student Farah Irdina discusses the complexities and challenges of balancing her legal studies with her racing career. You can read her thoughts here.
It’s rare for a driver without big funding to successfully rise up the single-seater ranks in modern times. But, after making an FP1 appearance for Williams in Abu Dhabi last year, Luke Browning has shown that it is still possible with talent and determination and Marcus Simmons of Autosport looks into how he got there.
Since the beginning of the Clio Rally5 era in Clio Trophy France, the top Juniors have benefited from an official program to accelerate their ascent to the highest levels. The first winner in 2020, Anthony Fotia, rose to the next tier with Clio Rally4 in the 2021 French Rally Championship. Romain Di-Fante and Quentin Ribaud received the same opportunity in 2022, as did Tom Pieri and Florian Bouchonneau in 2023.
With the roll-out of Clio Rally3, a new milestone was reached when Benjamin Stirling and Matteo Chatillon got their first taste of four-wheel drive on the national scene last year. Thanks to their impressive results underlining the high level of competitiveness in the Clio Trophy France Asphalte and Clio Trophy France Terre, Alpine Racing has chosen to go even further this year by promoting its hopefuls to the world stage.
Read all the details here.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. 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.
