Don’t be a jerk. Sounds simple enough but this week in the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup you will get some reminders in case you forget. I also have tips on data analysis, the resurgence of Japanese motorsport and some track event fun as well as a race drive that is available. All this and much more!
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
On episode 175 of Inside the SCCA presented by RaceSchool.com, they connect with SCCA’s Director of Regional Development Chris Robbins. The topic… “Don’t Be a Jerk”. “After several incidents of members behaving badly it’s time to talk about how that’s handled and what’s in place to deal with those situations. When we’re done, we’ll all come out to the track a little less hot headed and well informed.” Watch the video of the podcast above.
Terence Dove of On Racing Drivers by Terence Dove explains how to be ruthless without compromising your ethics. “Racing to your principles is a tremendous motivator, and can give you an extra bit of courage at critical points in your racing. That’s why rousing speeches by the likes of Churchill, Alexander the Great and Elizabeth I are always based on principles. Principles and standards are what gets us fired up!”
Grassroots Motorsports explains how to quickly and easily find speed from data traces.
“All the squiggly lines in the world mean nothing if you’re not taking the time to decipher them and turn that info into a plan. Who has time to analyze all that data? Not many of us, that’s who. But you can find time with even the quickest of glances and the simplest of data systems. Don’t let data overload convince you that every trace needs to be agonizingly pored over to extract some gains. For many drivers who don’t live at the ragged edge of ability 100% of the time, there’s plenty of low-hanging fruit to be picked with a fast review.” Read more here.
Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets explains how racing is not a matter of playing chicken.
To the casual observer of racing, the fastest driver is the one who wins the game of chicken. In other words, the racer who can brake the latest for the corners. And whoever brakes first should go back to the barnyard.
The casual observer is wrong.
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.
Speed Secrets: Itʻs Not a Matter of Playing Chicken
Off-Track
Noma Nazish at Forbes offers 10 valuable mental health lessons we can learn from Fromula 1 drivers. “At any time during a race, drivers are dealing with inputs from several sources. In addition to driving the car and responding to other drivers on the track, they are monitoring the car through information on the steering wheel and holding conversations with the pit wall receiving or relaying additional information and race strategy,” says Dr. Tommy Wood, a neuroscientist and performance consultant associated with Hintsa Performance.
Race Car & Series Developments
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has unveiled the teams set to participate in the inaugural Formula Regional World Cup, which will take place this November in Macau.
The Macau Grand Prix, traditionally featuring Formula 3 cars, will now spotlight Formula Regional (FRegional) vehicles. This year’s race will utilize the Tatuus T-318 chassis combined with Autotecnica-built Alfa Romeo engines, familiar components in several FRegional championships worldwide.
The FIA has confirmed eleven teams for the competition, representing various FRegional series. From the FRegional European Championship, the participating teams include ART Grand Prix, MP Motorsport, Prema, R-ace GP, and Sainteloc Racing. These teams typically run the Tatuus chassis with Alpine-branded Renault engines in Europe.
Amongst these teams are two entries from Japan, marking once more a step forward for Japanese motorsport as it emerges from hibernation ever since the pandemic hit. Here are a number of great articles analyzing the re-emergence of Japanese motorsport on the world stage.
- The importance of Japanese teams returning to Macau (Japan Racing Insider)
- Fuji Showcased GT World Challenge Asia’s Resurgence (Daily Sportscar)
- Insight: How Fanatec GT Asia’s Gamble Paid Off (Sportscar365+)
The FIA TCR World Tour is set to head for Australia, Mexico and Panama in 2025 while the USA and Uruguay are likely to be axed. A total of nine race weekends are planned for the coming season, an expansion from this year’s seven.
“We are interested in expanding the TCR concept in new regions and reaching it with the World Championship. I would say that today the strongest is Mexico but we will continue evaluating other countries on the continent as well.”
Read more at the Touring Car Times.
Scott Mansell from Driver61 explains why the Fun Cup is his favourite racing series. “But for me, enjoying motorsport is about three things: extracting the absolute most from a racing car, experiencing as much wheel-to-wheel action as possible, and enjoying that with a great bunch of people. So when I’m asked what’s the most fun racing, I always say the Fun Cup.”
Autosport looks at how the new Clio Cup GB series is building back to its former glory. “Delaying the start of the championship until 2025 was a consideration and, rightly or wrongly, we decided against that approach,” admits championship manager Stuart Garland. “Everything has to start somewhere, and the decision to start the championship and grow it, in favour of delaying and potentially eroding the belief or support, was not an easy one to make.”
Read more at Autosport.
Track Days
The Speed-Fanatics Motorsports Club (SFMC) is offering a one day on track, focused race driver training school around the Speed-Fanatics Motorsports Circuit at Mission Raceway Park. The one day program is perfect for those who have previous track experience and would like to learn more about racing knowledge, techniques, and procedures.
Prior to the one day track event, there will be an online classroom session held via Zoom on Aug 25th at 10am PST.
The classroom session will in depth go through subjects such as seating positions, racing lines, vehicle dynamics, racing knowledge, theory, flags, procedures and conducts involved to become a race driver.
For further information and to register click here.
It’s back! That’s right, their legendary drift experience returns to Caterham Cars. After a four-year hiatus, the ultimate sideways school is ready for a new batch of drivers. With quarter-of-a-century under our belt, they know a thing or two about teaching novice drivers the beautiful art of drifting.
Every drift day will teach you how to execute the perfect donut, how to initiate (and hold) a drift and how to transfer through a slalom.
You’ll put all these skills together through two, YES TWO, drift circuits which vary in difficulty (and both feature a unique challenge). The final run of the day will see drivers take part in a rapid-fire shootout, with the eventual ‘Drift Champion’ being crowned.
Not only that, the day also includes breakfast, a hearty lunch and rolling tea and coffee. Oh.. and it’s all behind the wheel of a Caterham Seven. What’s not to like.
Click here for more information and all the available dates.
Racing Opportunities
A seat is available for the final round of the F4 Australian Championship at Sepang on September 7-8 with Eurasia Motorsport.
“The F4 Australian Championship Certified by FIA holds its final round at the Sepang International Circuit on September 7-8 giving Eurasia the opportunity to enter our Sepang based cars. Eurasia has possibly conducted more testing and racing miles around Sepang in junior Formula cars than any other team. This allows us to ensure our drivers start with the best possible opportunity to set competitive times.” Interested drivers should contact Mark Goddard.
Tel+WhatsApp: +63 917 8445925
Email: mark@eurasiamotorsport.com
Facebook: EurasiaMotorsport
Instagram: eurasiaracing
Start your builds! Registration is now open for Grassroots Motorsports‘ $2000 Challenge. “Lovers of cheap speed can rejoice: Registration for the 2025 Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack is now open. The name of the game is still to build the fastest car possible for less than $2000, ensuring your creation can outperform everyone else in autocross, drag racing and concours judging.”
Full details can be found here.
Join the 2025 Caterham Academy season! Created exclusively for novice drivers, the Caterham Academy is Europe’s largest factory-backed racing championship. The 2025 7-round championship series season all-inclusive package, from just £38,990, includes:
- Self-assembly, configurable, road-legal race car, yours to keep.
- Your racing licence.
- 7-round championship series.
- Technical support.
- Expert tuition and guidance from the Caterham team.
Secure your seat for 2025 here.
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.
