Ferrari have introduced the 499P Modificata track-day car based on its Le Mans-winning LMH car and the details are in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup.
You will also find a wide assortment of racecraft tips, track guides and reviews as well as some driver opportunities to investigate.
All this and more in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Dion von Moltke of Blayze asks the question, Do Late Apexes Need A Late Turn In?
“At Blayze we have now worked with more than 80 drivers over the last few months and have seen over 100 laps to analyze. As our race car coaches work with more and more drivers, we are starting to see some common themes of areas drivers can focus on to improve. So, this week we want to talk about one of the core areas we focus on at Blayze to help our drivers improve on track through race car coaching.”
In The Joe Kopp Story, Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets explains how a driver was able to stay competitive in his 40s with racers half his age. It all comes down to mental training.
Ross also answers the question, How can I shift gears without damaging the gearbox or engine, but still push really hard to be fast?
In the video above, Enzo Mucci offers these Pro Tips for braking like a champion. “What’s in this video sounds almost to easy to be true, but very often in racing, it’s the simple things that work best. Improve your laptimes by helping your mind digest the required changes and help it adjust.”
In the latest subscriber-only edition of On Racing Drivers by Terence Dove titled Commanding your eyes in karting: The Worrier vs. The Warrior, Terence talks about “understanding looking ahead, surviving the war between competing instincts, and triumphing with god-like driving.”
Episode 49 of the Your Data Driven podcast, F2 to Your Garage features engineer Gavin Bickerton-Jones.
“Today I’m delighted to welcome ace engineer Gavin Bickerton-Jones. As an F2 team owner, several F1, Indy and sports car aces have passed through his care. Having raced himself on a tiny budget in the 1980s, he shares several tips and practical suggestions that you can apply to your own motorsports. There’s absolute gold dust in this one. So without further ado, sit back, grab a pen, grab a coffee, and hear what Gavin has to say…“
Florida Track Tutorials: Daytona & Sebring
Off-Track
Will Hunt explains how he still loves motorsport coaching, but still gets a thrill from racing. “However, my desire to compete never waned and a great deal of perseverance led to a drive in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), with the backing of Hailsham-based automotive transmission parts distributors and Torque Converter remanufacturers, Sussex Autos.”
Ahmad Al Harthy and Sarah Bovy have regained their Bronze driver ratings after successfully appealing an adjustment to Silver for the 2024 season. The two FIA World Endurance Championship drivers are amongst several drivers that have been reclassified after appealing their initial adjustment, which was published at the beginning of October according to Sportscar365.
Race Car & Series Developments
Ford Performance has announced the final Mustang Challenge race schedule as well as details on the format and prize structure.
The Mustang Challenge schedule as announced in early August features two notable updates, including a date change for Watkins Glen International and location change for the finale, now at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each IMSA-sanctioned event will feature two practice sessions, one qualifying session and two sprint races.
The Mustang Challenge will also feature an innovative prize structure intended to foster an atmosphere of progression within the Mustang racing ladder, including a $100,000 scholarship towards a Mustang GT4 or GT3 racing effort.
The 2024 SCCA Hoosier Super Tour Schedule has been announced. “With the 2023 Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing schedule coming to a close, it’s time to look into what’s in store for the coming year, namely the 2024 Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour, which will span from the second weekend in January at Sebring International Raceway to the fourth weekend in June at Road America. Racers will recognize many familiar (and popular) circuits on the coming year’s Hoosier Super Tour schedule, with one new addition to spice things up.”
I have mentioned the importance of F1600 (commonly known as Formula Ford) to the development of race drivers, especially when graduating from karting before. I have also mentioned the importance of the Formula Ford Festival as a development tool to race against some of the best drivers at this level on the planet. I have even posted tips on how to be successful at the Festival.
After a thrilling Formula Ford Festival two weekends ago, Autosport looks at what areas the organizers need to address for the future. Organizers are looking at things such as using this year’s thrilling finale as a marketing tool and a possible prize fund. “I think it would be nice to have a prize fund for it – it might bring one or two higher-level drivers in,” BRSCC chairman Peter Daly says.
SRO America President and CEO Greg Gill is expecting “moderate growth” to the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS grids next year amid a season of “predictability” within the overall organization.
“In times’ past, people looked at World Challenge and felt that there wasn’t a great deal of predictability,” Gill told Sportscar365. “We really wanted to work on our stewardship, our race organization and everything we do to be very predictable for our customers, so they knew exactly what they were getting when they signed up for it. This year we were able to deliver on that and we plan to do more of the same. I think we’ll see an increase in the grid and that same level of stability.”
Pirelli is planning to introduce a new generation of GT racing tire in 2025 to replace the current P Zero DHF product that is used in multiple sports car racing championships according to Sportscar365. The introduction of the DHF in 2022 saw Pirelli align the GT3, GT4 and GT2 categories under the same tire. It then made some updates to the GT3 tire this year to make it better at absorbing mechanical stress.
Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) and Yokohama Tire Corporation are expanding the footprint of the tire company on the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America to Porsche Carrera Cup North America according to Racer.
“With the start of the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America in March at Sebring International Raceway, the Yokohama ADVAN tire will be the sole supplier of race tires to the one-make race series. The agreement gives Yokohama exclusive rights to market and sell competition tires on-site at all Porsche one-make championships in North America. Yokohama will provide the ADVAN A005 racing slick and ADVAN A006 tire for wet conditions on all Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars in the Pro, Pro-Am and Am classes of Carrera Cup North America. Yokohama has been supplying tires for the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West series, and with this new agreement now supplies tires for all the Porsche one-make championships in North America.”
The countdown has begun with only 12 months to go until the opening ceremony of the third running of the FIA Motorsport Games to be held in Valencia, Spain, in 2024.
Multiple venues will be used for the broad array of disciplines set to be contested next year. At least 10 additional forms of motorsport competition will be added to the programme to grow the total to 26 at Valencia (from 16 in 2022 in Marseille).
In addition to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo and the City of Arts and Sciences, all venues for all disciplines, including karting, rallying, cross car, and more will be staged within a 50km radius of the city of Valencia.
Entries for the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games are expected to open in at the end of February next year. Competitors interested in representing their country should contact their local FIA National Sporting Authority (ASN). Next year’s FIA Motorsport Games will be held from October, 23-27 October 2024.
Track Days
Ferrari has unveiled a limited-series track day version of its Le Mans-winning LMH car, named the 499P Modificata. Unveiled at the Finali Mondiali event at Mugello, the 499P Modificata is a substantially modified version of the car that was driven to victory in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans by Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi.
Road & Track review the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and GT4 RS and explain how they invert the line between road and track.
“Porsche wants you to believe you are buying a racing car that is legal to drive on the street, while other manufacturers want to sell you a street car that will hold up to occasional playtime on a racetrack. That crucial difference leads us to two of the hottest super–sports cars on the market: the GT3 RS and the GT4 RS.”
Grassroots Motorsports looks at how to make track time both safe and fun. “The track is one of the last great frontiers for the car enthusiast and the gateway to full-on racing. The allure of the track can be irresistible. To quote driving instructor Jim Davis, aka Jimmy D, “I told the guys who got me into racing that I wish they had gotten me hooked on drugs because at least they have programs to get you off of them.” “
Racing Opportunities
P1 Groupe has drives available for 2024. “2024 schedules are now released, so if there’s a race, championship or level of car you’re interested in for 2024, get in touch with us today to start putting those wheels in motion! For 2024, we have many options from grass roots series’ like WRL to the top level of the professional ranks. Let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll provide the best options for your racing needs.”
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.