The FIA has introduced TC Lite with the intention of making Touring Car racing more accessible and I have all the details this week. I also have Laguna Seca driving tips from Robert Wickens, how confidence is the key trait of winners and where retired stock cars go to race. All this and much more in this week’s edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
The Motorsport Prospects Driver’s Eye was on Bryan Herta Autosport driver Robert Wickens this week as he takes us around WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the Hyundai Elantra N TCR using his hand control system. Watch his onboard above.
From 2004, Grassroots Motorsports has tips on how to unlock faster autocross times in your front-wheel-drive car. “To help those autocrossing front-wheel-drive cars, here are my thoughts on setting up such a car as well as some driving tips that should help maximize performance. You may not agree with all of my views, but at least I hope I can offer you something to think about. I’ll try to minimize the engineering jargon and discuss each topic in simple, car guy terms.”
In the video above, Samir Abid from Your Data Driven explains what you can learn from racecar onboard video. “Example of corner-by-corner onboard lap analysis of 911 (997) on Nankang CR-S tyres. Great track with lots of improvements suggested for the driver.”
Off-Track
Have you ever suspected that your team-mate might have a slightly better engine or chassis than you? In the latest video from Safe Is Fast (see above), their guest editor – former Formula 1 driver and two-time Le Mans 24 Hour winner Alex Wurz – and their professional drivers (Alexander Rossi, Scott Dixon, Paul di Resta, Felipe Nasr and Scott McLaughlin) help you identify the signs of having unequal machinery and what to do about it.
Kyle Dager of The Money Lap explains the crucial role that confidence can play in motorsport. “How much is confidence worth to a race car driver? According to Parker Kligerman in the latest episode of The Money Lap, it’s at least a few tenths every lap. Confidence is something every driver can struggle with. Even the goats struggle with slumps and winless streaks.”
Racing Force Group has announced a new milestone reached by its Bell Racing brand, the first in the industry to obtain the FIA 8859-2024 homologation for racing helmets that will come into effect immediately. For Bell Racing, the FIA 8859-2024 standard will result in updates for the entire range of MAG open face helmets for rally, circuit racing and powerboat racing.
Andy Mellor, Group Chief Technical Officer of Racing Force, commented: “To once again be the first in the world to meet the new FIA homologation standards is a source of incredible pride for us, as well a further confirmation of the capabilities of Bell Racing’s research and development department. Since 1954, when the first Bell racing helmet was manufactured, our R&D office has been leading the way in the industry, never stopping in the quest for maximum protection and performance for its drivers. Thanks to this milestone, we will be able to consolidate our position as market leader in racing helmets, by equipping drivers with advanced products compliant with the new standards”.
Race Car & Series Developments
The FIA has announced a new set of technical regulations for an accessible, entry-level touring car class based on existing rally regulations. The new category, labelled TC Lite, will comprise of two subclasses, TCL4 and TCL5, utilizing existing Rally4 and Rally5 regulations and therefore providing competitors with one car suitable for both rallying and circuit racing competitions.
The adaptations will be kept to a minimum so that the class remains cost-effective and the competitors are provided with a level playing field. The objective is to have the cars suitable for different motor sport competitions without the need for costly and time-consuming conversions between the cars’ rally and circuit specifications.
The new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH has turned its first laps on track, ahead of a full multi-circuit test programme before the car’s debut campaign in IMSA GTP and WEC Hypercar next year.
The new LMH-spec prototype, developed by Aston Martin Performance Technologies and works team The Heart of Racing, has completed shakedown runs and initial evaluation testing in the UK at Silverstone and Donington Park. Read more at Daily Sportscar.
Porsche LMDh boss Urs Kuratle has revealed that talks are ongoing with “people in IMSA” as the future of the German brand’s 963 customer program begins to take shape for 2025 and beyond.
“We are in discussions with all the customers and if the situation is that we need to or should sell some more cars, then we will sell more cars. But it is not decided yet,” he said. Read more at Daily Sportscar.
Autosport explains how torque meter sensors have had an unseen but ultimately positive impact in the World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 class.
“The crucial thing is to ensure you’re on your power target all the time, without going over and getting a penalty and without being under and being slow,” says Aston Martin Racing head of performance Gus Beteli. “To be always on top of it and get the best performance without getting a penalty, is challenging. The FIA will look at that data and see if you’re reaching the power or not. If you’re not reaching the power [limit], you’re slower.” Read more at Autosport.
IMSA is bringing the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series to the Martinsville oval as part of a doubleheader event with the Whelen Modified Series. “It’s a great compliment to Mazda MX-5 Cup that NASCAR and IMSA leadership enjoy the series and want to expand its footprint,” said Jonathan Applegate, senior manager, Mazda Motorsports. “We’ve seen increased interest in the series from drivers with NASCAR aspirations who want to grow their skill set. Racing at Martinsville is a unique opportunity to capitalize on that and we are really excited about this opportunity.” Read more at AutoWeek.
In PRI‘s article Stockcar Revival, they explain how retired NASCAR stock cars are recycled to race in feeder and historic series that are excellent for driver development.
Despite relatively brief service lives in Cup racing, many older cars have gone on to find long-term homes in other series. Today, the ARCA series is one of the most popular options for those looking to get a fourth- or fifth-generation Cup car back on the track. “Some of these series are specifically used for driver development now,” Gann said. “It gives young drivers the ability to get up to speed and climb the ladder to get to the Cup series. Today, ARCA is the first step in that process.” Read more on the PRI website.
The Formula 4-spec Formula Winter Series has announced that in 2025 it will split into two racing competitions with the creation of a new Spanish F4 Winter Championship.
“From now on, we are splitting the series into a series for the Spanish customer teams and a series for international participants,” explained Gedlich’s CEO Markus Gedlich. “The demand for the FWinter Series is so great that it would only make sense to take this next step. In this way, we can keep the driver fields at a good size and at the same time provide the respective customer teams with optimal conditions that perfectly suit their needs regarding racing and testing.” Read more about the series at Formula Scout.
GT Sport has revealed the provisional calendar for the 2025 season of its three series, the International GT Open, the GT Cup Europe, and the Euroformula Open. The International GT Open will again include 8 rounds, All at Class One, F1 circuits across Europe. Check out Daily Sportscar for all the details.
ADESS’ new LMP3 challenger, the AD25, has completed its first track test with the new-for-2025 Toyota-based 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo engine.
The run came at Estoril in Portugal, where ADESS told Daily Sportscar that it completed “lots of laps and gathered plenty of early data” with 21-year-old Spanish TCR regular Quique Bordas at the wheel. Read more at Daily Sportscar.
The Indy NXT series is considering a new entry structure that would limit the number of cars each team can field. In some ways, the concept follows a structure being formulated in the NTT IndyCar Series with its upcoming charter system, where expansive teams would find it favorable to downsize. Read more at Racer.
Is the Aurum 1006 km the most insane race in the world? Grassroots Motorsports thinks so. “The Aurum 1006 km is—as you may have guessed from the name—a 1006-kilometer endurance race. Competition is open to FIA GT3, GT4, and TCR racers, but club-level GT cars, expired homologation cars and specially constructed silhouette cars are also welcome to race. The race takes place in the Lithuanian resort town of Palanga at the Palanga street circuit. As soon as I wrote that, I knew exactly what your mind started picturing: You got visions of a downtown, twisty street course lined with Jersey barriers and sponsor flags.” Read more at Grassroots Motorsports.
Euroformula has confirmed the anticipated upgrading of its Dallara 320 car for 2025, when it will run the ‘324’ bodykit already in use in Super Formula Lights. The third-tier single-seater series introduced the 320 for its 2020 season to continue with the design philosophy of traditional Formula 3, after the FIA had taken the F3 naming designation and put it on its new GP3 car the year before. Formula Scout has more details.
Formula Scout has all the details on the development of the original GP2 race car in light of the discontinuation of F3000. “To achieve that it needed a new car, and rather than stick with F3000’s last supplier Lola (which had picked up the elusive contract for the also new-for-2005 A1GP series), Michel started talks with Dallara. Those continued through the tail-end of 2003 as International F3000’s existence for the next year became increasingly uncertain due to low entries, before the GP2 project officially kicked off at the start of 2004 with Dallara as the car designer and manufacturer.”
Formula E has purchased the intellectual property rights of the now defunct W Series. “We could do any sort of thing with it. So we have Girls on Track as a massive promotion, trying to get more young women into STEM subjects, in motorsport. So we could try and use the W Series branding around something like that. It doesn’t have to be on track, it might be on track. So we haven’t even thought about what we might do with it. I just thought it was a good opportunity to have the asset because we are focused on bringing more women into motorsport.” Read more at Formula Scout.
Racing Opportunities
Want to go endurance racing? Grassroots Motorsports explains how it’s now easier than ever to compete. “In the wake of the success of the budget-focused bodies, it was inevitable that some competitors who enjoyed the format but didn’t desire the budget constraints would seek new venues. And with that demand, the supply side quickly reacted with groups like American Endurance Racing and World Racing League. Even today, in a seemingly crowded market, new groups like Lucky Dog Racing League and Master Class of Racing continue to enter the scene and thrive with full fields and close competition.”
Operation Motorsport in conjunction with the United States Auto Club (USAC) and VIRginia International Raceway, are excited to announce the inaugural Veterans Race of Remembrance, set to take place over Veterans Day weekend, November 7-9, 2025, at VIRginia International Raceway. This USAC-sanctioned event is poised to become a fixture of the North American motorsport calendar, drawing top-tier drivers, teams, and cars to conquer one of America’s most iconic road courses. Thousands of motorsport enthusiasts, active service members and Veterans are expected to attend, making it a weekend to celebrate and remember.
Finally, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive is a celebration of classic style and the 2024 event will take place on Sunday, September 29th. It is an on-road motoring fundraising event, uniting classic cars built 40 years or older, encouraging drivers and passengers around the world to dress dapper and drive for men’s health. All funds raised are invested in vital research and programs for prostate cancer and men’s mental health by Movember. Get more details 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.
