Finding the right line on track is just one of the racecraft tips you will find in this week’s edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. You will also find out about one of the secrets to Fernando Alonso’s fitness success, a free course on dealing with pressure and what it’s like to race Radicals.
All this and much more in this week’s edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup on Motorsport Prospects. Its news racers can use.
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Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Willem Toet, the former head of aerodynamics at the Benetton, Ferrari and Sauber Formula 1 teams, joins Samir Abid of Your Data Driven for a very special two part show. “Aero is one of those subjects that gets a lot of air time on TV but its often hard to relate that back to what you can do yourself. Willem Toet has some great insights and very practical tips. This is honestly an amazing chat with one of the best in the business. Be sure to check out the links in the show notes for some really good followup videos and articles. As ever, grab a pen, grab a coffee, sit back and lets listen to what Willem has to say.”
Driving the ideal line consistently is an important part of performance and race driving. But how do you know whether you’re on the right line or not? Or even the line you intended to drive, whether it’s the right/ideal one or not? Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets looks into the details in What’s That I Notice?
In his Ask Ross column ge also answers the question, which is better, coasting or braking when entering fast corners?
The Driver’s Eye this week rides with BMW factory racer John Edwards in the 1996 McLaren F1 driven at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Nelson Piquet, Danny Sullivan, and Johnny Cecotto, as he competes in the 2022 edition of the ROLEX Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with the glorious sounds of the BMW V12 as the soundtrack.
Off-Track
Hintsa’s motorsport team is putting on a free Masterclass, Driven by Pressure: Formula 1 Strategies for Razor-Sharp Focus, on March 5th at 4 pm CET. Secure your spot by registering now.
“We often get asked: How do drivers recover in the off-season? How do they accelerate back up to peak performance? How do they stay sharp through the long season – and what does wellbeing have to do with it? Well, soon you’ll know.”
Advances in design, materials, and construction methods are producing helmets that are safer, more comfortable, and more versatile than ever before. PRI Magazine looks at recent developments in helmet construction and safety.
Fernando Alonso has revealed how shifting partly towards a plant-based diet contributed to his “best-ever” physical test results prior to the 2024 Formula 1 season’s start.
“I feel good, I feel as I said at the beginning fitter than ever,” he told selected media including Motorsport Week ahead of the launch of Aston Martin’s 2024 F1 car. “The numbers that we achieve in all the physical tests that we do every season, they were the best ever this year. I was training a little bit different this year. I also added a nutritionist to the team which changed a bit my way of seeing things and preparing the body.”
Alonso added: “On the nutritionist, I don’t know, there are many things that they know for sure, in terms of explaining better changes. Maybe more into a plant-based diet, or more or less, say that route. Maybe not completely strict, but into that route, try to find a little bit more energy from the food that you eat and a little bit more from your reserve as well in your body and try to have more endurance from there.”
Race Car & Series Developments
If you are curious about racing Radicals, Radical Motorsport has put together a new video series that will be of interest called A Radical Journey. “Come with us on A Radical Journey throughout the 2024 season as owner and racer, Chris McMurry, takes us on a behind the scenes look at the racing, the cars, the drivers, the stories and more of the Radical Cup North America…“
You can watch the trailer above.
Speaking of racing Radicals, the Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin will be making its debut at the historic Mont-Tremblant circuit this year. Chris Bye, President of FEL Motorsports, expressed his gratitude towards track manager, Vince Loughran, for welcoming the Emzone RCC to this legendary circuit. Bye stated, “We are honored to bring the Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin to Mont-Tremblant for the first time. This historic venue has a unique charm and challenging layout that will undoubtedly provide a fitting backdrop for the culmination of our 2024 season. On behalf of our FEL Motorsports community, I would like to thank Vince and the entire team at Piste Mont-Tremblant Inc for their support and cooperation.”
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co., Ltd. (NMC) have announced the outline of their motorsports activities for 2024.
“Nissan has always walked hand in hand with motorsports. Only three years after its foundation, Nissan began in motorsports, and over the following 87 years has been competing in a variety of categories – honing skills and technologies. This year NISMO is celebrating its 40th anniversary,” said Takao Katagiri, head of Nissan Motor’s Motorsport Business Unit and CEO of NMC.
“To help achieve a carbon-neutral society, Nissan is also promoting electrification in motorsports and has been participating in the FIA Formula E World Championship since 2018. This March, a Formula E race will be held in Tokyo for the first time, showcasing the exhilarating and powerful performance of Formula E to fans in Japan. In the Super GT and GT4 categories, Nissan/NMC will develop and supply race cars based on the Nissan Z NISMO. The companies aim to build cars and engage in motorsports with more passion than ever before, bringing even greater excitement to fans all over the world.”
Full details can be found here.
Reece White on the SCCA website explains the lessons learned from a Club Spec MX-5 build. “The Club Spec concept is simple: Cars built to one ruleset can then participate in multiple disciplines. Club Spec launched with upgrade packages for the 2006-’15 NC Mazda Miata and 2005-’09 S197 Ford Mustang GT, with both instantly granted places to compete in SCCA Autocross and National Time Trials competition. Club Spec MX-5s will hold the classing moniker CSX, while Club Spec Mustangs will be CSM.”
The FIA TCR World Tour will not race in Australia this year, with the two planned races at Sydney Motorsport Park and Mount Panorama now removed from the calendar. The reason for the decision is stated to be “delaying international deliveries around the globe in 2024 as a result of current international events”.
F1 Academy will hold two races per weekend in 2024, down from three in 2023, as the all-female F4 series takes up a place on the F1 support bill for its second season. Feeder Series have all the details on what you need to know about the change.
Racing Opportunities
Idola Motorsport has an Arrive and Drive opportunity. “Contact us if you’re interested in an arrive and drive opportunity in one of our Praga’s in the Zeo Sports Prototypes series. Fully supported over the race weekend by the team. Full season or by round enquiries welcomed. The first round is: Silverstone March 17th and testing on the 15th. Usual rules apply for your licence. Contact @jackfabbyracing or @vincent.randall for full details.”
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.
