The Formula Global Shootout Program has been announced for 2025 with the winner getting a full-funded drive in Indian F4. I have all the details in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have news on several scholarship and grant programs for both cars and karts as well as some great advice to take to heart as you get ready for the 2025 season.
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
More wise words in the videos above from Enzo Mucci as you begin 2025.
In their 2025 season guide to Formula Regional Oceania, Feeder Series explains some of the financial benefits to racers to those involved, or considering getting involved in the USF Pro Championships.
The series has seen an increase in drivers from the United States since Toyota Gazoo Racing, the organisers of FR Oceania, partnered with Andersen Promotions, the organisers of the USF Pro Championships, in 2019. This partnership offers the top three drivers in USF Juniors, USF2000 or USF Pro 2000 a waived entry fee for FR Oceania of $NZ 7,500 (approximately $4,250 US).
Additionally, drivers who competed in all five rounds of the previous FR Oceania season have their entry fees waived for either the two-day Chris Griffis Memorial Test in the fall or the two-day Spring Training test early in the current year. USF Juniors runs at the latter, while USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 run at both.
You can read the full season preview here to get a taste for what the series is all about.
F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff discusses the “F1 Academy effect” in grassroots motorsports with female participation levels increasing to 25% in a recent feature in Motorsport Week.
During an interview with Goodwood, Wolff explained: “We’ve never had so much female participation – 25 per cent – and when you speak to those in the world of karting, they’re calling it the F1 Academy effect. We’re giving that huge female fan base the impression that, ‘Okay, this sport isn’t just for men’, and I think that’s one of the big hurdles that we have to break down, particularly for the next generation.”
Read more here.
The video above discusses the importance of being the complete package in the Prodigy Racing League as well as in your motorsport career in general.
Circuit Florida is offering a number of upcoming dates in their Intro to Racetrack Driving half-day course a course designed for those who have never been on a track before.
Using your own sports car, this 4-hour introductory course is taught by pro driving instructor and racer, Adam Ricardel. Learn the fundamentals of driving on a racetrack. The course is designed for those without prior formal racetrack instruction. You’ll learn basic techniques and methods in the classroom, followed by practice on the track in lead/follow format.
The dates are the following:
- Sat 2/8/25 8:30am-1pm
- Sat 3/1/25 8:30am-1pm
- Sun 3/30/25 8:30am-1pm
- Sun 4/27/25 8:30am-1pm
You can get more information here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
The 2025 edition of the Formula Global Shootout Program (FGSP) has been announced. FGSP 2025 is three (3) day shootout program entering its second year, with the aim of awarding the winner a fully funded seat for the third season of the FIA certified F4IC 2025. The shootout will be limited to twelve (12) drivers and is open to anyone from around the world, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility:
- Born on or before 10th August 2010.
- Available to attend the shootout from 23-25th June 2025 in France, at the Circuit Du Var in partnership with AGS Formule 1 team at their own expense.
- Has not participated in more than 3 timed events (such as car racing, circuit racing) since 2024. Participation in karting races and events is excluded from this requirement.
- Has not participated in 2024 FGSP.
Three Day Assessment includes:
- Physical & Mental tasks.
- Simulator Sessions.
- On track driving in a Gen1 F4 car along with coaching.
- Decision based on overall performance over the 3 days.
Scholarship:
Overall winner- 100% scholarship for a seat in Indian F4 2025.
For more information and to register go to their Instagram post here. The deadline is April 30th, 2025.
Applications are being accepted for the 2026-27 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship.
Up to $300,000 in benefits is available to the scholarship recipient, thanks to IMSA and a host of corporate partners. The recipient will also be able to select from four IMSA-sanctioned series in which to compete, with the addition of the Mustang Challenge as an option beginning in 2026.
The IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship promotes and empowers drivers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to participate in an IMSA series. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and/or describe how they have overcome obstacles to reach goals. They must possess a strong desire to compete in IMSA, have outstanding previous race results and/or proven on-track potential in junior racing categories, plus the ability to create a compelling strategy to compete in a full season in one of four IMSA-sanctioned series: the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge or Mustang Challenge.
More details can be found here.
Entering its fifth year, the Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) Powering Diversity Scholarship continues to build a more diverse field, while empowering drivers from a variety of backgrounds to participate in PMH-owned race series.
With seven series under the PMH banner, drivers are able to utilize the assistance to race in Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), 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), International GT (IGT) or Prototype Sprint Series Association presented by Hankook (PSSA).
In addition to providing financial assistance in the way of waived race entry fees or free promoter test days, the program aligns recipients with a team of executives and mentors, while providing them with a variety of media and fan engagement opportunities.
More information and the registration form can be found here. Please keep in mind that the application deadline is January 15, 2025.
The Shift Up Now Foundation is proud to announce that grant applications are now open for the 2025 season. Female racers competing at a professional or semi-professional level are invited to apply, from now until Tuesday, January 21st at 11:59pm ET.
Applications can be submitted online here: https://shiftupnow.org/grants/
The foundation, which lives alongside the Shift Up Now for-profit business, strives for gender equality for female athletes in motorsport, and furthers the mission by accepting tax-deductible gifts, donations and grants.
Funds raised are used to award opportunities to racers believed to have the talent and aptitude to succeed in motorsports, giving them access to more competitive equipment, seat time for testing and practice, and resources to help grow their careers.
More information can be found here.
Karting
If you were curious about the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy, Feeder Series recently spoke to third-generation racer Andy Consani who is targeting a move to single-seaters in French F4 after some impressive outings in racing shootouts, especially the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy. Read their interview with him here.
Motorsport UK in conjunction with RGMMC, a global promoter of karting events, have launched a new global concept for drivers to showcase their talent using supplied equipment: The 2026 Motorsport UK British Champions of the Future Academy Programme.
This innovation not only opens doors for aspiring drivers but also expands karting to those who may not own their own equipment, making the sport more accessible to drivers and families.
The Champions of the Future Academy Programme, organized by RGMMC, saw opening seasons events take place in the Middle East and Europe, with the series set to land in the UK in 2026.
The new series also acknowledges the growing number of drivers joining the sport from Motorsport UK’s “Arrive and Drive” Championships and forms another critical step in the Karting Pathway, which was established in 2020.
As part of the introduction of this new Championship, Motorsport UK will also launch a dedicated Motorsport UK Academy specifically for karting, which will include a program Specifically for female drivers.
More details can be found at the Motorsport UK site here.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Start sim racing in 2025! That is my advice to you. If you have ever wanted to be a real-world race driver, sim racing is a great first step. Last week’s Sim Racing Roundup has all kinds of tips on getting started, profiles a number of sim racers that have graduated to the real thing and much more. Start sim racing now!
Driver Development Pathways
Writing for Autosport, Arvid Lindblad describes his record-breaking journey to F2 and the importance of the BRDC SuperStars program to it.
I am really happy to be part of the BRDC SuperStars programme. The whole of the British Racing Drivers’ Club is amazing. They have the SuperStars as part of it, which gives opportunities to us young drivers. It’s great to feed on that knowledge and expertise and learn from other people in the club who have achieved so much. There are many world champions across all disciplines, so it’s been a fantastic opportunity, and it’s helped me a lot this season being able to talk to them.
Read his full column here.
Feeder Series explains how a hashtag resulted in a surprise F2 test for Corvette factory sports car driver Nico Varrone.
“Argentina is a country with a lot of history in motorsport and a lot of passion, but now with all this and the social media with Franco, it generated something else,” Varrone tells Feeder Series from the Abu Dhabi paddock, an hour after the F2 test concludes. “And all the social media stuff is getting a lot of power also for the companies that want to invest in stuff, and a lot of exposure.”
Read the full article here.
Sebastian Wheldon dominated the first race of last December’s Formula Trophy UAE contest on his debut in international Formula 4 competition. The Andretti junior spoke to Feeder Series at the Yas Marina Circuit about his first car race outside his native United States and what might lie ahead in his career.
“I feel like the US [has] less competition and more of the same drivers, really, but here I feel like you have multiple drivers that are really close and have a lot of talent and are fast.”
Read the full feature 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.
