Ginetta have introduced several updates to their race cars for 2025 with the intention of making them just as fun but less expensive to race. I have the details in this week’s edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. I also have some great racecraft tips, the top four focus points to keep in mind to elevate your performance, how to get a free training diary and much more.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Dale Thompson of Race Car Technology has written an article titled Perfecting Your Car Control – “Black Box” Car Control that you may find of interest.
In simulations of the race car traversing a racetrack, vehicle dynamics engineers use mathematics to control the vehicle speed and path. Racing drivers obviously can’t sense the measured values and do maths calculations in their head in the same way. They are controlling the race car from an entirely different perspective, compared to the engineer. Essentially, racing drivers are acting as if the race car itself is somewhat of a “black box”.
Samir Abid of Your Data Driven asks if stiffer suspension will help you achieve better car handling. “Will stiffer springs and shocks improve my car handling? It seems to me that if my car doesn’t lean as much in corners then I should be able to go around corners faster. Am I right?” Read the article here to find out.
Grassroots Motorsports looks at how to quickly assess a student driver’s abilities. “How does he assess someone’s abilities and limits so quickly and adjust his instruction to make sure everyone is safe and has a good time not involving hospitals or tow trucks? Thomas took a few beats to consider the question before taking a deep breath and unleashing his truth bomb: “Well, if you are shitty, we are going to slow down.””
Off-Track
Paul Jewiss, founder and head coach at Gridshark Athletic Performance explains the top four focus points to keep in mind to elevate your performance. Read his article on Motorsport Prospects here.
Motorsport Prospects contributor Tommy Schröter, founder and CEO Baseline Driver Training, is offering a free training diary eBook when you sign up for his newsletter. If you have found his articles helpful to you as a race driver, you will find the newsletter just as informative. The training diary is just an added bonus. And it’s free. You can get more info and sign up here. Here is what Tommy has to say about the utility of training diaries:
“A training diary is useful for several reasons. Firstly, it helps keep track of your training and progress. By noting your experience with exercises and how you felt during training, you can see how your performance evolves over time. This allows for identifying patterns, adjusting your training programs, and targeting weaknesses or areas that need improvement.”
“Furthermore, a training diary can serve as motivation. Seeing your past results and progress can be encouraging and inspire you to continue striving for your goals. It can also aid in maintaining consistency in training, as the diary creates engagement and a commitment to record and improve.”
“Additionally, a training diary is valuable when working with a trainer/driver coach as it provides them with insight into your training history and helps them tailor training programs and advice to fit your needs and goals.”
Race Car & Series Developments
British sports racing car company Ginetta has unveiled its plans for the 2025 racing season and beyond with a reveal of its next racing calendar and a suite of updates for its single-make race cars.
“Ginetta is delighted to launch its racing programme for 2025 and unveil its long-term commitment to make the most exciting and competitive series of one-make race championships even more accessible and affordable,” said Mike Simpson, Motorsport Director, Ginetta.
“We are looking forward to full racing grids thanks to our new business initiatives, with our three series – Juniors, GT Academy and GT Championship – focused on maintaining our position as the global leader in single-make championships that have proven to provide opportunities for all drivers, from track-day rookies through to the stars of tomorrow.
“Ginetta is about fun, first-class, purpose-built racing cars, that have helped to develop some of the best drivers in the world, many of whom have moved on to Le Mans, Indycar and Formula 1.
“These drivers and teams truly are the bedrock of our business. None of Ginetta’s success would be possible without their continued enthusiasm and commitment. As a business, we’re also focused on supplying a dependable, long-term product to our customers while working relentlessly to optimise the affordability of racing across the board: we will all do well together.”
You can find out more here.
The 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series will feature a maximum grid of 44 cars for the six-race series that starts in Malaysia this December. This represents a 15% increase on the full season entry for the 2023/24 season and the largest Asian Le Mans Series field ever entered in SE Asia.
The field is divided into three classes with 17 Le Mans Prototypes, 11 LMP2s and 6 LMP3s, and an impressive 27 GTs, with six manufacturers represented – Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand has confirmed its calendar dates for the first season of its new GR86 Championship, with race meetings in the North and South Island for fans to look forward to.
“Fans can expect racing that’s just as close and just as competitive,” explained TGRNZ Motorsport Manager Nicolas Caillol. “Drivers from the TR86 championship have always risen up the ladder of motorsport performing with distinction and success and that will continue with the new car. Testing has gone incredibly well and the drivers are going to love it.”
You can find more details here.
“How does a Caterham 7, with an old-school suspension, compare with a Mazda MX-5 Cup race car with a more modern setup? They’re closer than you might think. Our test driver J.G. Pasterjak took one around the Grassroots Motorsports official test track, the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park (FIRM), to find out.”
Speaking of Caterham, they have announced the dates for their 2024 Big Test Drive Event. “Throughout September and October we’ll be visiting all of our UK retailers with the full selection of our latest models. Running from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, each test drive event will give you the opportunity to get behind the wheel in a convoy-style road-test.” Get all the details here.
It was “love at first drive” as Tom Suddard of Grassroots Motorsports took an SCCA Club Spec Mustang for a test drive. “Does the world need yet another motorsports class? After our first encounter with Club Spec Mustang at the SCCA Solo Nats, we believe the answer is yes.” Read his thoughts here.
The 2025 Fun Cup calendar has been released and you can find all the details here. If you are wondering what it’s like to race in a Fun Cup, check out this article from Scott Mansell on Motorsport Prospects who raves about the racing and calls it his favourite series.
The 2025 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship will race on five different circuits over five consecutive weekends beginning in January 2025.
The 2025 season will be its third as one of the FIA’s Formula Regional Championships and it is the only one of those to boast a fully FIA-sanctioned Grand Prix event.
“The TRS and CTFROC series have therefore always appealed to those who want to succeed at the highest levels of motorsport. That’s recognised by the FIA too, who have over time increased the allocation of Super Licence points. As one of only five Formula Regional championships in the world, drivers considering the 20th anniversary championship can expect exceptionally high quality once again.”
More details can be found here.
The BRSCC Formula Ford Festival returns to Brands Hatch for a 53rd edition, and a 49th running at Brands Hatch, this October. This famous race event will offer an opportunity for club level racers to join an illustrious roll of honour.
Unlike traditional events, drivers will be drawn into heats as part of a knockout race format in their single-seaters. These initial races on Saturday will be followed by semi-finals and the all-important Grand Final on Sunday. Previous winners include Jenson Button, Johnny Herbert and Mark Webber.
The full support line-up includes the Mazda MX-5 Championship, Mazda MX-5 Clubman Championship, Mazda MX-5 SuperCup, and the CityCar Cup.
You can find more details here.
SRO Motorsports Australia has announced it will take over full control of the parent series of Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS in 2025. As part of a new arrangement between SRO and Motorsport Australia, the national governing body, the ‘Shannons SpeedSeries’ banner under which Fanatec GT Australia race weekends have generally been held in recent times will be phased out.
Taking its place will be a new series encompassing Fanatec GT Australia and the similarly SRO-run Monochrome GT4 Australia series, as well as “many of the high-profile national circuit racing categories” that have been part of the current structure, with Motorsport Australia remaining involved in a reduced capacity.
Sportscar365 has more details.
Daily Sportscar reports that KTM are continuing to test the 2025 X-BOW GT2 EVO, the prototype of which was revealed during the week of the Spa 24 Hours. The new car is developed from the current, successful, X-BOW GT2, which currently leads the Fanatec GT2 Europe Pro-Am standings with Team MZR and clinched last year’s Am class title thanks to Jan Krabec (RTR Projects).
“The KTM X-BOW GT2 is already one of the most successful machines in the up-and-coming Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli,” said Laura Kraihamer, head of motorsport operations at KTM Sportcar GmbH. “Championship titles and runners-up trophies, as well as numerous overall and class victories, are a testament to that.
Track Days
Yacademy has announced their 2024 Winter Series Schedule. Full details can be found here.
Racing Opportunities
P1 Groupe have a number of race drives available for 2025. Options that are currently available include drives in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge in GT4, IMSA VP Challenge in GT4, and SRO McLaren Trophy America with Artura Trophy. Other international options also available such as 24h of Dubai, etc. Contact P1 Groupe here for details on any of these opportunities that are of interest.
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.
