How mental performance can change a career is just one of the topics covered in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have details on a female driver shootout, what it’s like to try to become a professional race car driver and much more!
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
How to Win in Life & in Your Career
In the video above, Enzo Mucci explains how win in life and in your career.
McLaren Racing Expands Commitment to Supporting the Next Generation of Female Motorsport Talent
McLaren Racing has announced that it is doubling down on its commitment to opening pathways into motorsport and STEM careers for women by expanding its Driver Development Program and entering a second car into the all-female F1 Academy series. As part of the expansion to the McLaren Racing Driver Development Program, current F1 Academy driver Ella Lloyd will be joined by Ella Stevens and Ella Häkkinen.
Susie Wolff Eyes F1 Academy Expansion as She Reveals Ideal Number of Cars
F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff has revealed that she would ideally like to expand the grid to 20 cars in the future. “Hitech joining the grid, you know, we always said we wanted to expand the grid. My dream number is 20 on the grid, and we will get there, but I think it was just about not trying to run before we can walk and making sure that we had the breadth of talent up and coming through the karting world.”
Selection Process for Porsche Junior 2026 Completed
Last week I explained how the Porsche Junior Shootout boosts motorsport careers.The 2025 edition has just concluded with twelve drivers took part in a four-day selection process in Cologne and at Estoril in Portugal to determine the 2026 Porsche Junior. The winner will be revealed at the upcoming Porsche’s ‘Night of Champions.’
Here are some details from Porsche on how the shootout process takes place. “Over two days on the 4.182-kilometre circuit in Estoril, the candidates completed 750 laps, covering a total distance of 3,136,5 kilometres. Despite sometimes very changeable weather conditions, the young drivers, aged between 18 and 23, did not make any significant mistakes in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.”
Inside the Future of NASCAR | RISING, Ep. 1
On the premiere of “Rising,” three of NASCAR’s youngest stars are thrown into the fire as they take on the most famous and dangerous track in America, Daytona Motor Speedway. Go deep inside the lives of Carson Hocevar, Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth as they prepare for the biggest race of the 2025 season. This is Rising, episode 1.
Case Study: Mental Performance Can Change a Career – Ella Häkkinen’s Breakthrough
As mentioned above, the motorsport world received exciting news: Ella Häkkinen joins the McLaren Driver Development Program. In the official announcement, one moment was highlighted as the turning point in her career: her win in Cremona during the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy. What was not mentioned, but what is important for the industry to understand, is how that breakthrough happened. Read more in this case study from Minds on Track here.
What It’s Like to Try to Become a Professional Race Car Driver
Legendary race driver Lyn St James explains what it’s like to try to become a professional race car driver. “There’s been so much happening for female racing drivers these last few years, which brings me tons of joy! The F1 Academy, female driver development programs/incentives from OEM’s (Mazda, Porsche, Toyota), race teams like Kellymoss, AE Victory, and research by More Than Equal, it made me think back of the decades of work we did to help so many female racers, so thought I’d share some of this with you. I’m proud of the work we did!!
AE Victory Racing Opens Applications for 2026 Female Driver Development Program; Announces Expansion to Two-Car GT4 Effort
AE Victory Racing (AEVR), the women-led motorsport program forging new pathways for female competitors, has announced that applications are officially open for its 2026 Female Driver Shootout to determine who will participate in the 2026 Driver Development Program. In a major step forward for the team and its mission, AEVR also confirmed the acquisition of a second Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2, expanding to a two-car effort in the 2026 World Racing League (WRL) Championship.
“Expanding to two GT4 cars is a milestone for our program,” said Erin Vogel (team principal), “It allows us to create more opportunities for female drivers, more learning environments, and more meaningful paths into professional motorsport. I’m thrilled we can continue to expand this team and build on the passion of our efforts.”
Apply now through December 7th at AEVictoryRacing.com#Shooutout2026
Polo America Racing Feature on Skip Barber Racing School
Randy Russell of Polo America Racing recently featured a review of the Skip Barber Racing School that makes for an informative read.
MFT Racing Partners with Gridshark Athletic Performance
MFT Racing (MFT), an international motorsport organization based in Monaco, specializing in driver development, career management, and strategic consulting has announced a partnership with Gridshark Athletic Performance, which focuses on where they can support you and your team with race weekend warm ups, cool downs, percussive massage, hydration & nutrition advice and heat management.
Karting
FIA Investing in Next Generation of Champions with Inaugural Karting Shootout in Valencia
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has announced the first FIA Karting Shootout will be held in Valencia, Spain over 2 – 7 December 2025. The Aspar Karting Circuit in Valencia will host the event, which is designed to educate, evaluate and assess drivers based on their driving, technical, physical and mental agility. Over the five days, practical sessions and workshops will be provided before each participant completes a combination of on-track assessments and off-track examinations overseen by a panel of experienced judges to assess their overall skill and race craft to reward well-rounded drivers as they begin to climb the motor sport pyramid.
You can get more details here.
Ferguson and Tucker Crowned First Ever FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup Winners
When the FIA announced earlier this year that the first ever Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup would come to the Asia-Pacific region, accessibility, affordability and inclusion were set at the heart of what has been landmark event on the International Sporting Calendar.
The Junior and Senior finals didn’t disappoint with the crowds treated to some of the best karting finals in recent years. The talent on display points to a bright future for motor sport across the world and a golden opportunity for the Global Karting Plan to make its mark and provide a legacy that will endure in the sport for decades to come.
More details can be found here.
FAT Karting League to Host World Finals at Willow Springs in December
FAT International has announced that its grassroots youth racing initiative, FAT Karting League (FKL), will host the 2025 World Finals at Willow Springs International Raceway in California on December 14, the league’s first-ever final in the United States. The event brings together top young drivers from the United Kingdom and United States to race for a fully funded Formula 4 season. Read more about the event here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
2025 FIA GOT Rising Stars Junior Line-Up
The driver line-up for the 2025 FIA GOT Rising Stars Juniors has been revealed. These 9 talented young drivers from around the world will hit the track in Italy to showcase their skills and passion. Congratulations to all the girls who applied, and let’s cheer on the selected drivers as they begin their journey to becoming the next Rising Star!
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Advice on Branding, Social Media and More
Last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver shares advice on branding, social media, and motorsport sponsorship tips. Whether you’re starting out or aiming for the next level, these insights can help you strengthen your presence both on and off the track.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
From Sim Racing to Feed Racing
How a driver went from sim racing to winning the recent Feed Racing Scholarship is one of the topics covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also had news on how sim racing can help you race the Nordschleife and much more!
Driver Journeys
Alpine Junior Al Azhari on the Speech That Changed His Career
He may have taken an unusual path into single-seaters, but Keanu Al Azhari has not looked back since. In the most recent Feeder Series Podcast episode, he told us about his route from karting to the Alpine junior team and the interview that helped kick off his single-seater career.
Kai Daryanani and His Goal to Catch Up as Best He Could
“The goal was to catch up as best as possible and be as efficient as we could.” Those are the words of Kai Daryanani – young racing driver, and a late starter in the sport. As he closes in on the end of his third season in competition, he sits nicely in the top 10 of the ultra-competitive GB3 Championship. He has also shown himself as a regular points scorer on his outings in his parallel program, the Eurocup-3 Series. In those three years of racing, he has arguably been the busiest single-seater driver on Planet Earth. Dan Wells Driver Management profiles his journey so far.
Noah Killion: The 15-Year-Old AU4 Champion Now Aiming to Conquer Europe
Few rookies adapt to cars as quickly as Noah Killion did in 2025, converting raw pace and resilience into a title-winning campaign in Australia’s premier single-seater championship. Feeder Series caught up with the Sydney teenager to discuss his breakthrough year in AU4, championship battle and plans to take on Europe next year.
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.
