How the Porsche Female Driver Program North America supports female racing talent is just one of the items featured in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have an overview of what’s to come in Formula 4 and Formula Regional in 2025, how the Ligier European Series could eventually lead to Le Mans and Charlotte Tilbury’s hopes for women’s motorsport opportunities.
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
The FIA has produced an overview of the status of FIA-sanctioned Formula 4 and Formula Regional from around the world. It is a good way to see how these categories fit into the FIA single-seater motorsport pathway.
“2025 is set to be a record-breaking season for junior FIA motor sport, with FIA-certified single-seater categories Formula 4 and Formula Regional shaping up to boast bigger grids and closer competition than ever before.”
Read the overview here.
The Ligier European Series explains how it is uniquely positioned for those that have an eye on a career in sportscar racing. “Organised by Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM), the series is uniquely positioned as the first step in the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s (ACO) endurance pyramid, leading ultimately to the FIA World Endurance Championship.” You can read more about the series and why they are positioning it as such here.
The Ligier JS F4 Series has been renamed to the Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC). Sanctioned by PMH, the championship utilizes the first-generation Ligier JS F416 chassis, Hankook racing tires and Honda engines serviced by Mountune USA.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the Ligier JFC is the opportunity it provides its champion — a full scholarship to compete in the FIA-certified Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) the following season. Including the use of an FIA-approved Ligier JS F422 chassis, a Ligier Storm engine, two sets of tires per event from Hankook Motorsports USA, and race entry fees from PMH, the scholarship provides drivers with nearly everything they need to successfully take the next step in their career. Similar scholarship opportunities exist for the F4 U.S. champion to aid in their climb to the FIA-certified Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas).”
As Porsche Carrera Cup North America enters its new season, one of its most successful programs in Porsche one-make competition remains the Mobil 1 Female Driver Program North America reports Sportscar365. The Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver program, which has been in existence since 2023 across both Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge, aims to create a supportive environment that showcases and nurtures female talent by equipping them with the necessary resources to excel in motorsports.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program North America gives aspiring female drivers the opportunity to hone their skills and pursue their dreams of becoming professionals through a unique platform. Throughout the year, Porsche and the Mobil 1 brand will provide drivers in the program:
- Financial Support: 50% of the season entry fee for each female driver will be covered to ensure equal access to participation in the full racing season
- Performance Incentives: Complimentary sets of tires to top-performing female drivers to incentivize excellence on-track and easing financial burdens
- Training and Education: Specialized workshops for female drivers will be provided and offer valuable training, education, and networking opportunities to advance their careers – including mentoring from former Porsche Factory Driver Patrick Long
- Recognition and Branding: Recognition as an official Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program North America participant, elevating their profiles and credibility within the motorsports community
The path to doing wheel-to-wheel racing in SCCA is easier than ever, thanks to SCCA Race Experience. The program is open to, “Anybody,” says Jon Krolewicz, SCCA Senior Management of Program Development. “The target audience is someone who says, ‘I want to try or start my wheel-to-wheel journey. Maybe that’s the person who is going to get their racing license. Or it’s the person who says, ‘This is on my bucket list. I can rent a car and not worry about getting medical or ton of paperwork done.’” Read more at Grassroots Motorsports.
The video above explains how Road to Racing Canada (R2R) helps drivers like Mayer Deonarine.
McLaren Motorsport confirms a new GT racing factory driver line-up for the 2025 season, with the program expanding to eleven drivers across three tiers, from young drivers of exceptional ability to established professionals.
“This group represents a really strong line up of current and future talent for McLaren Motorsport. Dean has been part of the family for a while now and has progressed through the ranks and earned his stripes, so it’s really pleasing to have him as a fully-fledged Factory Driver. Similarly, Tommy Pintos impressed us all in McLaren Trophy over the past few years, so to have him move onto the factory programme demonstrates exactly what we want the one-make series to do, unearth future talent that we can nurture through the programme. It’s a really exciting bunch, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish this season.” Rob Bell, Sporting Director, McLaren Automotive
Can a helmet be a problem? Maja Czarzasty-Zybert looks at the sensory challenges for neurodivergent drivers, mechanics and engineers when it comes to wearing a helmet.
The video above is Episode 1, Part 1 of Driven: Chasing the Apex.
“Introducing Driven: Chasing the Apex — an all-new original series that takes you inside the intense world of the USF Pro Championships. Each episode gives you an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how future champions are made — from the battles on track and career-defining moments to the sacrifices and victories that shape the path to the top. Hear directly from drivers, team owners, and families as they reveal the pressure, the passion, and the relentless drive it takes to succeed in one of the most competitive racing series in the world.”
Charlotte Tilbury says her mission is to represent more women in motorsport and that her love for the sport came from her father. The makeup mogul announced British driver Chloe Chong, 17, as her most recent signing for her F1 Academy sponsorship. Read about her hopes for women’s motorsport opportunities in the Daily Mail.
You can also read about the Charlotte Tilbury Scholarship in the latest edition of Motorsport UK’s Revolution Magazine here.
Diversity and inclusion initiatives across motorsport are improving representation of women in the industry, bringing valuable perspectives to the sport Women and girls represent around 10% of participation in motorsports across all levels according to More Than Equal, an organization founded by former F1 driver David Coulthard and entrepreneur Karel Komarek. This is across all levels, from karting at the weekend to elite series around the world. It’s not just drivers — in 2018, women made up just 28% of all staff in F1. Read more in Sustainability Magazine‘s feature Shifting Gears: Increasing Gender Parity in Motorsports.
In a related article to the above, Speedway Media looks at the race for equality in motorsport. “Despite undeniable strides toward equality, motorsport remains male-dominated. As of 2022, women made up just 2% of FIA-licensed racing drivers—a sobering statistic that reminds us of the barriers that still exist.”
Motorsports fans are in for a treat as First to the Finish, a brand-new docuseries chronicling the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup season, is set to premiere on Prime Video on March 25. The show offers unprecedented access to one of the most competitive one-make racing series in North America, following the journeys of two young female drivers and a female team owner as they push boundaries in the traditionally male-dominated world of racing. Read more about the series at AutoBlog. You can watch the trailer above.
Use Motorsport UK’s interactive tool by answering a few quick questions to discover how to get involved and find motorsport opportunities that suit you best. Check out the Inclusion Hub here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Applications for the 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series CareVets Scholarship are now open. The criteria to apply for the CareVets Scholarship are the following:
- Holder of a racing licence (race, rally, stock cars, speedway, karting)
- Or be eligible for a MSNZ C grade licence
- 25 years or younger
- New Zealand passport holder
- Previous experience limited to grassroots competition, ie karting, stock cars, speedway, club rallies, accredited MSNZ series – BMW, Mazda, Formula First, Formula Ford
Apply via www.toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/gr86-championship/carevets-scholarship-application/. Applications will close on Friday 21 March 2025.
Racing America introduces the 2025 Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalists. The Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) stands out as the premier short track driver development program for aspiring stock car drivers across North America. Meet the finalists here.
Masters of Motoring have announced a partnership with Formula Woman as well as their new How to Get Into Motorsport program.
Motorsport is more than just racing—it’s a world of opportunities for drivers, engineers, team managers, and industry professionals. This year at Masters of Motoring, we’re bringing you the ultimate “How to Get Into Motorsports”experience, featuring:
- Sim racing experiences with Perfect Acceleration Sim Racing
- Driver coaching & sponsorship development with Veloce Driving
- Young racing talent insights from 17-year-old Henry Howarth & JamSport Racing
- Karting career guidance from We Racing
- Technical motorsport education from Wiltshire Motoring College
More information can be found here.
In a further evolution of the long-standing relationship between Karting Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, the organizations have launched the ‘Team of Tomorrow’ concept that takes in this week’s Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix. Two karters – Alana Gurney and Sammy van Vuuren – were selected following their performances at the Junior Top Guns event in Victoria at the beginning of the year. SpeedCafe has all the details.
The latest issue of Motorsport UK’s Revolution Magazine has details on the launch of their Girls Karting Academy. You can read about it here.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Max Verstappen has signed a sim racer to race for his new GT3 team and last week’s Sim Racing Roundup has details about the program. I also have details on the F4 test for the winner of the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games F4 Esports category, how a mobile gamer went from mobile gaming to driving a real race car and what we know about the Olympic Esports Games so far.
Driver Development Pathways
On episode 214 of Inside the SCCA presented by RaceSchool.com, they talk with one of the SCCA’s newest drivers and she is a trailblazer. Arshia Akhtar, born in Pakistan and grew up in Saudi Arabia, it’s believed Arshia is the first female Pakistani race car driver.
“We talk about becoming a race car driver from a part of the world where, until recently, women couldn’t even drive. She fills us in on her journey starting out in racing and with the SCCA, and how the club works hard to give new members the full club experience. We also talk about the amazing work she does off track… and how it relates to my mom. You can’t help but like Arshia’s spirit and drive to be successful.”
Watch the interview in the video above.
Grassroots Motorsports looks at the racing career of former actor Frankie Muniz as he transitions from formula cars to NASCAR. “Most of us know the name Frankie Muniz from seeing him in TV series like “Malcolm in the Middle” and films like “Agent Cody Banks.” But a whole new generation is being introduced to him as Frankie Muniz, NASCAR driver.” Read the complete profile here.
101 News profiles Canberra, Australia’s Lazarus Añonuevo, a karter with hopes and plans to reach Formula 1 one day. “I think it was our second weekend here practising, and a team driver from Queensland came up to me and said, ‘Your son has something special. This is his second session and look at how late he is breaking, how fast he is attacking those corners’.” Read more 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.
