How the SRO GT Academy aims to build future GT3 drivers is just one of the features in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have details on the 2025 Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program, the daily habit that’s destroying your success and the birth of the hybrid racer.
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
In the video above, Enzo Mucci explains the daily habit that’s destroying your success. “It’s the small actions and habits that will bring you down. Take control of these because they are eating away at your career and life right now.”
It’s 50 years since Italian Lella Lombardi became the first – and so far only – woman to take a points-scoring finish in a grand prix, but she should be remembered for more explains Jon Saltinstall in his article on Autosport Plus.
Mike Shank’s win at the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2012 changed his and his family’s life forever. Watch what he has to say in the video above and his advice for young drivers.
Daniel Suárez shares his path to becoming a NASCAR driver with Inside DFW. “I was just doing it because I’m very competitive and I like to win,” Suárez said. “And eventually, I was getting better and better.”
A new documentary showing the decision to promote Kimi Antonelli into a race seat at Mercedes is airing on Netflix following last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. You can watch the trailer above.
The opening round of the 2025 FFSA French GT Championship was staged over the Easter weekend at the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro. As well as a new season, the event also marked the launch of the SRO GT Academy, which is organized by SRO Motorsports Group in collaboration with the French Motorsport Federation (FFSA).
By launching this exciting new program, SRO Motorsports Group has reaffirmed its commitment to building a career ladder for young drivers who aspire to compete in Europe’s premier GT3 series.
“At SRO, we are very keen on the idea of a pyramid,” explained Stéphane Ratel, who traveled to Nogaro especially to present the SRO GT Academy to the media and participants. “There are countless examples of drivers starting at the bottom and climbing the ladder, but we wanted to go even further. In collaboration with the French Motorsport Federation (FFSA), we are launching the SRO GT Academy, and it really could change someone’s career. The prize is unique: not just significant financial backing, but also language classes, technical and regulatory workshops, simulator sessions, coaching, and more.”
“The FFSA has a long-standing tradition of identifying and nurturing young talent,” added Philippe Soulet. “Programs such as Rallye Jeunes or the FFSA Academy’s French F4 Championship have unearthed many champions, both French and international. Continuing in that spirit, it made sense to support young circuit drivers aiming for careers in GT and endurance racing by creating a bridge toward GT3 competition. We are delighted to collaborate with SRO Motorsports Group on the SRO GT Academy and bring the FFSA Academy’s expertise to the winner. This will involve simulator sessions, coaching, physical training, and more.”
Here are two great articles that look at the impact of the F1 Academy series. The first one is significant as it is a major feature in Vanity Fair.
- How the Women of F1 Academy Are Gunning for Racing’s Top Ranks (F1 Academy)
- Everything you know about F1 Academy is wrong (Motorsport.com)
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Seven women are part of the 2025 Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program. Go here to get details about the program and how it benefits female race drivers.
“At Mobil 1, it is core to our mission to share the love of driving. We’re dedicated to creating opportunities to elevate our passion and champion sponsorships that allow a more diverse and inclusive group of drivers,” says Jennifer Durgin, North America Lubricants Marketing Manager at Mobil 1. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Porsche on this remarkable initiative to further empower female racing talent to thrive at every level, both on and off the track. Through this program, we’ll take steps towards providing resources and developing a more equal road ahead for female racers.”
Grand Prix 24/7 takes an in-depth look at the Red Bull Racing Driver Academy. “Since 2020, the pipeline has been solid but unspectacular. Yuki Tsunoda clings on; Liam Lawson remains a reserve; Dennis Hauger and Isack Hadjar are the brightest hopes. But for every promising name, there’s a cautionary tale like Dan Ticktum or Jüri Vips. Talent isn’t enough—you must survive the political minefield and Red Bull’s ruthlessly short patience.”
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has announced that the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission will support two young female drivers to compete in this season’s FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Emma-Rose Dowling will race in the OK-Junior category (12–14-year-olds), while Eva Dorrestijn will race in the all-new senior age group (14 – 16-year-olds). The senior age group has been newly established this year, and the WiM Commission has expanded its support to this bracket to further encourage young drivers on their journey towards professional competition.
Get all the details here.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
The birth of the hybrid racer, where sim racing is the primary domain for motorsport is just one of the topics covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also explore how a Formula E team leverages simulators for real-world race preparation, reveal a chance to enroll in an all-encompassing sim racing school, and uncover why racing legend Mark Martin experienced motion sickness while using a simulator. Plus, there’s plenty more exciting sim racing news to discover!
Driver Development Pathways
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden once opened up on the tradeoffs he had to make in his pursuit of a racing career. Back in December 2020, he talked about balancing his education with a racing career, and he also shed light on various things he learned along the way. SportSkeeda has all the details.
You might not have heard of Sally Mott, but the 20-year-old Mazda MX-5 Cup racing driver is on the path to becoming a household name. After beginning a karting career at 15, Mott is now in her second year as a driver in IMSA’s entry-level racing series and is one of six women participating in this year’s championship. As a winner of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Women’s Initiative Scholarship in 2023, she quickly gained attention as a rising talent within the motorsport community. And as one of the drivers featured in the First to the Finish docuseries, produced by Boardwalk Pictures and available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Mott’s career is one to watch. Read more about Sally’s career at MotorTrend here.
Four years ago, Jennifer Malik’s life was normal, ordinary. She was a wife, a mother and a homemaker. And then her husband introduced her to racing, and her life was never the same again. Read all about Jennifer’s motorsport journey at Daily Nation 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.
