The IMSA 3D Scholarship program is building strong careers and in this week’s Driver Development Roundup you will get some examples of how. You will also learn what to do when you have no money to race, driver development program updates and more.
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Drivers With No Money – Race What You Can
Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program Expands with Inclusion of Korean Drivers
The Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program will expand for the 2026 season with the inclusion of Korean drivers Michael Shin and Kyuho Lee, both aiming to carve out a career in professional motorsport. Their entry signals a new chapter for the Program and Genesis Magma Racing’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent, with the broader ambition of elevating motorsport awareness and engagement within Genesis’ home country.
The two Korean drivers, who will compete in single-seater series this season, show the changing focus of the Trajectory Program for 2026 to concentrate on driver development. Shin and Lee join Genesis Magma Racing Official Reserve Driver Jamie Chadwick in the Trajectory Program for the coming season.
Allan McNish Will Be Talent Scouting For Audi F1
Hot on the heels of the their recent livery reveal, a new Audi F1 driver development program has been announced to scout talent for the team’s future, with its first signing already completed.
A giant in motorsport circles and a name synonymous with Audi motorsport at the very highest level, Allan McNish has been named as the Director of the Audi Revolut F1 Driver Development Program. Designed to identify and nurture future talent for the F1 team, the program will look not only for outstanding future driving talent, but also for individuals involved in other areas of the sport including designers, engineers and mechanics.
“With Allan McNish, we have a director who not only has an incredible track record in motorsport but also embodies the spirit and dedication of our operations. Under his leadership, this programme will be integral to our vision for 2030, our goal of building a winning team and shaping the future of Audi in Formula One.”
Choosing the Wrong Championship Can Kill Your Career
The Pure Performance Group explain how choosing the wrong championship can kill your career. “Most drivers don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because they choose badly. Some take the easy road with weak grids, easy wins, guaranteed trophies and podium shots. Looks good for Instagram. Goes nowhere in reality.”
Women Racers Need Spaced Repetition
Michael May explains why women racers need spaced repetition. “In the corporate training world, there’s a quiet truth that separates exposure from mastery: people don’t retain what they hear once. They retain what they repeat—strategically.” Read why here.
Mercedes Snaps Up Joshua Duerksen to F1 Development Program
Mercedes Formula 1 team has announced that Joshua Duerksen will join the team’s driver development program from the 2026 season. “I’m super excited to be joining the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team as a development driver. I can’t wait to start working with these guys and help the team succeed this year. Just really excited for what’s to come.”
Why Was Connor Zilisch the Pick Even When He Wasn’t the Fastest?
Why was Connor Zilisch the pick even when he wasn’t the fastest? Prodigy Racing League coach Andrew Carbonell explains why the how matters more than the number — and what video reveals that lap times don’t.
SRO GT Academy Winner to Drive Walkenhorst Aston
Inaugural SRO GT Academy winner Gaspard Simon will race a Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup this season.
The Frenchman received €150,000 towards either a GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli or GTWC Europe campaign and has now been confirmed as tackling the latter. His Walkenhorst co-driver for the Sprint Cup attack is yet to be announced.
Doriane Pin’s Promotion: What It Means for Women in Motorsport
Lily Dixon explains what Doriane Pin’s promotion to the Mercedes F1 development program means for women in motorsport. “Unlike most F1 Academy drivers — including all graduates except Pin and Weug — Pin was not released from her affiliated junior programme following the conclusion of her time in the all-female series. Instead, Mercedes identified her technical feedback, racecraft, and speed as assets worth retaining.”
Driver Development Program News & Resources
IMSA 3D Scholarship Recipients Developing Strong IMSA Careers
As another application period for the IMSA Diverse Driver Development (3D) Scholarship closed last week, four of its previous recipients have made waves as they build their careers deeper within IMSA’s paddock.
Inaugural recipient Jaden Conwright (2022) and subsequent recipients Courtney Crone (2023) and Celso Neto (2025-26) are all competing in IMSA-sanctioned series for the 2026 season, joined by this year’s recipient Nicky Hays (2026-27).
Read more here.
On the Podcast
Why Your Brand Needs To Stand Out
In the latest episode of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, I dive deep into the business side of racing with sponsorship consultant Ken Ungar, founder of Charge Sponsorship Agency. Ken shares actionable insights that every race driver needs to hear about the importance of a distinctive personal brand, building strong sponsor relationships and standing out in a crowded field.
The episode webpage can be found here: https://motorsport-prospects-podcast-1.castos.com/episodes/why-your-brand-needs-to-stand-out
You can subscribe to the podcast through all the popular podcast apps as well as on its own dedicated website here. And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date on everything Motorsport Prospects!
Karting
Karters Ready for Formula Career After Completing Radford Racing School F4 Scholarship School
Radford Racing School and Racing America once again teamed up to host the Radford Racing School F4 Karts to Cars Scholarship School, helping four young racers with their transition from go karts to racecars during a three-day course at Radford’s Arizona facility.
Hand selected to attend the school based on their experience and abilities, the students learned the basics of handling and car control, while getting acclimated to a Formula 4 racecar. The students learn using the same Ligier JS F4 Gen. 1 chassis and Honda 2.0-liter engine serviced and engineered by Mountune that is used in Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC), making the school the perfect training ground as they move from go karts to Racing America’s formula ladder system.
Derek Wargo Jr. Selected to Represent the United States at the 2026 FIA Karting Academy
McCrone Motorsports is proud to announce that Derek Wargo Jr. has been officially selected to represent the United States of America in the prestigious FIA Karting Academy Trophy for the 2026 season—one of the highest honors in international karting.
The FIA Karting Academy Trophy is widely regarded as the premier development platform for young drivers worldwide, designed to identify and nurture the next generation of global motorsport stars. Each nation selects only one driver per age category, making Derek’s selection a rare and extraordinary achievement for both driver and team.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
The Cost of a European F4 Seat in 2026
The cost of a European F4 seat in 2026 is one of the topics covered in last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver. You will also find out why you need to roll with the punches, details on Shift Up Now grants for 2026 and more.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Jenson Button: Sim Racing Is a Compliment to Karting
Jenson Button shares his view on how sim racing enhances racecraft in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup, along with insights into sim racing’s cognitive benefits and more.
Driver Journeys
Balancing Books and Podiums: Ontario Tech’s Mac Clark Races Toward His Future
Balancing the demands of professional racing with the rigours of university life is no easy task, yet Ontario Tech University Automotive Engineering student Mac Clark is proving he can excel at both.
“Has your education influenced your passion for racing? Absolutely. It gives me a broader spectrum of knowledge, especially communicating with high-level race engineers. I signed with a new team, Exclusive Autosport, and we had a new head engineer, Joe D´Agostino, who worked for the Andretti IndyCar team for nine years. I found my education helped me converse with him on a higher level compared to other drivers. It helps build trust faster, which is important for making a fast car.”
You can read the full feature here. Mac will also be a guest on an upcoming episode of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast.
Gentleman Driver Spotlight: Ben Keating
Meet a Texas man: Ben Keating, living every moment full throttle. From the ranch to team meetings and onto the circuit, he pushes relentlessly for what he wants. Everything seems under control… until a sudden problem in the garage halts the weekend. Could this hold him back? Doubtful.
Colton Herta Facing ‘Bizarre Career Path’ After Overcoming Initial Fears
Colton Herta recognizes he has chosen “a bizarre career path” as he builds up to his quest to race in Formula 1, a route he did not want to head down initially. “It is a bizarre career path, I won’t deny that. It’s very rare. I think a lot of people are going to be watching it with interest. From my side of things, it’s pretty clear I want to get to Formula 1. I see this as my best shot at doing it.”
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.
