I go inside the McLaren Driver Development Program in this week’s edition of the Driver Development Roundup. You will also learn what it is like to be a Ford Performance’s Junior Team Driver at Le Mans, how BMG has reaffirmed its commitment to local South African talent development and the details on the new FIA Karting GKP “Arrive & Drive” World Cup. All this plus much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Ford Performance will showcase its single-make Mustang Challenge series internationally with the inaugural Le Mans Invitational in support of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a packed grid, which includes all six of Ford Performance’s Junior Team Drivers. They sat down with Sportscar365 ahead of the race to discuss the opportunity to race at Le Mans and their experience so far as a Junior Team member.
“Between the ACO and WEC and IMSA, sports cars are in such a golden age right now, and GT3 is ultra competitive. My dream is to be in the big race, the big 24 [Hours of Le Mans]. But it’s a bit easier having driven a track like this. Maybe it increases my odds.”
Bruno Michel rules the roost over both Formula 2 and Formula 3 and has seen plenty of top drivers pass through the championships in recent years. He sat down with Autosport to discuss how the pathway has become clearer of late.
“It doesn’t mean they will go to F1, because there are many other factors that are being taken into consideration. The fact that they are part of academies or not – there are many other aspects. But yes, generally, we can see the drivers that are really, let’s say, above the others.”
Emy Kissick won a $50,000 Mazda Motorsports scholarship to race a full season of Spec MX-5 in the SCCA’s U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour in 2025 but she was touring Texas during the April 30-May 4, 2025, Targa Texasland as part of the three-woman Mazda Team ZoomZoomHER in an all-wheel-drive 2025 Mazda 3 turbo – and she was loving it. This is why she recommends you enter the next one.
The Manila Times looks at how Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. is building grassroots motorsports in the Philippines. “In Sherwin’s vision, this won’t just be a one-make race anymore. It will be a full-blown motorsport weekend for Filipino fans and racers, featuring a parade of car brands all gunning for top honors — not just bragging rights, but possibly even trophies and technical superiority.” Read more here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Here is how the McLaren Driver Development Program scouts, supports, and develops rising talent. “Although the ultimate aims and ideology remain the same, the way in which it operates has been refined. Seven drivers are currently part of our programme, from karting to Formula 2 and F1 Academy, and an expanded leadership team has been hired to provide the best support to each of them. Each driver has been appointed because we believe they have the attributes to succeed at the highest level.”
Skip Barber Racing School and Griiip, a global motorsport data technology innovator, have announced a multi-year strategic partnership to bring cutting-edge data analytics, live insights, and digital coaching tools to the world of driver development, both on and off the track.
Through the integration of Griiip’s proprietary GriiipPerformance and GriiipLive platforms, the collaboration introduces an immersive, fully connected training and fan engagement ecosystem across Skip Barber’s racing and sim racing programs.
“This collaboration with Griiip marks an exciting evolution for all our programs,” said Michael Berg, CFO, Skip Barber Racing School. “The ability to offer every student and instructor a seamless, data-rich experience will elevate our training, create more value for our customers, and allow us to stay connected with students between track days.”
Key Features & Benefits:
Connected Racing Fleet: Beginning with formula cars, IturanMOB hardware will stream real-time telemetry and video to the Griiip Cloud for instant analysis and feedback.
AI-Powered Coaching: Actionable insights, personalized guidance, and seamless data-video integration for drivers and instructors.
Centralized Digital Profiles: All session data, video, and analytics in one place, across track and sim.
Performance Benchmarking: Tools to track progress, identify growth areas, and compare against peers.
Fan Tools: Second-Screen Engagement (GriiipLive) enables fans to follow races with enriched live data and insights.Griiip CEO Tamir Plachinsky added, “We’re proud to partner with a brand as iconic as Skip Barber. Together, we’re setting a new standard for motorsport education: smarter, more connected, and more accessible for both drivers and fans.”
Implementation has already begun with GriiipLive deployed in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series and iRacing Sim Series, while GriiipPerformance is being integrated into Skip Barber’s Long Island simulator center for year-round training capabilities.
As motorsport embraces a data-driven future, Skip Barber and Griiip are leading the charge, empowering the next generation of drivers with professional-grade tools previously reserved for elite teams.
BMG has reaffirmed its commitment to local South African talent development through its sponsorship of 22-year-old Karabo Malemela, a driver on the Pablo Clark Racing (PCR) Development Company’s Motorsport Development Programme (MDP).
BMG’s sponsorship towards Malemela’s participation in the series, forms part of the company’s broader strategy to promote education, engineering excellence and inclusive access to motorsport. The partnership extends beyond financial backing and includes mentorship, training and technical insight.
“Karabo represents the kind of talent South African motorsport needs more of – technically capable, disciplined and committed to improving,” says Carlo Beukes, BMG’s Power Transmission, Agricultural, Automotive and Lubrication Divisions. “Our support of his development is part of our wider vision to foster skills in southern Africa that link performance and precision, both on the track and in industry.”
The Victorian Government has committed $100,000 over two years to support Motorsport Australia’s Women’s Introduction to Motorsport program. The initiative aims to break down common barriers for women entering motorsport, offering first-hand experience behind the wheel in a safe, inclusive environment. SpeedCafe has more details about the initiative here.
Karting
The WMSC approved the award of the organization of the first FIA Karting GKP “Arrive & Drive” World Cup, scheduled for 14th-16 November 2025 at the LYL International Circuit in Malaysia. This event is part of the FIA’s ‘Global Karting Plan’, which notably aims to democratise access to top-level karting through a ‘turnkey’ formula.
The main features of this competition are:
- Use of single-make equipment (chassis, two-stroke engine, Option tyres, fuel) provided by the OTK Group, which was selected as sole supplier following a call for tenders.
- Two categories: Junior (12 to 14 years) and Senior (14 to 19 years), each with up to 54 participants.
- A two-stage registration phase: priority given to ASNs until 13th August, then open to all if there are any places left.
- The top three drivers in each category will be invited to the Karting Excellence Centre selection, along with the winners of each of the other 2025 FIA Karting Championships. The Senior winner of this programme will receive a grant for a season in F4, and the Junior winner a budget for an additional season in karting.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Jordan Missig’s journey from sim to Indy NXT is one of the topics covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also have details on how to optimize F1 25, the return of the Skip Barber Formula iRacing Series and the latest sim racing news and tech reviews!
Driver Development Pathways
Out of this year’s five Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalists, one knows what goes into representing Alan Kulwicki over a season of racing. Derek Gluchacki was a finalist one year ago, finishing second to Ty Fredrickson in the pursuit of the Kulwicki Cup. He was honored with a second year as a finalist in 2025, giving him another chance to share Alan’s legacy. Read about his journey here.
As a three-time W Series champion and the only female driver to win a race in the Indy NXT motorsport series, Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory driver Jamie Chadwick has not only shattered glass ceilings but also redefined what it means to be a champion in an intensely competitive arena. The Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory program supports drivers’ development, working towards promoting them into the Genesis Magma Racing hypercar team at the 2026 FIA WEC. You can read all about Jamie’s road to Le Mans 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.
