Ligier has announced a new driver test at Carolina Motorsports Park for those interested in testing the JS F422 and I have the full details this week. You will also learn some great race driver development secrets in addition to news and updates from the latest driver development programs worldwide. It’s all in this week’s edition of the Driver Development Roundup.
Ligier Automotive North America is organizing two days of testing at Carolina Motorsports Park in South Carolina on October 1 and 2. This event represents a valuable opportunity for young drivers, coming from Europe, South America, Asia and else to discover the Ligier JS F422, the manufacturer’s latest-generation F4 and exclusive chassis for the F4 U.S. Championship, to meet the teams and explore their options to join the series. Other Ligier models will also be available for test drives (Ligier JS F4, Ligier JS F3, Ligier JS2 R, Ligier JS P320).
More details can be found here.
In the video above, Enzo Mucci breaks down his recent appearance on the BSDriver podcast which features a lot of great advice for the young race driver.
Former Australian Drivers Champion and open-wheel racer Tim Macrow has launched a Melbourne-based driver academy. The TM Driver Academy is focused on young drivers making the transition from karting to cars through sim training, latest generation open-wheel cars and professional driving, fitness and brand coaching. Read more at Auto Action.
Red Bull has added four more new names to its Junior Team roster following the relaunch of its Driver Search initiative. They are: Ernesto Rivera and Jules Caranta, who are already racing in F4 this year, plus Rocco Coronel and Christopher Feghali from karting. Read more at Formula Scout.
The recent signing of 18-year-old Connor Zilisch by Red Bull marks a shift in NASCAR’s path, suggesting an infusion of youthful energy into a sport that thrives on innovation and competition according to Slicks and Sticks. Zilisch, poised to debut with JR Motorsports, brings a diverse racing background that could redefine strategies within the series. Read more here.
Formula 1 could introduce a non-championship race for rookies as soon as this December, according to Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner.
“It’s something that I tabled at the last couple of Formula 1 commissions because I think it’s great for the young drivers,” Horner said. “I think that the problem with some of the rookie tests is they all get used for testing. You never know — are they running on 50 kilos, 70 kilos, 30 kilos of fuel? What engine mode are they going? You don’t really know. You don’t know how the opposition are doing. So I think this is a non-championship race for the junior drivers. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity.”
Read more at RACER.
Exactly three years ago, Cedric Bloch’s battered body was lying in a Norwich hospital bed, his racing dreams shattered – along with his back, ribs, lungs and a multitude of other injuries.
But last month, the French-born motorcycle racer made his TCR UK debut at Silverstone in an Audi RS3 LMS run by Simon Green Motorsport in conjunction with Will Powell’s Sport77 squad. It has been an arduous journey for the former British Supersport rider paralysed in a 110mph Snetterton qualifying crash. Read more of his incredible story at Autosport.
For more than a decade, the Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund (WASF) has supported the involvement of women in SCCA’s Solo® community. WASF recipients in 2024 were Sarah Miles, Ashley Weaver, and Shelby Redding; with all three in Solo Town last week to partake in the 51st Tire Rack SCCA® Solo National Championships going down in Nebraska’s capital city at Lincoln Airpark.
Each woman received a $1,500 scholarship to support their travel to Tire Rack National Solo events. Additionally, SCCA® waived entry fees to these events for scholarship recipients and collaborated with the Solo community and commercial partners to seek out other forms of support for driver training, mentoring, products, and logistical assistance. Read more on the SCCA website.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former 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.
