McLaren have announced Project: Endurance and in this week’s edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup I bring you all the details of this exclusive customer program. I also have racecraft tips, sportscar racing news and GT3 testing and racing opportunities.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
This SafeisFast video shows you how to crash in order to minimize damage. “Unfortunately, in our line of work crashing is inevitable, but there are things you can do to help protect your car, yourself and fellow competitors.”
Here are three racecraft-related articles from Grassroots Motorsports that you may find useful:
- How to methodically find more speed at the track
- Randy Pobst: How autocross can make you a better road racer
- What to know before your first time on track
The Complete Race Driver discusses brake pressure variance and explains why consistency beats chaos. “You might think your footwork is clean, but if the data says otherwise… we need to talk.”
This past weekend featured two significant races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and NASCAR racing in Mexico for the first time in decades. Here are two articles discussing how drivers prepared for the races.
- ’24 hours of my life’: What it takes to finish Le Mans, the world’s most famous endurance race (ABC News)
- How NASCAR Cup Drivers Prepare to Race in Mexico City at 7,000 Feet (AutoWeek)
Race Car & Series Developments
As usual, there were a lot of announcments surrounding sportscar racing over the weekend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Here are the most significant.
- IMSA/ACO alliance extended through 2032 (RACER)
- ACO Confirms Extension of Hypercar Regulations to 2032 (Sportscar365)
- Doonan: IMSA Could Tweak GTP Rules Post-2029 (Sportscar365)
- Hypercar Is Coming to the Asian Le Mans Series (Asian Le Mans Series)
- Future LMP2 Chassis and Powertrain Suppliers Announced (Racecar Engineering)
The FIA’s Single-Seater Committee announced the creation of a new competition format for junior single-seater categories in last week’s World Motor Sport Council meeting.
The new proposed format will follow strict regulations to respect the imposed framework:
- Duration: An FR/F4 Trophy must be held within a maximum of two consecutive months within the same calendar year.
- Calendar: An FR/F4 Trophy must hold either three or four events per season.
- Sporting format: A season of FR/F4 Trophy must comprise a minimum of nine races.
- Regulatory framework: An FR/F4 Trophy must strictly follow the FR/F4 homologation, technical and sporting regulations.
Read more at Formula Scout here.
Autosport reports that a new series featuring LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes built up to the mid-2010s, along with GT cars from the same era, will support rounds of next season’s World Endurance Championship. “Organisers expect a wide range of machinery to participate, with LMP2 cars from as recent as 2016 set to be eligible.”
Meanwhile, Peter Auto and SRO Motorsports Group have joined forces to establish the GT3 Revival Series. Announced at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, the series will be reserved for the first wave of FIA GT3 cars homologated from 2006 through to 2013.
Endurance racing is not just for Le Mans – you can race a C1 and 2CV through the night too. Motorsport UK’s Revolution Magazine explains how.
It has been announced that FIA F2 and F3 will race at Barcelona and Madrid in 2026 while the F1 Academy will continue to race at the Canadian Grand Prix until 2028.
Mazda Motorsports has launched a new and improved e-commerce parts store. Aside from the aesthetically enhanced design, the new parts store makes ordering Mazda stock & competition parts intuitive with a sharp focus on the customer experience. High quality parts images, clear diagrams, & detailed parts descriptions have been extensively updated to ensure confidence in the parts selection & order process.
Grassroots Motorsports explains why the SCCA kept the Club Spec Mustang class so simple. The overall mentality for the class? “Very much a KISS principle: Keep it simple, stupid.”
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) unveiled its new Digital Licensing Platform at the FIA Conference in Macau, marking a major milestone in the digital transformation of global motorsport governance. Officially announced by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the platform delivers on a key commitment of his presidential manifesto—to modernise operations and enhance support to Members.
Developed in response to challenges faced by many National Sporting Authorities (Autorités Sportives Nationales – ASNs), the platform offers a unified, modern solution to simplify licence administration and transform the way ASNs operate. You can get more details at the FIA site here.
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!
Track Days
McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing are collaborating to offer a highly exclusive opportunity to deliver the exhilaration of driving an authentic Le Mans Hypercar – a sensation that few will ever experience – to a select few as part of the unique Project: Endurance customer partnership program.
Those chosen for Project: Endurance participation will become part of McLaren’s racing history – which includes the iconic 1995 victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two Indy 500 wins, and triumphs in more than 190 Grands Prix – including Monaco – leading to nine Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championships and the only manufacturer to achieve the Triple Crown. More details can be found here.
On June 11, 2025, Ligier Automotive unveiled the Ligier JS P3X at the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. A special anniversary series, limited to ten units, to celebrate the ten-year milestone of Ligier’s first LMP3, the JS P3. A tribute to a decade of passion and performance that began alongside Guy Ligier in 2015. Get more details at the Ligier site here.
Ferrari‘s new 296 Speciale was created with racers—and only racers—in mind. Made only for race car drivers (both professional and amateur), the Piloti Ferrari 296 Speciale debuted last Friday in France ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which Ferrari won again this year for the third year running. The new Piloti Ferrari 296 Speciale is inspired by the winning car, the 499P; similar design cues can be seen in its livery, which has the Italian flag on the front bumper, a hand-painted World Endurance Championship logo, and a race number, which can be changed at the request of the client. The number Ferrari chose for the debut is 51, which was the number of the winning Ferrari in 2023, when the marque won Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years.
Robb Report has more details.
Racing & Testing Opportunities
FF Corse have a number of GT3 testing and racing opportunities available.
Over our 16-year history, at GT3 level we have taken part in British GT, Le Mans Cup, GT Open, GT Cup and Britcar, bringing home lots of silverware!
We now have limited opportunities for tests and racing in our 296 GT3. If you would like to discuss the programmes and budget requirements, please get in touch.
296 GT3 Available Testing Dates
- 31 July – Silverstone GP
- 01 August – Silverstone GP
- 07 August – Donington
- 08 August – Donington
296 GT3 Race Opportunities
- 11-13 July – Snetterton, British GT
- 02-03 August – Silverstone, GT Cup 100
- 20-21 September – Donington, GT Cup
- 26-28 September – Barcelona, 24 Hours
- 04-05 October – Donington, British GT
You can request more details 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.
