McLaren Expand to Hypercar

McLaren are expanding to Hypercar and in this week’s Monday edition of the Business of Motorsport Roundup I have all the details. I also have the latest updates on the countries wanting an F1 race, the possibility of NASCAR racing in San Diego as well as the latest motorsport legal news, sponsorship deals and partnerships. The Business of Motorsport Roundup will return to its regular Friday slot on June 27th, 2025.

Motorsport Industry News

Formula 1

McLaren Expand to Hypercar

As Formula 1 has announced its 2026 schedule, developments are happening regarding current race contracts as well as those potentially in the future. Here is a roundup of the latest news:

  • F1 will be racing in Las Vegas until 2027 after a new 3 year contract extension was signed last week. “We want to make sure that we’re continuing to evolve what we’re doing. But the intent is a much longer-term arrangement.”
  • The Canadian Grand Prix will continue to race in Montreal until 2035. “The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event’s previous contract ran until 2031, but following discussions that deal has now been extended by another six years. The renewal also includes an extension to Bell Media’s media rights deal.”
  • Thailand has moved another step closer to bringing a Formula 1 grand prix to the streets of Bangkok after its cabinet approved a bid during a meeting last Tuesday. “The plan would see F1 welcome Thailand onto its calendar from 2028 on an initial five-year contract, with $1.2billion now agreed to be set aside for the bid.”
  • The South African Grand Prix has taken another step closer to returning to the Formula 1 calendar with the FIA approving plans for Kyalami to become a Grade 1 circuit. “This is a defining moment for South African motorsport,” said Kyalami circuit owner Toby Venter. “When we acquired Kyalami in 2014, we made a commitment to restore it, not just as a world-class venue, but as a beacon for motorsport across the African continent. The FIA’s acceptance of our Grade 1 design is a major step forward in that journey.”
  • Finally, the Istanbul Park circuit, once the host of the Turkish Grand Prix, now has new operators determined to revive Formula One in Türkiye by 2026, according to recent media reports. “The new operators are tasked with reaching an agreement within a month to bring F1 back to Türkiye, and for every year from 2026 that the circuit does not host a Grand Prix, the operators will have to pay 25% of the F1-hosting contract fee to the administration, according to the tender conditions.”

General Motorsport Industry News

McLaren Expand to Hypercar

While the numbers are looking good for NASCAR’s Mexico City race, the series has not confirmed whether or not they will be racing in the country in 2026. But a street race in San Diego is emerging as a distinct possibility according to The Athletic. “NASCAR and the city of San Diego have not yet agreed on a deal, but discussions are ongoing, and it is expected that an agreement will be reached, according to those sources. An announcement is tentatively slated for next month, pending a finalized deal.”

IndyCar shared a “status update” on the new race car the series plans to introduce for the 2028 season with team owners today at Road America according to RACER. “The new car aims to enhance competition by being better suited for racing on all four types of circuits the series visits – superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. Evolution of the new chassis has included work by Dallara and recently developed simulation technology, aimed at enhancing overall raceability.”

Stuart Codling of Autosport Plus explains why the process of challenging for motorsport’s top job is far from straightforward. “But this is not a popularity contest, and there is a reason why so many sitting presidents have gone unchallenged. The FIA’s election rules are positively Byzantine in their complexity, setting out many mathematical obstacles that are difficult for challenger candidates to navigate.”

Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar

The Numbers

McLaren Expand to Hypercar

Motorsport Law Roundup

A look at some of the legal and regulatory issues and analysis in Motorsport this week

McLaren Expand to Hypercar

Incredibly, in a world of high-definition video cameras integrated into car parts, real-time sensors, GPS trackers, AI technology, and the sophisticated FIA Remote Operations Centre (ROC) in Geneva, it still took five hours after the chequered flag to confirm that George Russell had won the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. Here are a few articles looking at what can be done to change this.

Here is the latest NASCAR legal news that occurred over the last week:

  • A North Carolina federal judge last Tuesday joined a chorus of jurists urging NASCAR and two of its teams to seek a resolution of their competing antitrust claims outside court, cautioning that neither side will emerge victorious if the case makes it to trial in December.
  • NASCAR last Wednesday petitioned U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell to order racing teams that aren’t part of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ antitrust case to provide financial documents related to costs, revenues and profits since those teams aren’t willing to share them. If Bell refuses, NASCAR insists he should rule that this type of data is “irrelevant at trial.”
  • Last Friday, 23XI Racing and Front Row petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to grant a rehearing en banc—a longshot legal bid to overturn a recent appellate court decision that went against them.
  • Meanwhile, Rick Ware Racing has filed a countersuit against Legacy Motor Club. “There exists an actual and justiciable controversy between the parties regarding the correct sale charter and the terms under which that charter would be conveyed. The Agreement entered between the parties identified Charter No. 36 as the sale charter for a purchase prize of $45 million.”

Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis

The latest motorsport sponsorship deals, partnerships and related analysis that were announced this week

McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar

The Business of Running a Race Team

McLaren Expand to Hypercar

Even before stepping in, it’s easy to see that the Porsche Penske Motorsport garage at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans has an ant farm-like vibe. People walking at a determined pace are coming and going, Porsche-branded ATVs towing trailers with racing tires stacked high honk their way through the crowd, all while fans decked out in Porsche Motorsport attire bake in the sun like statues, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite racing driver. And for good reason, Roger Penske employs some of the best in the business. The Drive goes inside the mind-boggling logistics of Porsche’s Le Mans effort.

Team & Manufacturer News

A roundup of the latest team news from around the world of motorsport

McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar
McLaren Expand to Hypercar
Mark Boudreau
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.

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