MotoGP has started a new era by relocating the Australian Grand Prix to the streets of Adelaide and you will find out why in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. You will also find out how Alpine leaving the WEC could affect sportscar racing and much more!
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
MotoGP Moves to the Streets of Adelaide
With Carlos Ezpeleta highlighting the strategic changes brought about by the transition from Bridgepoint’s ownership to Liberty Media for the newly renamed MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, the site of 2027’s Australian Grand Prix could be an indicator of where the series sees itself going.
It was announced this week that the race will move from its current location at the Phillip Island circuit to a street circuit in Adelaide. The Government of South Australia and MotoGP Sports Entertainment presented the project for the street circuit on Thursday, with the event led by South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas and Ezpeleta.
“Hosting the world’s first MotoGP race on a fully urban circuit will give Adelaide a unique opportunity, one that will undoubtedly attract visitors from interstate and overseas,” added the Labor leader, who estimates MotoGP could generate an annual economic impact of around €130million for the region.”
But not everybody is impressed as Max Oxley in Motorsport Magazine explains. “Of course, there are a few problems with running MotoGP races around street circuits, namely walls, buildings, street furniture and trees…“
Alpine Leaves the WEC to Concentrate on Formula 1
With the decision of Alpine to shutter their WEC program not long after mothballing their F1 engine program to focus on F1, their exit is a reminder that the “golden era” of sportscar racing is still beholden to manufacturer participation, which means there could be more changes in the future.
“What you can’t ignore, however, are the challenges faced by the automotive industry right now as it transitions towards net-zero emissions. Like it or lump it, the future of motorsport, from the grassroots up, is going to be impacted by decisions made by legislators and politicians over the years to come. That is going to make for uncertain times in the years ahead.”
Barcelona Joins F1 Rotation with New Three-Race Deal
Formula 1 has concluded fresh terms with the organizers of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, keeping the race at Montmelo on the calendar for three out of the next six years. A deal has now been reached to join the Belgian Grand Prix as part of F1’s European rotation, alternating with Spa-Francorchamps over the next six years.
How NASCAR’s Chase Format Return Could Reshape 2026 Sponsorship and Revenue
NASCAR’s return to the Chase format in 2026 is already fueling momentum ahead of the Daytona 500. With a simplified championship structure and teams leveraging AI for performance gains, the shift could boost fan engagement and strengthen sponsor valuations. Vantage explains how.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
Ford Racing’s Strategy and More
- In F1, Ford crystallizing sprawling motorsports strategy, looking for road-car tech transfer (Sports Business Journal)
- Updates on Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Inside Track)
- The CW finds niche in NASCAR ad sales, tracking ahead in revenue for Year 2 (Sports Business Journal)
- Isabella Robusto Launches “Driven Different” — A Movement Redefining Strength, Leadership, and Opportunity in Motorsports (PR)
- MotoGP continues commercial staff shuffle following Dorna rebrand (Sportcal)
- Why under the F1 cost cap regulatory mistakes carry compound interest (Autosport)
- SEGG Media acquires Veloce in $61m deal (SIG)
- Pirelli named official tire of Porsche Carrera Cup North America (Tire Business)
- Michelin Renews as Official Tyre Partner with Motorsport Australia (Ministry of Sport)
- “We need government support for Motorsport to grow,” says John Abraham at Indian Racing Festival 2026 (ANI News)
- Betway bets on M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment (SIG)
- Introducing Chat GT3: Your Guide to GT3 Racing (GT World Challenge)
- Driving Saudi Arabia’s Motorsport Vision (Gulf Motorsport Business)
- Why do Motorsport fans still attend races live in the age of Digital Entertainment? (AR1)
- Michael Jordan is a champion again, with nothing but magnanimity for NASCAR (The Athletic)
- NASCAR creates its version of F1’s Paddock Club with new ultra-premium ‘1948’ experience (Sports Business Journal)
- Introducing Chat GT3: Your Guide to GT3 Racing (SRO GT World Challenge)
- Guyana’s business leaders back Boodhoo’s vision of motorsport fueling sport tourism (News Room)
- The most undervalued asset in F1’s 2026 boom is in the brain (Sector)
- Radical Dealer of the Year 2025 – Americas Announced (Radical Motorsport)
- The AI Overcut in F1 (SpeedWyze)
- Silverstone gets full throttle 5G upgrade (SIG)
- Ferrari Expects Revenue and Earnings to Rise This Year (Wall Street Journal)
- IHRA Purchases Virginia Motorsports Park (Speed Sport)
- IHRA Acquires Atlanta Dragway (Speed Sport)
- Malaysian Motorsport: Policy, Prestige And The Question Of Returns (Bernama Biz)
- Inside Red Bull: A Company That Gave Itself Wings (Luis Vicente)
- Race to the IMAX theater: Apple TV & F1 will screen live races (AppleInsider)
- Is F1 Entering Its Super Couple Era? (Esses)
- The Case for Creative Directors in Motorsport (Business of Speed)
- IndyCar grows international broadcast offerings for 2026 (Motorsport Week)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Porsche Chooses Formula E Over WEC
Porsche has chosen Formula E over racing in WEC and in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup you will find out why this is significant for electric racing. I also have news on IndyCar’s sustainable race tire plans and more!
Motorsport Law Roundup
Joe Gibbs Racing Sues Former Competition Director Chris Gabehart
A federal lawsuit filed by Joe Gibbs Racing against Chris Gabehart is accusing the NASCAR team’s former competition director of attempting to steal the organization’s sensitive information for a competitor, Spire Motorsports.
Autoweek has more details here.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
TWG AI Is A Game-Changer For Cadillac F1 and More
- TWG AI Is A Game-Changer For Cadillac F1 And TWG Motorsports (Forbes)
- NASCAR replaces Cabo Wabo with Cuervo as official tequila (BlackBook Motorsport)
- CUPRA KIRO welcomes AQUAME as Official Hydration Partner (Cupra Kiro)
- CUPRA KIRO brings Disney and Pixar’s new movie “Hoppers” to the track at the upcoming Jeddah E-Prix (Cupra Kiro)
- What ‘The Grid’ reveals about F1’s commercial structure (Sector)
- Oracle Red Bull Racing Partners with DAMAC Properties (Red Bull Racing)
- Tysers Live Insurance Brokerage Collaborates with Racing America Through 2027 (FR Americas)
- The perfect fit: Why fashion brands are putting F1 in pole position (Sector)
- Williams announces multi-year Girard-Perregaux partnership ahead of 2026 F1 season (Motorsport.com)
- Thank You for Seeing Us: How Elemis is Changing Formula 1 (Paddock Journal)
- Formula 1’s sponsor boom in 2026: record deals and a new commercial era (Scuderia Fans)
- The F1 Sponsorship Gold Rush (Paddock Project)
- Formula E Returned to Jeddah with Saudia as the Official Airline Partner (Biz Today)
- NASCAR extends premier partnership with Coca-Cola North America (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Formula E announces TDK as Title Partner of the 2026 Tokyo E-Prix night race and Official Partner of the 2025/26 season (Formula E)
- McLaren Racing Announces First Partnerships for Hypercar Debut In 2027 Fia World Endurance Championship (McLaren Racing)
- Liqui Moly and Black Falcon announce long-term motorsport partnership (Tyre Press)
- B’laster Products Returns to Spire Motorsports in 2026 (Racing America)
- NASCAR 2026 preview: Six commercial storylines to watch this season (BlackBook Motorsport)
- McLaren Racing Extends Relationship with Dell Technologies (McLaren)
- How Aston Martin turned ambition into commercial leverage (Sector)
- Global launch of adidas x Audi Revolut F1 Team collection (Audi)
- DHL Inks Long-Term Deal With Kalitta Motorsports (Speed Sport)
- “The Power of the Four Rings”: Audi’s F1 Commercial Build (Sector)
- Visa extends VCARB title deal as Red Bull sister team builds stability (Sector)
- Orion180 Insurance is an Official Partner of Juncos Hollinger Racing (Juncos Hollinger Racing)
- Hyak Motorsports Announces Sponsorship with Three Finger Jack (Speedway Digest)
- Mission Foods extends sponsorship with Racing America (RACER)
- OMP and Bell Racing continue as Official Partners of Racing America (Racing Force Group)
- Emzone Auto Care to remain title sponsor of Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin for the 2026 season (FEL Motorsports)
- Watch Brands Increasingly Turn to Sports for Spark (New York Times)
The Business of Running a Race Team
Andrew Kirkaldy of Garage 59: Our Aim is Always to Win Races
While not expecting to ‘just rock up and be straight on the pace’, Garage 59 is laser-focused on success as it readies itself for its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year, says Team Principal, Andrew Kirkaldy.
“I’ve obviously been a driver myself, and as such, I know just how hard it is to forge a professional career in this sport – and it’s only getting tougher. That’s why as a team, we’ve always done our best to try to nurture up-and-coming talents and help them to climb the ladder.”
Team & Manufacturer News
Why is Toyota Back in F1 and More Team News
- They Spent $3 Billion and Never Won. Now They’re Back (Business of Speed)
- GOAT Racing states TCR World Tour continuation still “under evaluation” (Touring Car Times)
- Toyota’s Gazoo Racing Rebrand: What It Means For Privateer Teams (Vantage)
- Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Team Wins Daytona 500 for First Time (Front Office Sports)
- BMW Returns to GT300 Grid With Pacific Racing (Sportscar365)
- CMR Confirm 2 Car Ginetta Effort in GT2 European Series (Daily Sportscar)
- Black Falcon Confirms SP9 Porsche NLS Entry (Daily Sportscar)
- McLaren Shares Key Hypercar Programme Details (Daily Sportscar)
- Hyundai MSA team receives its four cars for TCR South America (TCR World Ranking)
- Foyt and Penske technical alliance to continue (IndyCar)
- Alpine Reveals Updated A424 for Final Hypercar Campaign (Sportscar365)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
Storytime with Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti shares his remarkable journey from an immigrant to one of the greatest race car drivers of all time. He reflects on his early days in racing, the challenges he faced, and the importance of family and teamwork in achieving success.
The discussion also delves into the evolution of racing technology, the significance of sound in motorsports, and Andretti’s thoughts on the future of racing, particularly with the Andretti name entering Formula 1. Throughout the conversation, Andretti emphasizes the American dream and the unique experiences that shaped his illustrious career.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects and the host of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. 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.
