The NASCAR trial challenging their charter system by two team owners began this week and I have the details in today’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on the economics of running an IndyCar team, the latest motorsport sponsorship deals and much more!
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
IndyCar Delays New Chassis to 2028
IndyCar has delayed its next-gen chassis and engine package to 2028 due to incomplete regulations and rising $25–30M development costs. The postponement allows added testing time while easing economic pressures on teams and manufacturers. Vantage looks into the economics of running an IndyCar team and the effects of the change.
Why The F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Is An Oasis For A Tourism Desert
It is no secret that Las Vegas is struggling through a decline in tourism in 2025. Maury Brown of Forbes explains why the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is an oasis for a tourism desert.
“It may cause traffic headaches and raise the consternation of locals, but since the inaugural race in 2023, the Formula 1 street course race has become the biggest annual event in Las Vegas. While requested, the announced sellout numbers for the race have not been released. Last year, it was announced that attendance was 306,000 for the race weekend, and in 2023, it was 315,000.”
How IMSA Solved its Shrinking Grid Problem
RACER takes an in-depth look at how IMSA tackled one of its biggest recent challenges — the shrinking car counts across its series — and the strategic solutions that brought teams and manufacturers back to the grid. The article explores the decisions, partnerships, and structural changes that revitalized the championship heading into 2026. Discover how IMSA turned a potential crisis into a model for growth by reading the full story on RACER: How IMSA solved its shrinking grid problem.
Selling the Americana Dream: Inside Cadillac’s F1 Commercial Strategy
Brands don’t need much convincing to partner with a Formula One team these days, but what about one that hasn’t raced a single lap yet? Cadillac’s new commercial team tells BlackBook Motorsport how they plan to take on the unique challenge.
“Right now, we’re not looking for a title partner and if that comes along, that comes along, but we’re not going to force anything,” says chief commercial officer Lauren Teixeira. “We will be more selective, making sure that it aligns so we can really activate together and do good things together versus making sure we have a title partner by the time the season starts or anything like that. And Cadillac is the hero brand, we can lead with that.”
SRO GT Business Forums: Building Bridges Beyond the Track
Since its inception, the SRO Motorsports America GT Business Forum initiative has become one of the most valuable off-track programs within the paddock, cultivating a space where sporting passion meets professional opportunity.
Launched just last year, the GT Business Forums were designed to bring together key stakeholders from across the industry, consisting of team owners, manufacturers, sponsors, suppliers, and corporate partners, as well as leaders from outside the racing world who share a mutual interest in innovation, performance, and strategic growth.
“GT World Challenge is not just about the best GT racing across the world, it’s about community and collaboration,” said Greg Gill, President and CEO of SRO America. “Through these forums, we have been able to create an environment where partners can connect, share insights, and open doors that might not exist elsewhere. It’s an exceptional way to foster these valuable relationships and bring continued success across a wide variety of industries.”
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- GT3 at 20: the first step towards a sportscar racing revolution (IGTC)
- Why influencer marketing is working in F1 (Idée Fixe)
- Competitiveness and F1: the key to the U.S. market and beyond (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Inside Audi F1’s new sponsorship: Exclusive interview with Perk CMO Jada Balster (The Sponsor)
- Lusail International Circuit executives conduct meetings with motorsport leaders during Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025 (The Peninsula)
- F1’s 2025 Title Fight Explodes as $152M Fan Prediction Markets Surge Ahead of Abu Dhabi Decider (Vantage)
- “Teams and drivers are not media outlets”: Frank Woestenburg on the changing face of Formula 1 journalism (Alexandra Schieren)
- Rossomondo exits as MotoGP commercial chief (Sport Business)
- IHRA Completes Acquisition Of WDRA (Speed Sport)
- ‘World-class’ rural Australian race track for sale (SpeedCafe)
- Boles, Kanaan, Doonan among featured speakers for BlackBook Motorsport Forum USA (RACER)
- Saudi PIF ‘running low on cash’ for new sports deals (SportsPro)
- New Vice President for Elite Motorsports (PRI)
- Ex-Penske chief Cindric taking time to ponder opportunities in and out of motorsports (RACER)
- The Digital Race: Why Fan-Driven Economies Are Redefining Motorsport and Why Platforms Like SCORE Are Now Essential (3 Halves)
- 2025 East Africa Classic Safari Rally brings motorsport and economic boost to Kwale County (The Eastleigh Voice)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Lola Cars is Reborn Electric
Lola Cars has been reborn electric, and you will find out what the resurrected race car manufacturer’s plans are in both Formula E and beyond in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on IMSA’s sustainability plans and much more!
The Numbers This Week
Foxtel, Seven Boast Record Supercars Streaming Figures
- According to Foxtel Group, its streaming service Kayo Sports had a total of 290 million minutes streamed, representing a 42 percent year-on-year increase.
- Adam Stern reports that ESPN2 got 1.4 million viewers for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, up from 990,000 last year and the highest ever for that specific event on U.S. TV.
Motorsport Law Roundup
NASCAR Trial Challenging Charter System Begins
The trial putting NASCAR’s charter system in the dock kicked off this week. Basketball icon Michael Jordan is the majority owner of 23XI Racing, a five-year-old NASCAR team that is co-owned by Denny Hamlin. Bob Jenkins owns Front Row Motorsports. Both companies allege NASCAR has illegally used its power within stock racing in “monopolistic” ways. NASCAR and co-defendant Jim France, the CEO who is part of NASCAR’s founding family, claims it has done nothing wrong and the teams’ dissatisfaction stems over a business dispute during negotiations for what is known as the franchise-like “charter system.”
Some of the best coverage of the ongoing trial, which is expected to last 10 days, is in The Athletic. Here are links to their daily coverage up until this post was published.
- Michael Jordan vs. NASCAR trial begins: Explaining the case that could alter a sport
- NASCAR trial begins: Michael Jordan fan jurors dismissed, Denny Hamlin testifies
- Michael Jordan vs. NASCAR trial Day 1 takeaways: This is really happening
- Denny Hamlin gives fiery testimony on Day 2 of Michael Jordan vs. NASCAR trial
- Bob Jenkins, co-plaintiff with Michael Jordan, testifies on Day 3 of NASCAR trial
- This trial could tear NASCAR apart, the judge warned. We’re already seeing why
- NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell, key figure in charter deals, takes stand on Day 4 of trial
Joe Saward Reveals Details of FIA Guidepoint Investigation
In his Green Notebook from Street 356, Joe Saward has revealed some details about the secretive Guidepost investigation into the FIA. “The Guidepoint investigation is understood to have produced a report that has been sent to the US Department of Justice. We know that Guidepoint was looking to establish whether Ben Sulayem has any skeletons in his cupboard.”
FIA Presidential Election to Go Ahead as Paris Court Orders Trial
A Paris court has ruled Laura Villars’ challenge against the FIA will proceed to trial but won’t prevent next week’s presidential election from being held. The trial will take place from 16 February 2026, meaning the presidential election will go ahead on 12 December in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. If the outcome of the trial is unfavorable to the FIA, Ben Sulayem’s impending election could be annulled.
Former F1 Driver Arrested in ‘Particularly Serious Case’ of ‘Fraud and Embezzlement’
Planet F1 reports that former F1 driver Adrian Sutil has reportedly been arrested in an international raid on suspicion of fraud and embezzlement. “According to Bild, the 42-year-old was arrested on Thursday morning when police officers raided three addresses; one in Monaco, Switzerland and Sindelfingen.”
Motorsport Law Conference 2026 Details Announced
More details have been revealed about LawinSport’s upcoming Motorsport Law Conference 2026 to be held March 19th. “The Motorsport Law Conference 2026 will provide a full day of panel discussions and presentations followed by a networking evening. The conference provides a professional forum to meet and develop meaningful relationships with colleagues working in the sector.”
More details can be found here.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
- Visit Qatar welcomed by the future Audi F1 Team as a new principal partner (Audi)
- Perk becomes official partner of the future Audi F1 Team (Audi)
- Audi’s F1 partner lineup so far: the brands shaping its debut (Sector)
- Sponsor Debrief: Las Vegas Grand Prix (Sunday’s Sponsors)
- F1 focused on retaining exclusivity for global sponsors amid partnership growth (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Why Fan Fatigue is a Sponsorship Risk: Lessons from F1 Vegas (Ken Ungar)
- When the sponsor leaves: Two stories that show how tough motocross really is (MXN)
- CoinPayments deal adds to Aston’s crypto presence (Sport Business)
- Mercedes strikes major B2C partnership play with PepsiCo ahead of 2026 (Sector)
- PepsiCo becomes F1 team sponsor for first time since 1991 7UP Jordan (The Race)
- Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) and Racelogic Announce New Partnership Featuring VBOX Motorsport (HSR)
- ASN releases the ASN Motorsport Asia Market Analysis 2025 (Paul Poole)
- Christchurch Supercars naming rights sponsor revealed (SpeedCafe)
- Google Cloud announced as Title Partner of 2025 São Paulo E-Prix (Formula E)
- ITM secures naming rights for Supercars New Zealand double-header in 2026 (BlackBook Motorsport)
- MotoGP confirms Motul partnership through 2030 season (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Ferrari enters ‘new phase’ of 50-year-old deal in landmark extension with Philip Morris International (Planet F1)
- LEGO Technic Rexy Set To Make New Year Debut (Daily Sportscar)
- Good Ranchers signs on as title sponsor for IndyCar’s return to Phoenix (RACER)
- TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Set for Title Partnership with Haas F1 Team in 2026 (Haas F1)
- How F1 liveries became a marketing battleground (Idée Fixe)
The Business of Running a Race Team
James Vowles Hails “Dream Come True” as Williams Secures P5 in Constructors’ Championship
Williams team principal James Vowles described the team’s fifth place in the 2025 constructors’ championship as a “dream come true“.
“Exceptional. Really fantastic performance from Carlos and the team when it counted and every detail adds up,” Vowles said. “Getting on the podium by milliseconds really is such a just reward for the incredible work the whole team is putting in this year. I was proud of Carlos and the team when we got our first podium in Baku; the second is a dream come true, but perhaps more importantly at a track that was almost our worst last year. And we’ve come back, we’ve reinvented ourselves and the result is there for everyone to see.”
Team & Manufacturer News
- What stands behind Ford’s commitment to becoming ‘the Porsche of off-road racing’ (RACER)
- BBM Takes Delivery of Wingless Peugeot 9X8s (Sportscar365)
- Porsche Reveals Its 2026 Program at Night of Champions (IMSA)
- Triple Eight relinquishes Mercedes-AMG customer deal (SpeedCafe)
- Why Aston Martin’s latest F1 restructure may just be temporary (Autosport)
- Ferrari’s development plan for WEC title-winning Hypercar (Autosport)
- Porsche enters the 2026 motorsport year with a revised focus (Porsche)
- Marco Polo Motorsports to Pause Racing Activities for 2026 (Sportscar365)
- How Aston Martin aims to turn its Valkyrie from crowd-pleaser to regular contender (RACER)
- Schnitzelalm Plotting European GT3, GT4 Programs (Sportscar365)
- Cadillac F1 Makes Its Pitch as US Team With Super Bowl Ad (Bloomberg)
- How Cadillac is using established drivers to kick-start its F1 fan base (Sector)
- AF Corse adds LMP2 entry for Rolex 24 (RACER)
- Danish Squad RaceGroup To Debut In GT World Challenge With Ferrari (Daily Sportscar)
- Returning Vantage Racing KTM Boosts Bathurst Entry To 30+ (Daily Sportscar)
- Falken Owners Weighing Up Dunlop N24 Livery Change (Sportscar365)
- Campos Racing Announces Two-Car Entry for the 2026 Formula Winter Series (Campos Racing)
- Ferrari, Porsche GT300 Teams Set for Evo Upgrades (Sportscar365)
- Hyundai upgrading Rally2 car to “cover all bases” as 2027 WRC decision looms (Motorsport.com)
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.
