New grassroots touring car regulations have been introduced by the FIA and in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup I have the details. There are also racecraft tips, an analysis of Liam Lawson’s struggle in the Red Bull F1 car and much more!
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets looks at the ideal racing line. “So, what is the ideal line? It’s the line that results in you and your car spending the least amount of time in that section of track, without hurting the section before or after too much, and leading to the fastest overall lap time, all while dealing with the specific, but changing conditions (track grip, ambient temperature, car and tire performance) at that particular moment in time.” Read more here.
Ross is also holding a Corner Min, Mid & Max Masterclass with live sessions on April 21 and 24, 2025. “The Corner Min, Mid & Max Masterclass is all about maximizing your driving from the instant you turn into a corner until you’re on the next straightaway.”
You can get all the details and register here.
In the video above, Driver61 explains why Liam Lawson struggled so much in the Red Bull F1 car.
Off-Track
EVO Performance is launching a new cutting-edge cognitive program designed specifically for race drivers. You can get m ore information at: https://evoperformance.ca/
Race Car & Series Developments
The 2025 season promises to be the biggest yet for GT World Challenge powered by AWS, with more than 130 GT3 cars ready to go racing across America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is off to a thrilling 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup season with the first race weekend of the year. The weekend saw GR car club members competing in sprint races for the first time in the racing series’ history. Dubbed the Club Race, the event highlighted Toyota’s philosophy of bringing thrill and joy to customers through one-of-a-kind fan experiences.
Following the launch of the process to select the next-generation LMP2 engine supplier earlier this month, the FIA and ACO’s tender procedure for prospective next-gen LMP2 chassis constructors is now open. The associated documents outline that it is an open tender to “interested parties” rather than a closed one for the current four, following the decision last year to scrap the previously proposed rules which stipulated that the chassis must be based on a current LMDh spine. RACER has more details here.
SpeedCafe reports that just a handful of seats are still available for what is being labelled one of the cheapest ways to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in recent memory in the Le Mans Mustang Challenge. The total sum to compete is roughly $67,000 (AUD)– and that includes car rental ($12,000), entry ($30,000) and tires ($25,000). Included in the cost are two parking passes to Maison Blanche, six support paddock passes, two 24 Hours of Le Mans Paddock passes, and two Ford VIP Hospitality passes to watch the main race.
Alpine has released its A110 GT4+, an update to the A110 GT4 Evo launched in 2022, which secured the GT4 European Series crown in 2024. Alpine says that the new car is a significant evolution of the A110 GT4 Evo, the result of work based on lessons learned on racetracks since 2018 and in rallying, illustrated by the A110 Rallye GT+’s victory last year at the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine. PMW has more details.
Pirelli has rolled out a new generation of slick GT racing tyres, which will be used across SRO’s national and continental GT2, GT3 and GT4 series in 2025. The Pirelli P Zero DHG is replacing the P Zero DHF, which has been in use for the past three seasons. Daily Sportscar has more details.
After two decades at Thunderhill Raceway in Northern California, the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill is moving to a new location for 2025. Ozarks International Raceway in Gravois Mills, Mo., will be the site of the event, which will take place November 13-16, 2025.
NXT Gen Cup will stage a standalone 2025 Swedish Junior Championship with an action-packed three-race weekend at Mantorp Park on 19–20 September. “We are excited to offer junior drivers the opportunity to showcase their talent and gain a proper introduction to electric junior racing in cooperation with the Swedish Motorsport Federation and Mantorp Park,” says Fredrik Lestrup, founder of NXT Gen Cup.
The FIA has created a set of guidelines to help organizers of new touring car categories ensure safety standards.
“Our role as the FIA, amongst other things, is to share expertise and know-how with our member clubs and therefore raise the standards at grassroots and club-level racing,” explained FIA Touring Car Commission chairman, Alan Gow.
“At the same time, we recognise the fact that grassroots touring car racing must be accessible and adaptable to local conditions.
“By focusing on safety, these guidelines give the FIA member clubs the freedom to shape their championships while maintaining key safety standards. Even countries with established motorsport, like the UK, should benefit.”
SpeedCafe reports that the one-make Hyundai Excel series has been singled out by the FIA as a key inspiration to its grassroots touring car guidelines.
As the Tire Rack BMW CCA Club Racing Series navigates its 30th season, Bimmer Life asked both founders of the series, Scott and Fran Hughes, and the current chairman, Scott Reiman, to reflect on the state of the series today.
Scott Hughes said, “We are both quite proud of the evolution and development of BMW CCA Club Racing. With an understandable bit of nostalgia for the early years of 2002s and E30 M3s, the long-term success of the program meant embracing and promoting the newer and current BMW models. We are equally proud of the team that developed over the years to carry the program forward to today.”
Fran Hughes added, “We started the race program so driving-school students would have a safe place to graduate to. We focused on the 13/13 rule to enforce safe driving. We have been proud to see graduates of the racing program go onto the pro level, like Will Turner, Don Salama, and James Clay.”
From the Sim Racing Roundup
A sim racer will be racing in the NASCAR Euro Series and in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup you will learn how it happened. You will also get details on the real-world GT4 test for the DTM Esports champion, why Max Verstappen is wrong about motion simulators and how Robert Wickens uses a sim to help him prepare for the next phase of his motorsport journey. All this and much more!
Track Days
Aston Martin built the Valkyrie to be as quick around a circuit as a Formula 1 car, so what time can it set with The Stig behind the wheel at the Top Gear Test Track…?
P1 Motor Club officially launched construction on Sunday, March 10 with a groundbreaking ceremony at its 650-acre Okeechobee Road site. Braving torrential downpours, 40-mph winds, and tornado warnings, 80+ elected officials, community leaders, P1 members, and supporters gathered under shelter provided by Extreme Velocity Motorsports, a future P1 R&D Park tenant.
Steve Cropley of Auto Car argues that hillclimbs are the best beginner motorsport, bar none. “It struck me immediately as the perfect form of amateur motorsport, since it took entries from new cars and old, road cars and racers, brilliantly skilled drivers and beginners. Everyone had the same chance.” Read more here.
The transition to new ownership at Willow Springs International Raceway won’t be without its share of speed bumps. The Drive has learned that in addition to existing businesses and residents being served eviction notices, the facility will close its doors during July and August—the track’s slow months, we’re told—to make room for construction crews. More details here.
Bugatti’s track only Bolide is undergoing its final shakedown runs at the Circuit de Mirecourt in France. The shakedown process involves a team of eight specialists for each session: two quality control drivers, a tire manager, a cooling manager, two mechanics and two electricians. PMW has the details.
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.
