Porsche Cars GB has begun their 2026/2027 Junior Driver search and in this week’s Driver Development Roundup I have the details on how you can apply. I also have a guide to getting started in motorsport, how TC Lite aims to get young drivers into touring cars and the inspirational story of Torsten Gross. All this and much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Porsche Carrera Cup GB is launching its search for a promising young racing driver to become the next RAFA Racing Club Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior. One of the most sought-after opportunities in UK motorsport, the Junior role turbocharges the career of its ambitious recipient, with former Junior drivers continuing on to the pinnacle of international endurance racing.
Eligible candidates for the 2026 / 2027 RAFA Racing Club Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior Programme must have been born between 30/11/2003 and 04/11/2009, hold a valid Motorsport UK Race National licence (equivalent, or higher) as a minimum by 04/11/2025, and have previously competed in no more than two Porsche Carrera Cup GB race weekends. Applications open on 4 August 2025, and the deadline is 27 August 2025 at midnight. An application form, further details and a short video can be found at racing.porsche.com/en-GB/carrera-cup-great-britain/junior-programme.
Motorsport is intense, and full of career possibilities. But let’s be honest: it’s a small world, and getting noticed takes more than just passion. Whether you dream of working in Formula 1 or be at the heart of grassroots racing, here’s a clear roadmap to get your career off the starting grid. The Winfield Racing School has produced a short guide to how to start your career in motorsport. You can access it here.
The Asian Motorsport website asks the question, is Red Bull doing enough to support Asian talent in motorsport? “For a company that’s half-owned by the Thai Yoovidhya family and operates across continents, Red Bull’s global motorsport footprint is unmistakable. From Formula 1 to MotoGP, WRC to drifting, their branding is everywhere. But when you look closer, particularly at their Formula driver development programs, one question keeps surfacing: Where are the Asian drivers?”
Dr Maja Czarzasty-Zybert has put together a very helpful guide to building an Inclusive Motorsport Program from scratch. “What if we created a development program for neurodivergent individuals in motorsport? Not as an addition, but as a foundation for rethinking racing, education, and talent.”
The Shift Up Now Foundation has announced a new, multi-event activation partnership with M1 Concourse, including the American Speed Festival and the inaugural Ladies Race of Champions (LROC), taking place on October 4-5, 2025 at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, MI. As part of the partnership, M1 Concourse has also been named Platinum Sponsor of “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” on October 25, 2025.
The FIA will focus on TC Lite and the TCL4/TCL5 regulations as stepping stones into touring car racing for young drivers, whilst retaining the partnership with TCR rights holder WSC Ltd to keep TCR at the top of the touring car pyramid.
“What we’re focusing on separately ourselves is actually the junior levels because what we see is that even if we look at most of our drivers, it’s probably an ageing demographic. We have a lot of guys that go into touring cars and what we need to do is to bring more young people into touring cars.”
This year’s Formula 3 grid has drivers with vastly different experience levels. Aside from plenty of rookies like Alessandro Giusti and returnees such as Nikola Tsolov, others such as Brad Benavides have come back after competing in other championships. Feeder Series talked to all three drivers ahead of round nine of the season about how their prior campaigns have shaped their 2025.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Silverstone-based race team FF Corse has announced a partnership with Base Performance Simulators, which will offer a bespoke home simulator, tailored to drivers of Ferrari race cars. To complement the partnership, BPS and FF Corse have co-developed the official FF Corse Blade simulator – a purpose-built training tool designed for driver development.
“This partnership with FF Corse marks another step in our goal to provide a one-stop shop for elite driver development,” said James Guess, managing director of Base Performance Simulators.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Sim racing vs karting, is the future of motorsport development edging towards sim racing? This is one of the topics covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also have the latest tech news, some sim racing tips and advice plus much more!
Driver Development Pathways
“Just Hands: For the Love of Racing,” a four-part docuseries from Sonic Gods Studios, has launched on Prime Video. It follows the journey of Pennzoil ambassador Torsten Gross, a quadriplegic driver and founder of the Just Hands Foundation, as he challenges convention and competes at the top level of GT racing.
“Visibility matters, big time. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” said Torsten.” When I got into motorsports, I noticed something missing: people like me. The few disabled driver stories were about racers who got injured and came back. But what about someone like me – someone who was already in a chair and wanted to race? This docuseries proves that race, gender, orientation, and ability don’t define success.”
You can get more information on the Just Hands Foundation here.
As the son of a former Formula 1 driver, Dayton Coulthard carries a famous name into his early steps in motorsport. But don’t expect his father, David Coulthard, to be the next Jos Verstappen. The 13-time Grand Prix winner is approaching his son’s racing journey with a different mindset — one grounded in experience, realism, and patience. ““There’s thousands of young racers each year who all want to be Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton or whatever. And maybe in every five-year period, you’ll get one person that’s capable.” Read more at GP Blog.
The 2025 NASCAR Euro Series season marks an exciting chapter for the van Laere family, with Sven van Laere making his return to the OPEN Championship and his son, Maxim van Laere, embarking on his rookie journey in the Rookie Challenge. The two, who share a passion for racing, are facing the challenges of this unique motorsport adventure together, blending experience and fresh ambition in a way that inspires the entire NASCAR Euro Series paddock. You can read their story 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.
