This week on Racecraft & Driver Development News, Tips & Techniques, I have some great racecraft and driver development info from all the sources you trust. Tips on how to make the most of onboard video, pit stop techniques, advice from Tom Wells on motorsport career planning, a new driver diversity development program, transitioning from Esports to real world racing and more.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
- Grassroots Motorsports has a great article on How To Make the Most of Onboard Video. “A typical racer’s first foray into video collection tends to be at the novelty level—something to share the excitement with friends and family. That morphs into posting video on social networking sites and YouTube for the whole world to see. But that’s not all video can do. Video can—and should—make you a faster driver.”
- Looking to improve your pit stop performance? Here are an article and video that may help.
- Motorsport Maps have announced their new rewards program. There are now many ways to earn discounts on all of their products. Every purchase you make or friend you refer earns you points towards your next purchase. You can sign up here.
Driver Development News & Resources
- Buggyra ZM Racing and Motors Formula Team have joined forces with the target of entering the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours with a lineup and team mostly of African descent. The two teams have launched an “Equality and Diversity Program” to support young drivers, engineers and other professionals from non-traditional backgrounds into motorsports, with its first step taking on “selected GT series” with Mercedes-AMG machinery including the the 24H Series presented by Hankook with Playstation GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough. “By supporting talented young drivers who will join our Academy program in Europe and the Middle East we want to instigate change.” Look for my interview with MFT founder Ludovic Peze tomorrow on Motorsport Prospects.
- On Episode 006 of the Speed Secrets Podcast, Tom Long and Ross Bentley discuss what it takes to climb the ladder from club racer to being a paid professional driver for a factory IMSA team, the Mazda Road to 24, what a young driver needs to do to gain a pro drive, and finally, how to adapt to driving a car with aerodynamic downforce. You can also read my interview with Tom here.
- Allen Berg Racing Schools has created a brand new program called Electrified Training Systems. This specialized program is for teaching the driving skill sets necessary to properly operate electric vehicles. Allen Berg Specialized teaches the driving skills necessary for optimum battery life (range), optimum regenerative braking re-charging as well as high-performance training related to electric motor torque and advanced driver-assist / connected car technologies. More information can be found here.
- If you are looking for some information on Porsche’s Rookie Program, you can find it on the Porsche website here. “Up to eight Rookies are supported by an experienced coach, and receive individual training in all the different skills that professional racing drivers have to master. In addition to driving, the focus is on fitness, mental training, personal development, and marketing/sponsor acquisition. What’s more, as part of the “Meet the Legends” lecture series, Rookies get to spend some time with former Porsche factory drivers who were also successful in the Supercup – and get valuable first-hand tips for their own career. The programme gives Rookies in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup the best possible chance of developing into truly great drivers.”
- Mortiz Löhner has made a successful leap from sim racing into real-world motorsport, and you can too. No, really. Watch the video above for more.
- Junior series in UK motorsport have been thriving and attracting young drivers in ever greater numbers. Autosport looks at the phenomena and explains why with a look at three key series leading the way.
- Race Chix have announced the schedule for some of their upcoming Motorsport 101 Courses. “Our Motorsport 101 course is for Chix who are starting out on their motorsport journey, who haven’t participated in any track days or have only participated in one or two track days. Participants will learn the fundamentals of participating in motorsport from a theory and practical perspective. Motorsport 101 takes place on a wet skid pan where they will learn the capability and limits of their car and will learn advanced driving techniques for whilst they’re on track.” The next one is at Sandown International Motor Raceway on Friday 24 June with registrations closing June 19. Full details can be found here.
- The recently announced Women in Motorsports North America has an excellent resource guide as part of their Women in Motorsports North America Network. It is a listing of “inclusive and resourceful programs for women in motorsports.” You can get the full details here.
- Finally, in the video above, Enzo Mucci shows you how to control your anger and frustration. “Getting angry and frustrated is all part of the game, but it’s your job to prevent it from hampering your performance.”
Driver Snapshots
Learning from the experience of others is key to succeeding in any walk of life and racing is no different. In Driver Snapshots, I feature the experiences of various drivers where you can get some perspective on what they have gone through (and continue to go through) as they work to make their motorsport careers happen. I hope you can take some lessons from these experiences and apply them to your own motorsport careers.
Erica Enders and the Power of Tenacity
She wasn’t always good, and she readily admits it. Today, however, Erica Enders is one of the best drivers in Pro Stock, in part thanks to her father’s “never quit” direction. In How Erica Enders leveraged tenacity to become a Pro Stock champion, she explains how she did it.