Racing fuel is feeling the effects of the war in the Middle East and this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup explains how. I also have details on how the Madring is getting ready for their F1 debut, the latest motorsport sponsorship deals and more.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
The Madrid Model That Shows a Different Way of Building an F1 Race
Speaking to Sector, MADRING General Manager Luis Garcia Abad explains how Madrid’s new Formula 1 race is being built around existing infrastructure, commercial integration and long-term delivery.
“Unlike traditional circuits or temporary street races, MADRING is being developed using a combination of existing infrastructure and public roads, with the project designed to sit within the city rather than on its outskirts.”
Read the full interview here.
Coming to America: MotoGP Eyes US Boom as COTA Invests in Entertainment
As Liberty-owned MotoGP looks to expand its fanbase, Circuit of the Americas is embarking on its own entertainment-led transformation. Motorsport Magazine’s Adam Wheeler speaks to the key figures hoping for a surge of new motorbike racing support in the US.
“Every year this place gets more and more full. It’s cool to see the crowd slowly moving its way up to Turn 1 and the grass bank up there. It’s impressive,” said Prima Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller. “COTA itself is extremely proactive as a racing circuit in terms of updating facilities and changing bits of asphalt. Can’t complain at all.”
Four Takeaways from the 2026 BlackBook Motorsport Forum
Motorsport is undergoing a significant transformation. That was the overwhelming consensus across a series of panels at the 12th edition of the BlackBook Motorsport Forum, which saw over 400 attendees descend on the Mercure London Earls Court hotel. Here are the four takeaways from the 2026 BlackBook Motorsport Forum.
Lamborghini €3.2B Record Year Meets First In-House GT3
Lamborghini achieved its strongest financial year with €3.20 billion in revenue in 2025 while preparing its first-ever fully in-house GT3 race car. Set to debut at Sebring, the program highlights the proven link between factory racing and enhanced supercar brand value and sales. Vantage explains.
Global Fuel Crisis Starting to Affect Motorsport
With the conflict in the Middle East showing no signs of abating, the price of racing fuel is starting to become an issue. Here are three examples of its impact.
- Motorsport Australia ‘closely monitoring’ fuel crisis (SpeedCafe)
- ‘Frantic’ Bathurst 6 Hour fuel miracle explained (SpeedCafe)
- Kaulig Racing says fuel prices put a dent in NASCAR budget (Motorsport.com)
SRO Partners with CieloVision for AI-Powered GT Monetization
SRO Motorsports America has partnered with CieloVision to integrate AI-powered spatial intelligence into GT events. The collaboration delivers new interactive fan experiences and data-driven revenue streams for 2026, building on 40% digital growth in 2025. Vantage explains how the partnership will work.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
Highest-Paid Athletes of All Time and More
- Highest-Paid Athletes All-Time: Jordan, Tiger, Ronaldo Lead (Sportico)
- F1 Tripled its Overtakes. Its Biggest Stars Want You to Know That’s a Problem (Business of Speed)
- How a Motorsport PR Firm Turns a Formula 1 Grand Prix Into a Global Media Product (David Skilling)
- How F1 Became the Crown Jewel of the Experience Economy (Paddock Journal)
- It’s official: Pitt Race is sold for $50 million (Grassroots Motorsports)
- Safety Device Approved by FIA to Support Drivers with Disabilities (FIA)
- Tag Heuer opens SoHo flagship (Fashion Network)
- When Art Meets Asphalt: Richard Phillips and the Project 1 Le Mans Art Car (Porsche Motorsport Community)
- Twelve tonnes of Formula 1 KitKat bars stolen in Europe (The Athletic)
- Why 95% of American Race Teams Are Not Financially Healthy By Will Marotti, Founder, Speedway Venture Studio (Will Marotti)
- Verstappen’s journalist spat exposes a greater issue in undervaluing media (Autosport)
- Franco Colapinto and BWT Alpine Formula One Team to bring Formula One to Buenos Aires in historic road show (Alpine)
- Skip Barber Racing and XLR8 Pictures Launch Skip Barber Studios (Skip Barber)
- IHRA Acquires Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School (Drag Illustrated)
- F1 Steering Wheel Cost and How It Works (RTR Sports Marketing)
- F1 2026: When Manufacturers Write The Rules (Parker Kligerman)
- Beyond the Racetrack: Interview with Group Chief Operating Officer, Alex Miotto Haristos (Business Focus)
- Kansas Passes Law Protecting Existing Racetracks From Noise Complaints (Motor 1)
- Adam Tropper Named 2026 Rod Campbell Award Recipient (RTD)
- How 16 motorsport series grew their audiences (The Commercial Table)
- Street tracks – Formula 1 moving in as Formula E moves out? (Pole)
- James Warburton to depart Supercars (SpeedCafe)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme: A Practical Sustainability Framework
The FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme is a practical sustainability framework for motorsport and in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup you will find out how. I also have news of sustainable racing in Japan both in race cars and on motorcycles and much more!
The Numbers This Week
Motorsports viewership on U.S. TV last week (via Adam Stern)
1) NASCAR Cup (FS1): 2.394 million viewers
2) NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (The CW): 1.198 million
3) INDYCAR (Fox): 906,000
4) MotoGP™ (Fox): 417,000
5) High Limit Racing (FS1 + FloSports): 183,000 [92,000 on FS1 + 91,000 on Flo]
- NASCAR averages 2.4m viewers at Martinsville as IndyCar drops below 1m for first time this season (BlackBook Motorsport)
- IndyCar on FOX ratings flatten out for Barber (RACER)
Motorsport Law Roundup
Gibbs Seeking Additional Expedited Discovery After Disclosure of Deleted Text Messages
Joe Gibbs Racing has filed a second motion in the Western District of North Carolina seeking expedited discovery in its lawsuit against former competition director Chris Gabehart.
“The deletion of these text messages justifies additional expedited discovery, which is necessary to preserve relevant evidence that is at risk of being lost before merits discovery, and to provide greater information about the circumstances leading to the deletions,” the motion states. “Expedited discovery is also necessary because Gabehart and Dickerson’s conduct demonstrates a risk of concealment of dissemination and use of JGR’s Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and delay in identifying the extent of what is being hidden risks further irreparable harm to JGR.”
Judge Wants ‘Hard Evidence’ in JGR Trade Secrets Case
Meanwhile, after a 35-minute recess last week, a federal judge said she needed more time before ruling on Joe Gibbs Racing’s request for a preliminary injunction against the team’s former competition director Chris Gabehart.
“I want to dig my teeth into this,” US District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez said. “It’s really important for the court to get this right. There is a livelihood and there are businesses on the line.”
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
Red Bull F1 & Indeed, Haas & Godzilla Plus More Sponsorship Deals
- Red Bull leans into F1 workforce strategy with Indeed deal (Sector)
- Chesney to join the ranks of Meyer Shank SiriusXM liveries at Barber (RACER)
- As Jordan Brand ties strengthen, 23XI translates hot start into commercial momentum (Sports Business Journal)
- United Autosports: Team partners with Take Heart Mercy Mission Charity for European Le Mans Series campaign to raise awareness for open heart surgery in children (United Autosports)
- British F4 and Wera Tools extend successful title partnership into 2026 (British F4)
- Godzilla on the grid: Inside Haas’ monster F1 partnership (Sector)
- Precision In Endurance Racing: SetupWizzard Becomes Official Partner Of The 24H SERIES (24H Series)
- Aspen Group By Lantmannen Becomes Official Fuel Partner For Michelin 24H SERIES (24H Series)
- How MADRING is building its partner ecosystem within F1 (Sector)
Team & Manufacturer News
How the Leading F2 Teams Got There and More
- What makes F2’s best teams so strong? (Feeder Series)
- 2 Seas Confirms GT3 Silver-Am Duo For BGT Season (Daily Sportscar)
- Ford ticking off the milestones as Hypercar development process continues (RACER)
- Ford reveals first test plan for new WEC LMDh prototype (Autosport)
- 2026 Shaping Up To Be Critical For Peugeot’s Hypercar Programme (Daily. Sportscar)
- Paradine Competition Enters Ginetta Juniors (Daily Sportscar)
- Indy 500 entry update: Abel Motorsports readying to step up again (RACER)
- Genesis Reveals Livery for Hypercar Debut (Sportscar365)
- Genesis Magma Racing drivers look ahead to team’s first FIA WEC season (Hyundai Motorsport)
- Honda aims to run six bikes in MotoGP next year (Autosport)
- Pfaff Confirms Temerario GT3 Entry for Long Beach With Vanier (Sportscar365)
- Hillenburg Motorsports Enters the FR Americas Formula Racing Series for the 2026 Season (Racing America)
- Is Peugeot finally ready for takeoff? (RACER)
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.
