So, you want to become a racing driver. It’s expensive, a lot of hard work and there is no guarantee of success. This week in the Driver Development Roundup you will find some advice on how to get going.
In addition to this, you will learn how to deal with tough times in your racing career, 7 things young drivers should avoid and how to race in the UK for under £25k. All this and much more in this week’s edition of the Driver Development Roundup on Motorsport Prospects. Its news aspiring race drivers can use.
So you want to become a race driver? Ginetta has published a step-by-step guide on how to become a racing driver with some great tips on how to and advice no matter what series you plan to compete in.
Toni Calderon looks at the Top 7 Mistakes Young Race Car Drivers Should Avoid. “Navigating the world of motorsports is tricky for even a veteran like me, but for young drivers and eager dads looking to make their mark in racing it can be not only frustrating, but also extremely expensive. Making the wrong decisions when you start your racing career can quickly lead to empty trophy cases and even emptier bank accounts.”
So, you’ve just lost an easy race win by putting the car in the wall due to your own mistake. How do you bounce back from that? This is the first video from Safe Is Fast in a new series where the topic has been chosen a guest driver editor! Our first is Indy 500 winner and 2016 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Simon Pagenaud, who chose ‘How To Deal With Tough Times In Racing’.
Episode #158 of the Motorsport Coaching Podcast is called “Think. Race. Win” and looks at The Complete Driver Coach by motorsport veteran Wes McDougall. “It’s basically aimed at any race driver that wants to be improving themselves.”
You can listen to the podcast here.
Pitlane Developments have a handy checklist of things all race drivers should be doing in the off-season. While you may not be racing, you must remain focused on doing the tasks that need to be done in order to make your next year of racing the best one yet!
In the video above, Enzo Mucci explains how you can race for under £25k in the UK via cost-effective club racing. If you are not based in the UK he gives some hints on what you can do as well. Great, actionable advice as usual.
WISH TV looks at how Penske Entertainment seeks to increase racial diversity in motorsports. “We needed to change the culture and the expectations that folks have about maybe this sport is not for me. Maybe basketball is for me, or football is for me,” said Jimmie McMillian, the chief diversity officer of Penske Entertainment.
Porsche New Zealand is pleased to announce that the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia scholarship driver for the 2024 season is Brock Gilchrist. The scholarship allows Gilchrist to race in a 911 GT3 Cup Car, with the support of Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) and Earl Bamber Motorsport.
With a newly-announced investment from Velocity Capital Management, Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) is ready for its best year yet as it heads into the 2024 race season. Stronger than ever, the organization is set for monumental growth with additional SpeedTour events added to the calendar, new race series set to launch, substantial growth plans for existing series, and new partnerships and alliances to expose new participants and audiences to SpeedTour.
“I’ve been seeking the right partner to help me realize my vision for Parella Motorsports Holdings, and I am thrilled to be collaborating with the Velocity team,” said Tony Parella, Chief Executive Officer of PMH. “I feel like we finally have the right recipe to achieve our true potential, and I’m excited to lead PMH through this next chapter of growth. With Velocity’s support, we have exactly what we need to grow both organically and through acquisitions. The 2024 season is going to be fun.”
PMH will continue to fulfill its purpose of enabling racing dreams through various partnership and scholarship programs. Activating programs like the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship, the Radford Racing School F4 U.S. Karts to Cars Scholarship, and scholarship-based championship prizes, the organization will continue to provide opportunities for drivers looking to take the next step in their motorsports career.
McLaren Racing Engage, the team’s flagship DE&I program, is adding FIA Girls on Track UK in its roster of strategic partners in order to foster a more diverse and inclusive culture in motorsport. FIA Girls on Track UK aims to inspire girls and women to explore pathways into motorsport through a program of events and mentorship across a networking community of fellow women.
Hot off the heels of the 2023 Mazda Spec MX-5 Shootout and with the 2024 Spec MX-5 season quickly approaching, Slipstream Performance has been selected to run the Mazda Motorsports’ Club Racing Factory Team from 2024 onwards.
Founded by Keven Stelly in 2015 to primarily focus on Mazda MX-5 Cup, Slipstream Performance aims to bring unparalleled professionalism to the club racing paddock as Spec MX-5 embarks on its first season as a National Championship eligible SCCA road racing class. With over 20 years of Mazda technical experience, Stelly has been mentored by the best-of-the-best in the racing industry, seeing Slipstream Performance win the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship just 2 years after entering the IMSA-sanctioned series in 2018.
Kevin Stelly, Team Principal Slipstream Performance: “I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Mazda as Slipstream Performance takes on the role of Mazda Motorsports’ Club Racing Factory Team. I am particularly excited about the prospect of working with emerging talents through the Mazda Scholarship program. Mazda Motorsports’ initiative offers a fantastic chance for aspiring young racers to establish their reputation in the racing world. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to join Spec MX-5 as it embarks on its inaugural season as an SCCA National Class, and I’m eager to bring elements of the professional mindset from MX-5 Cup to aid these talented young racers in their preparation for a career in professional motorsport.”
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former 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.
