Solidifying its reputation as a great race car, the Miata Canada Cup Series is launching in 2024 and you will find the details in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup.
I also have some great racecraft tips that you can use, news on the SCCA Club Spec Mustang and upcoming Lexus GT3 race cars plus more details on the 2024 edition of the Motorsport Games. All this plus learning to drive a Ferrari 250 GTO in this edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
Don’t forget that the Motorsport Prospects Weekly Newsletter is now available so you will not miss out on any news racers can use! Check out the footer of every page on the Motorsport Prospects website and sign up now!
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Dion von Moltke from Blayze explains how to improve your heel and toe braking techniques in his latest Racing Skills In 60 Seconds feature.
Ross Bentley explains that all drivers have doubts, even Lewis Hamilton. It is how you deal with them that makes a champion.
In The Transformation from Gentleman to Gladiator from On Racing Drivers by Terence Dove, he answers the question “How do you switch from your natural personality to the on-track warrior needed to be successful?”
Click on this link for access to this free 7 minute lesson from Your Data Driven‘s beginners data course. It explains how you can use the speed trace to help you quickly find the corners you need to be focusing on.
“You know motorsport data’s potential — it’s why all the pro teams use it. Yet, if you rarely use the systems, rely on self-taught methods, or just don’t know where to start when time is tight, that data can quickly become a costly, untapped resource you’re not fully exploiting.”
Autosport explains the process behind how Porsche selected their next Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior James Wallis.
“Nothing is left to chance when it comes to the meticulous process of selecting the new Junior, but it proved to be a particularly tricky decision this time around thanks to the quality of the drivers applying. Even before getting down to the final four, who took part in an intense shootout at Silverstone at the start of November, some notable drivers had to be eliminated from the running – including the likes of GB3 race winner Matthew Rees and GB4 dominator Tom Mills.”
Formula E’s Jake Dennis explains to the Sports Business Journal what it’s like to push the limits of the Formula E car and his role as a Red Bull simulator driver.
Off-Track
Peter Cate, a seasoned British endurance racer renowned for the most starts in the daunting Nürburgring 24-hour race at the notorious ‘Green Hell’, has carved a successful career over three decades in top-tier racing competitions.
He recently published “RACING HELL” which offers an unfiltered, insider’s look at the world of professional racing. It’s an eye-opening guide for budding racers navigating the industry’s challenges and a revealing read for enthusiasts curious about the real happenings behind the pit garage doors.
Race Car & Series Developments
The highly anticipated Sports Car Club of America® Club Spec concept has moved from theoretical to tangible with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Race Division jumping in to assist in the build and initial test run of an SCCA Club Spec Mustang.
“We worked with SCCA and its partners to source all the parts and get them off to Atomic Autosports for installation,” Chapman said. “It’s a big deal to get the first one of these built, be first to display it, first to show proof of concept, and then actually go out and drive the car,” Chapman added. “Goodyear was first, first, first … which is great and a lot of fun.”
The Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs – Ontario Region (CASC-OR) has announced the introduction of the MIATA Canada CUP Series.
The MIATA CANADA CUP SERIES is a racing competition that features nearly identical Mazda Miata’s, ensuring that the playing field is level for all participants. This means that drivers will have to rely on their skills and abilities (rather than the power of their cars) to win races, making for a more exciting and engaging competition. This also allows for an affordable and accessible entry level option for newcomers looking to get into racing which is a key attribute and goal for CASC-OR.
For racing enthusiasts, the introduction of the MIATA CANADA CUP SERIES Series into the CASC-OR regional road racing series is a dream come true, because as they say… Miata is always the answer! This series provides an opportunity for drivers to compete fairly, showcase their skills, while also giving spectators young and old a chance to witness some of the most exciting motorsport action in the province. So get ready to start your engines and join the thrill that awaits you in the CASC’s new MIATA CANADA CUP SERIES Series for 2024 and beyond.
In news from Australia as reported by Speed Cafe:
- Motorsport Australia and Supercars have decided to bring back the Superlicence, while simultaneously dumping the hard-and-fast requirement for drivers to compete in Super2.
- Supercars and Motorsport Australia have moved to make Supercars more accessible to new drivers – but has Trans Am copped the rough end of the new deal?
- Co-drivers have been banned from starting the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000, Supercars has confirmed
Toyota has launched an eight-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission version of its GR Yaris, designed to be deployed in amateur-level motorsport. This car is heralded as “expanding Toyota’s base in motorsports” and the company states that its new transmission “was developed to enable a wide range of drivers to… compete in races using an automatic transmission that would equal manual transmissions”.
One aim was to make the most of the 1.6 litre I3 turbo engine’s power band by using very close ratio gears, made possible by increasing the number of gears through switching from a six-speed manual to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Toyota says: “The use of highly heat-resistant friction material in the automatic transmission’s gear-shift clutch and enhancements to the transmission’s control software have resulted in world-class gear-shifting speeds.
“The automatic transmission-control software used has been optimised. While conventional gear shifting relies on sensing vehicle behaviour, such as deceleration, g-force, speed, etc, the optimised software also delicately senses the way the driver steps on the brakes and operates the accelerator.”
SRO’s GT1 Sports Club by Curbstone Events will make its U.S. debut during the SRO America event at Circuit of The Americas in May, it has been confirmed. The non-competitive driving program, featuring track-based hypercars and supercars, has been a mainstay of SRO Motorsports Group’s initiatives in Europe in recent years and will now expand to North America for the first time during the May 17-19 weekend.
Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson has provided an update on the introduction of the marque’s next-generation GT3 car, clarifying it is on course for a 2026 debut. “The timeline [for the new car’s introduction] is still 2026-ish, and development continues to go well,” TRD President David Wilson explained to Sportscar365.
F1 Academy has announced a series of changes for the 2024 season, with FIA superlicence points set to be awarded to the top five drivers. A total of 10 points will be awarded to the championship-winning driver, seven for the runner-up, five for third, three for fourth and one for fifth. The minimum requirement to race in F1 is 40.
Wildcard entries will also become commonplace this year, with PREMA set to operate a fourth car which will feature a young talent from the host region. This talent will be identified by the championship and will be eligible to score championship points.
To further driver progression, drivers will be limited to two seasons in F1 Academy, preventing stagnation and ensuring there is no block on emerging talent from joining the grid.
The FIA have released details on the latest updates and preparations for the upcoming 2024 FIA Motorsport Games in Valencia, Spain from 23-27 October, 2024. These include:
- Grand Inauguration at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
- 27 Confirmed Categories: Unprecedented Medal Opportunities
- International Registration and VISA Support
- Entries Open on Monday, 4 March
- Detailed Information on Entry Fees, Licence Requirements and More
Full details can be found here.
Finally, Autosport explains why launching new national championships is getting harder.
“After all, there are many hurdles to overcome. Selecting a reliable car to race. Putting together an attractive calendar to tempt competitors. Identifying a gap in the market that is big enough to secure a decent grid but not so small it is of little interest. But there is also another growing problem that organisers are facing: the ever-increasing complexity of modern cars.”
Track Days
From Goodwood Road & Racing.
Here, we get perhaps the best insight into what it takes to race a Ferrari 250 GTO on the limit, at Zandvoort no less, with a quite incredible dual camera view of the driver’s inputs to the steering and the pedals.
What we can say with near certainty is that this car looks like an absolute joy to drive. The gear shift looks and sounds so assured, while the pedals look to be perfectly placed for an effortless heel and toe.
We get the sense this driver must be pretty well accustomed to sitting behind the wheel of a 250 GTO, because his confidence on the brakes and the throttle pedal are inspiring to say the least. If we weren’t already pining for a go, this has made us think of nothing else.
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.
