As I was off fishing last week and away from cell phones, iPads and social media for a very much needed digital detox, I thought now was a good time to review what has been happening on Motorsport Prospects since the last update in September, 2021.

Since the last update and especially from the start of 2021, I wanted the Motorsport Prospects blog to focus primarily on race driver development, the business of being a racing driver and the business of motorsport as a whole. The primary reason for this is that Motorsport Prospects is targeted at the racing driver, or those interested in becoming one. In a lot of ways, if you are paying to race there should be something of benefit to you on the blog and in the Directory.

I also wanted to contribute to the greater motorsport community and decided to do so in two primary ways. The first is through coverage of Sustainable Motorsport. Whether through stand-alone articles or the Sustainable Motorsport Round-Up, sustainability will only grow in importance in the following years and will affect motorsport profoundly. But the term “sustainability” is often bandied about without any context, especially when the topic relates to “green” racing. What the Sustainable Motorsport Round-Up and related articles attempt to do is give the race driver that context. Just because you are incorporating sustainability does not mean it is lessening your primary focus on going faster on the track. In fact it may help you to do so.

The second community-related contribution I want the blog to make is in shining the spotlight on the incredible motorsport-related charities that exist. My hope is that anybody who reads the blog will decide to dive deeper into each charity to see what they do and hopefully get involved with those that resonate with them.

Driver Development is Key

Motorsport Prospects Weekly Debrief for June 18, 2021 - For Race Drivers and Those Who Plan to be One

As I mentioned, a prime focus of the site is on driver development. It could be related to a young karter transitioning to cars, a club racer looking to maximize their hobby or a gentleman driver looking to gain extra speed. The driver development-related articles on the blog will be of interest to all.

I have looked at young driver development initiatives in Canada, the UK and Brazil, featured in depth looks at series as diverse as Radical Cup and the Ferrari Challenge while exploring the racing scene in Asia and Australia. I also took a look at motorsport insurance, the importance of the race driver’s brain and why you should consider greentech in your sponsorship acquisition plans.

The Weekly Debrief

Motorsport Prospects Weekly Debrief for July 9, 2021 - Dealing with Pressure, the Basics of Sponsorship and more

One of the biggest additions has been the Weekly Debrief. Posted every Friday, the Weekly Debrief is a look at news, views and resources curated from a global list of reputable motorsport resources. Whether it is related to driver development, the business of being a race driver or the wider business of motorsport, the Weekly Debrief will summarize the best of the week brought to you with links to the sources of information.

Some highlights from the past few months:

The Sustainable Motorsport Round-Up

Motorsport Prospects Weekly Debrief for May 7, 2021 - The Racer's Brain, Formula Woman is Back and More — FIA Electric GT Championship (Image courtesy of the FIA)

It should come as no surprise as I said above that the issue of sustainability in motorsport has become a defining issue in the sport. With that in mind, I launched the Sustainable Motorsport Round-Up twice a month to track developments on this rapidly developing topic. Over the last few months the Sustainable Motorsport Round-Up has covered issues such as:

The Motorsport Prospects Marketplace

Finally, in partnership with Racing Edge I launched the Motorsport Prospects Marketplace, a chance for me to write about historic racing cars and your chance to actually purchase them from a number of prestigious dealers located around the world. In the interests of transparency I should disclose that I do get a commission on all cars sold but you can still read the descriptions of the cars and where you can race them with no obligation to purchase. Here are the cars I have featured so far:

Much More to Come

This is just a taste of what I have featured on Motorsport Prospects over the last 6 months or so. In the coming months look for more useful and comprehensive features in the blog, more listings of teams, series and service providers in the Directory and additional services such as a newsletter and more. Everything on Motorsport Prospects is targeted at the race driver who is looking to improve their racecraft or help with the business of being a race driver. Add to that updates on relevant news regarding the business of motorsport and you have what I hope to be a useful destination for all race drivers regardless of age or skill level. As always, if you have suggestions that you think other race drivers might find useful, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for reading. Stay safe and I will see you at the track!

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.