The racing legacy of the Mazda Miata is just one of the topics covered in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. I also have racecraft tips, how to test your new race car and a track test of Mythron’s Austin-Healey restomod.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Here is a trio of racecraft tips from Grassroots Motorsports:
- 3 reasons why you’ll be faster with left-foot braking
- How a driving school can help a newbie
- How a proper game plan can help deliver time trial success
In the world of motorsports, the connection between a driver and their vehicle is often taken for granted, yet it is fundamental to achieving peak performance. This article delves into the intricate relationship between steering feel and driving dynamics, exploring how drivers can harness the information conveyed through their steering wheel to enhance their skills on the track.
From the nuances of tire grip to the importance of maintaining a delicate grip on the wheel, the piece highlights the often-overlooked aspects of vehicle interaction that can make or break a racing experience. If you’re curious about how feel influences driving and want to deepen your understanding of this critical topic, I invite you to read the full article at The Optimum Drive.
Samir Abid of Your Data Driven explains how to test your new race car. “In today’s “Ask Samir,” we’ll walk you through how to test your new race car in a way that maximizes your results.” Read the full article here.
British Touring Car Championship regular Sam Osborne has credited multiple race winner Rory Butcher’s coaching role as he gets set for his seventh season in the series. “Midway through the year, we added Rory to my car crew, and along with Rich [Townsend, engineer] and my side of the team, it progressed us in all areas on and off track.” Read the full article at Autosport here.
Off-Track
Racing is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. While seat time, data analysis, and car setup all play crucial roles in performance, the way you program your mind has a direct impact on your driving ability. One of the most overlooked aspects of mental training is the language we use internally—how we frame our thoughts and commands to ourselves. Read more about the power of positive mental programming in racing at Apex Advisory Racing.
Race Car & Series Developments
In part two of RACER’s look at Mazda’s Miata in motorsport, it looks at the racing legacy of the American sportscar.
“When Mazda introduced the NC model of its Miata for 2006, it also introduced a new series, the MX-5 Cup. Like the Spec Miata formula, Mazda specified an MX-5 Cup race car with certain equipment, and modified with certain parts by the teams and drivers competing with it.”
Read the complete article here.
As part of the first FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) meeting of the year on 26 February, the FIA has announced that this year’s FIA GT World Cup at Macau will feature a revised qualifying format. Daily Sportscar has all the details.
The inaugural FIA TCR World Ranking Final will take place at Vallelunga after an end-of-season date was ratified by the World Motor Sport Council. The event will run from 21-23 November, a week after the TCR World Tour season draws to a close in Macau.
The Radical World Finals 2025 will take place during the inaugural North American CrowdStrike Veterans Race of Remembrance, powered by AWS, set to take place over Remembrance Day weekend, Nov. 7-9.
TCR UK has announced a revision to the calendar for the 2025 season that will see it revert back to the calendar originally revealed in September with Silverstone back on the schedule and Spa being dropped.
From 2025, as part of the FFSA GT French Championship, SRO is launching the GT Academy which will allow all drivers under 30, registered in GT4, to try to win a prize of €150,000 and sporting supervision within the FFSA Academy. More details (in French) can be found here.
In the video above, RJ Till, Vice President of the World Racing League (WRL), reveals how the league has grown into a top-tier destination for endurance racers in this exclusive interview at EPARTRADE’s 5th Annual Race Industry Week. Discover how WRL is making motorsports accessible, team-focused, and exciting for racers of all skill levels.
Unlimited track time, testing data for days, all before competition? Sounds like every Formula SAE student’s dream, right? Well, that dream is a reality at the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack. While the $2000 Challenge has always been open to every make and model of car, they are officially welcoming all Formula SAE teams.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Last week I went inside Max Verstappen’s sim racing plans as he works to bring sim racers into real-world motorsport. In addition to that, this latest edition of the Sim Racing Roundup looks at Sebastian Job’s journey from sim racing to the real thing, how sim racing and virtual testing are new and exciting career paths for neurodiverse talents and why Lewis Hamilton uses an F1 simulator only sparingly.
Track Days
The Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park received word it has to adjust its track configuration. Why? A portion of the track falls within the restricted flight path of Keystone Heights Airport. This was found during a recent FAA audit, according to an email they sent today. Grassroots Motorsports has more details on how this affects the track.
Calabogie Motorsports Park has released the dates of their various track programs with online booking open as of March 1st, 2025.
- Novice Days: Get a taste of the track with a 30-minute lead-follow session—perfect for first-timers. This year, we’re offering TWO Novice Day events on June 14 & September 21.
- HPDE Intro Nights: Experience a relaxed evening on track with coaching to guide you through the basics of performance driving. May 28, June 25, July 30, August 27, & September 24
- HPDE Programs: Half and full-day sessions with expert in-car coaching to help you master your driving technique and build confidence. May 10 – 11, June 12 – 13, July 12 – 13, August 7 – 8, September 6 – 7, October 4 – 5
- Perry Performance Calabogie Lapping Academy: Take your skills to the next level with advanced coaching and hands-on training on our world-class circuit. May 3 – 4
Visit the website for more details: https://calabogiemotorsports.com/
To kick off the 2025 season Radical Motorsport welcomes all Radical owners, all models from all generations, to join them at our home circuit of Donington Park for an exclusive track day.
Once the track has closed all participants are invited to come down to the Radical HQ to meet with fellow Radical owners and the Radical team.
The fee for this event is just £650 per car, with no additional charge for passengers or garages.
Register for the event at https://radical.redpodium.com/radical-exclusive-track-day or email wemakeracers@radicalmotorsport.com for more information.
Caterham’s Big Test Drive event is back! Following the success of last year’s event, the Caterham range will hit the road again to all of their UK retailers with the full selection of our latest models.
This is your chance to get behind the wheel and try one on for size. Our retailers have devised carefully planned routes so that you can enjoy the Pure Simple Fun experience that the Seven is renowned for.
Please note that all events require drivers to be over 25 and have a valid driving license. Their Retailers will contact you directly regarding your test drive and complete license checks.
Be sure to book fast! It’s first-come-first-served.
U.K.-based Mythron Cars has reimagined Austin-Healey’s motorsport-focused model variant raced by both Steve McQueen and Stirling Moss. The Robb Report takes a test drive.
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.
