How drivers train their body and mind to compete in the Dakar Rally is just one of the topics covered in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. I also have tips from the pros on how to maximize corner entry, news on the next Mercedes-AMG GT3 plus much more!
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Corner entry is arguably the most important factor in turning out a good lap time. From your braking technique to your steering inputs, there’s a lot that determines your speed into every corner. In the video above, Guest Editor Scott Mansell, renowned driver coach and founder of Driver61, has chosen this topic for Safe is Fast‘s first video of 2025.
In this video, learn from champion drivers, including Sebastien Bourdais, Marcus Ericsson and Colton Herta, so you too can Maximize Corner Entry.
Grassroots Motorsports has advice on 10 ways to use data to go faster on track. “Let’s say you have a data system and can handle the basics: lap times, max speeds, lap comparisons. But have you thought outside the box about what that equipment can also reveal? Here are some creative ways to use your data system.” Read the full article here.
The video above from Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets is on the art and science of racing in the rain.
Off-Track
Ever wonder how racers train their body and mind for the Dakar Rally. Wonder no more. “The physical and mental demands of racing the Dakar Rally are extreme. We’re riding at 150kph for hours and hours alone in the desert for two weeks. Nobody sees the risks you take and it can feel very lonely out there. That’s why it’s so important to work on both physical and mental resistance. It’s also true that you’re training for a race that cannot be replicated, therefore it’s a challenge.”
Read the full article here.
Applications are open for the Certificate in Coaching Motorsport Cohort 12 starting Thursday 26 March, 2025. The qualification will provide both personalized and collaborative experiences to develop and support coach learning, using a blend of face to face and online videos and workshops as well as practical observation and expert insights. It will cover technical, tactical, physical and mental skills and more importantly, the underpinning coaching principles drawn from best practice within the sporting industry.
This course is for anyone that’s supporting and developing a driver at any stage of their career from grassroots right through to elite. You might be an existing instructor or motorsport coach wanting to develop your skills, or you may be brand new to motorsport coaching. You might even be fulfilling a different supporting role in the industry such as a motorsport engineer, team manager, a parent or even a driver coaching another driver. Whatever your motivation, this course will cover everything you need to know to make your coaching more successful and more effective.
More details can be found at the Motorsport UK website here.
Race Car & Series Developments
Sportscar365 reports that Mercedes-AMG’s all-new GT3 car is slated to begin on-track testing this year according to the brand’s head of customer racing Stefan Wendl, who ruled out a full customer rollout until 2027 “at the earliest.”
The German manufacturer’s new subsidiary Affalterbach Racing GmbH has been charged with developing the successor to the current Mercedes-AMG GT3, which has been in worldwide competition since 2016. The new car is understood to be based on the Mercedes‑AMG GT 63 production car. Read more here.
Toyota has showcased a new racing variant and two GR Yaris-based prototypes at the Tokyo Auto Salon. From 2025, TGR and Rookie Racing intend to compete in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) and the Super Taikyu Series as a united Toyota Gazoo Rookie Racing (TGRR). The new team plans to mark Toyota’s return to the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race after a six-year hiatus, entering with the evolved GR Yaris, which made its world debut at Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 and is equipped with the newly developed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission.
PMW has more on the new cars here.
2025 Race Series News
- FRegional and F4 Middle East relocate final round from Jeddah to Losail (Formula Scout)
- Formula Regional Australia to launch this year as Australian Formula Open spin-off (Formula Scout)
- Looking Ahead with SRO America President Greg Gill (GT World Challenge America)
- Trans Am Series unveils GT1 Challenge for 2025 (RACER)
- TCR Denmark introduces results-based AM class (TCR World Ranking)
- TCR Japan confirms closure ahead of 2025 (Touring Car Times)
- Grassroots Motorsports Editor David S. Wallens to speak at SCCA National Convention about growing grassroots motorsport (Grassroots Motorsports)
- Australian Production Car Series defects to the Australian Auto Sport Alliance-sanctioned (AASA) Super Series (Speed Cafe)
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Chris Walsh is an active-duty member of the United States Air Force, real-world race driver and sim racer and in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup, you will find out how he integrates it all. I also have details on the 2025 edition of the 2025 F1 Sim Racing World Championship, how you can do sim racing for cheap and much more!
Track Days
The 2025 ERA Racing School calendar is ready. On the website you can now book your experience or Racing School program. For business events they have even more possible dates on Circuit Zolder.
- 09-03 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie Sunday
- 17-03 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie
- 31-03 Zolder Formula Experience
- 07-04 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie
- 13-04 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie Sunday
- 28-04 Zolder Formula Experience
- 12-05 ERA Driving Experience
- 26-05 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie
- 26-05 Zolder Formula Experience
- 16-06 Zolder Formula Experience
- 23-06 ERA Driving Experience
- 05-07 ERA Racing School Plus Sat-Sun
- 14-07 ERA Driving Experience
- 27-07 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie Sunday
- 28-07 Zolder Formula Experience
- 04-08 ERA Driving Experience
- 10-08 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie Sunday
- 18-08 Zolder Formula Experience
- 08-09 ERA Driving Experience
- 28-09 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie Sunday
- 29-09 Zolder Formula Experience
- 19-10 ERA Advanced Experience/Rookie Sunday
- 20-10 ERA Driving Experience
- 27-10 Zolder Formula Experience
You can get more information at their website here.
Racing & Testing Opportunities
F.F. Corse has a number of drives and testing opportunities available in the following series:
- British GT Championship
- Creventic 24 Hour Series
- GT Winter Series
- UK and European Testing in a Ferrari 296 GT3
For further information contact F.F. Corse here.
TWOth Autosport are heading back to World Racing League at Barber Motorsports Park and they have race seats available.
“Race seats available in our 2022 Honda Civic TCA and 2018 Audi RS3 LMS TCR. Join us at the beautiful Alabama circuit for testing and 8+7-hour endurance races, February 28 – March 2.” Visit TWOth.Shop for more details.
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.
