Vision training both on and off the track are just part of this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. You will also find tips on finding your braking point, the power of visualization, choosing an arrive and drive team as well as an exercise to help develop your peripheral vision.
Add a whole bunch of race series news and some cool (and expensive!) track cars and you have yet another jam-packed edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
On-Track
Blayze Motorsport Coaching looks at Vision on the Race Track – Where to Look While Racing. “The ability for a racer to see more, sooner, and process the track faster can separate great drivers from good drivers. To help develop your vision and to understand where you should look on the track, all you need is practice!”
In the promoted video above, Autosport explains how data plays a role in every area of modern motorsport through equipment supplied by Bosch Motorsport.
“Each and every car in the field, both the LMDhs competing in the GTP class and, from this season, the GT3 machinery that makes up the two GT Daytona categories, carries an important piece of equipment supplied by Bosch Motorsport. Its LTE 65 4G-based real-time telemetry system is the conduit through which the sensor-laden modern racing car sends information back to the pits and up to race control.”
Tommy Schröter, founder and CEO Baseline Driver Training discusses the importance of finding your braking point in his latest column on Motorsport Prospects.
“First off, the ideal braking point doesn’t exist. Your braking point is dependent on many variables like your position on the track, the way you come onto the brake and of course the car’s physical limitations like cold tires or hot brakes.”
Race driver Lucas di Grassi offers his opinion on why drivers aren’t exempt from harnessing AI’s advantages. “When employed judiciously and complemented by adept software development, AI emerges as a potent tool for enhancing efficiency, reliability and safety. Its implementation facilitates the processing of vast data volumes and expedites simulations, thereby improving the cost-effectiveness of motorsport operations more widely.”
Off-Track
In the video above, Enzo Mucci looks at the power of visualization and mental rehearsal for race drivers. “Priming your mind with the forsight and muscle memory needed so you can perform at your best…is a must. Visualization is a great way to do this.”
Blayze explains how the Lateral Wall Ball Throw will help with developing your peripheral vision.
Race Car & Series Developments
PRI Magazine has a great look at midget racing and its role in young driver development. “Although the segment faces some challenges at both regional and national levels, midget racing continues to serve as a springboard into professional motorsports careers for many competitors, and events like the Chili Bowl have become an annual pilgrimage for racers and fans alike.”
Mercedes-AMG is open to the possibility of having its GT3 car eligible in the European Le Mans Series in order to enable for a possible future presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans through automatic invites according to its head of customer racing Stefan Wendl.
Speaking with Sportscar365, Wendl said he’s remained in dialogue with the FIA and ACO regarding a potential future presence on the LMGT3 grids, in either the WEC or ELMS, with the hope of having eligibility at Le Mans.
“We are in contact and we talked about how it came to the result,” he said. “I respect the position of the ACO. We will meet again when they are in Spa [at the WEC event], just to touch base and to keep in contact about the latest developments.”
Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS “needs to adjust” to the evolving sports car racing landscape according to SRO America President and CEO Greg Gill, who said evaluations to the series’ format are underway for the 2025 season.
“There were commercial reasons that people expressed, whether it was vehicles not being available and several other [reasons]. However, we agree with the paddock and have been in conversations with the teams having those type of conversations about what’s best.”
Hyundai Motor Company unveiled the Ioniq 5 N eN1 Cup car at the official practice round for teams participating in the Hyundai N Festival motorsport event. The electric race car is based on the Ioniq 5 N high-performance electric vehicle (EV).
The Hyundai N Festival will feature the eN1 class, providing professional drivers with an opportunity to experience EV racing. The upcoming season will serve as a trial period, allowing teams to test and improve the eN1 Cup car while developing infrastructure and emergency response protocols for EV racing.
“Through the eN1 class, our ultimate aim is to establish Hyundai Motor as a true leader in the EV motorsport platform, fostering the growth and development of Korea’s vibrant motorsport culture while making a resounding impact on a global scale,” said Joon Park, head of N Brand management group. With the eN1 class, we are poised to redefine the future of racing and pave the way for a new era of electrifying motorsport achievements.”
Registrations and Race Entries for the 2024 Clio Cup Great Britain Championship are now open via the championship website. Clio Cup GB is designed for competitors running the latest edition of Renault’s purpose-built Clio Cup race car, purchased from championship partner R-Sport, who also continue their lineage as the official Clio Cup Championship parts supplier. Finance options are available. Please click here to get involved.
Following a successful debut for its Medium-spec (yellow-labelled) LMGT3 Eagle F1 Supersports in Qatar to open the FIA WEC season, Goodyear is ready to debut its wet tire as the European leg of the schedule begins in Imola and the ELMS season gets underway in Barcelona.
According to Daily Sportscar, “The new LMGT3 wet tyre (featuring blue labels), unlike the slicks, is based on the wet tyres developed for Goodyear’s Nürburgring GT3 programme in the NLS and for the 24 Hours, rather than a pure evolution of its ELMS GTE product.”
iSportConnect’s Taruka Srivastav spoke with Akhil Reddy, Managing Director of Racing Promotions to to find out about their racing plans in India. “We are planning to introduce Formula 3 in India by 2026.”
Gainer’s self-constructed Nissan Z GT300 broke cover on the eve of last weekend’s Okayama SUPER GT season opener, but did not run. “Instead, the team will target giving the new Z its debut for next month’s second round of the season at Fuji, assuming a shakedown can be conducted in the interim.”
Formula Scout is reporting that Super Formula Lights has announced the postponement of its round at Twin Ring Motegi on April 27/28, which was supposed to be the season opener due to manufacturing issues.
“SF Lights has also switched to a spec engine supplier for 2024, having previously featured competition between three different brands, but it is problems from its chassis supplier that has led to the start of its season being delayed. Dallara is updating the bellhousing for this year, but in the manufacturing process of those parts it noticed cracks were appearing.”
How do you choose an arrive and drive team that is right for you? Grassroots Motorsports talks to their friend Gino Manley who explains how to find the right team and how the programs work.
Drivex Eurocup-3 driver George Zhuravskiy has expressed concerns that tire sets delivered by Hankook since last year have varied in quality and said this has already affected results from the series’ non-championship Aragón winter round.
“Zhuravskiy said the quality of tyre sets in Eurocup-3 had been inconsistent since series supplier Hankook’s factory plant in Daejeon, South Korea, was destroyed by a fire in March of last year.”
SUPER GT organizer GTA has set itself the target of holding the series’ first overseas race since 2019 at Sepang either next season or the one after.
“We believe it’s essential to restore holding an overseas race,” SUPER GT boss Masaaki Bandoh said in his regular press conference ahead of Sunday’s opening round of the season at Okayama. “We would like to do it [as soon as 2025], but it depends how quickly we can reach a conclusion. Because of the need to submit the calendar [to Japanese national federation JAF], we have to have a plan in place by June. If we don’t have a plan in place by then, most likely it will be the year after next. We’ll work as hard as possible to move in that direction.”
The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia (TGRA) Scholarship Series is back in 2024 to support and help nurture the next generation of Australian motorsport champions, following a highly successful debut season in 2023.
The TGRA Scholarship Series provides an opportunity for young aspiring professional drivers to hone their circuit driving skills in a safe and exciting environment, behind the wheel of a Toyota 86 race car.
Entries for the MSVR All-Comers Series are now open. As the name suggests, this series attracts a diverse range of cars, from popular tin tops to factory-built GTs. And it offers great value for money, with a 20-minute qualifying session and two 20-minute races all taking place in one day, for an entry fee of just £350.
Drivers of all experience are invited to join the grid, whether they’re new to the sport or seasoned experts. The series is open to any closed-wheel Motorsport UK legal car, with two distinct classes:
Class 1 – Factory racing cars, highly modified production cars, and open tops
Class 2 – Classics, hatchbacks, and traditionally road-based cars
As well as offering affordable, competitive fun, former drivers have used the MSVR All-Comers series as a stepping-stone for obtaining the necessary signatures to upgrade to a Motorsport UK National race licence. Click here to enter online.
Women in Motorsports North America has announced the second year of its contingency fund program open to women NASCAR drivers aged 21 and over.
“Coming off the record-setting payouts of the 2023 racing season, Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) is excited to once again offer $200,000 in contingency money supporting women pursuing racing careers in NASCAR-sanctioned racing series. The program utilizes a points system for women drivers 21 years and older with monetary rewards based on race results throughout the 2024 racing season.”
Track Days
According to DuPont Registry, Bugatti‘s latest masterpiece, the $5 Million dollar Bolide, is flipping the script on what we expect from a track-only hypercar.
“But what really sets the Bolide apart is how effortless it’s supposed to feel as you race around the track. Yet, when it’s time to corner or come to a stop, it’s as smooth as your morning coffee. This is all thanks to some clever design work, like its F1-worthy brakes and a seating position that makes you feel like you’re part of the car. With its development phase wrapped up, the Bolide is Bugatti’s nod to its racing roots and pushes the boundaries of hypercar engineering. As it gears up for production, the anticipation is sky-high.”
What broke a class record at Lime Rock Park? Not any ordinary 350Z, but one with hybrid power. “During a Gridlife event at the storied Connecticut track, Sasha Anis laid down a sub-52-second lap in his gas-electric Nissan, beating a heavily modded C6 Corvette by 2.7 seconds.” Watching the car, KERS Kels in action at Laguna Seca in the video above.
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.
