Why a comfortable race driver is a faster race driver is just some of the racecraft advice you will receive in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. You will also find out the latest 2026 race calendar developments, why it’s your time to lead and more!
Overview
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
How To Be a Consistent Racing Driver – Part 1. Braking
To Go Fast, First You Must Eliminate Distractions Behind the Wheel
J.G. Pasterjak of Grassroots Motorsports explains how a comfortable driver is a faster driver. “This is not going to be a column about proper driving position. Well, I am going to cover proper driving position, but I also realize that’s been covered to death by people smarter than me, so we’re not going to dwell on it forever. But we are going to talk about the rest of your driving environment, how it impacts your performance on track, and some simple steps you can take to address stuff that could be keeping you from achieving your best lap times.”
Learn From My Mistakes: Don’t Follow All Track Driving Advice Blindly or Literally
Matt Farah of Road & Track explains why it is important to not follow all track driving advice blindly or literally. “I’m an eternal student of cars, and take every opportunity to learn something new about them, particularly about the nuts and bolts of driving them fast and/or sideways, any chance I can get. I’ve done schools, track days, amateur races, and more, for as long as I could drive. I’ve also—through said schools and my access to pros—gotten lots of advice. Most, but not all, has been good.”
How’s Your Driving Mindset?
Recent Motorsport Prospects Podcast guest Ross Bentley of Speed Secrets talks about determining your driving mindset. “In the study, we found—not surprisingly—that drivers with a “growth mindset” got better results than those with a “fixed mindset.””
Racecraft Masterclass On February 9 & 12
Ross is also holding a Racecraft Masterclass on February 9 & 12. “There are drivers, and there are racers. If you want to improve your race results, join my 2-Part Racecraft Masterclass and become an even better racer.” Full details and registration details can be found here.
Analyzing Sonoma Raceway Telemetry: A Machine Learning Project Inspired by Toyota Hack the Track
Richard Benedetti analyzes Sonoma Raceway telemetry in order to hack the track. “Motorsports has always been something I genuinely enjoy. Driving, watching, working on my car, sim racing, all of it. Through this project, I also gained a new appreciation for data analysis as a way to understand racing at a deeper level.”
How to Analyze Your Braking Performance on Track
Samir Abid of Your Data Driven explains how to analyze your braking performance on track. “Braking isn’t the first thing you think of when you’re chasing performance. Setup, lines, throttle application — those feel more tangible. More controllable. Braking just… happens. You do it, and then you’re into the corner. Yet everything you’re able to do in the mid-corner and on exit is a consequence of what you did on entry. And your corner entry is defined by how well you perform on the brakes.”
Focus Forward
Race Car & Series Developments
TCR South America Will Visit Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay
The calendar for the 2026 TCR South America season has been confirmed, with races planned once again for Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
TCR South America – 2026 schedule:
7/8 March – Dos Cristais, Brazil
28/29 March – Autódromo Internacional de Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil
25/26 April – Interlagos, Brazil
12/13 June – Cuiabá, Brazil
25/26 July – Velocitta, Brazil
22/23 August – Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina
12/13 September – TBC, Argentina
3/4 October – TBC, Argentina
7/8 November – Rosario, Argentina
5/6 December – El Pinar, Uruguay
Third Edition of 992 Endurance Cup Confirmed
Creventic has confirmed that the third edition of the Michelin 992 Endurance Cup, a 12-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps exclusively open to Porsche Cup machinery, will be held on Sept. 4-5.
GT Challenge Americas Announces 2026 Schedule
GT Challenge Americas has unveiled their 2026 schedule with races occurring across Central America and the Caribbean. You can see the schedule here.
Super Production Challenge Secures GP3R Spot For Next Five Years
The Super Production Challenge (SPC) series, presented by Nankang, will once again return to tracks in Quebec and Ontario this year. The 2026 season will kick off on May 15, 16 and 17 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, ON), and the famous Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, which takes place on August 7, 8 and 9, will once again be one of the highlights of the season.
The SPC will be one of the most important series on track at Trois-Rivières, something that will continue for many years. Series organizers confirmed the renewal of their agreement with the GP3R for the next five editions. The Super Production Challenge will also remain the featured Friday night race, which always attracts a very large crowd, through 2030.
HSR and VSCDA Announce the North-South GT Challenge
Officials from Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) and the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association (VSCDA) announced today the introduction of the all-new HSR and VSCDA North-South GT Challenge that will showcase the popular era of GT-3, GT-4 and GT Lite (GTL) race-prepared, small-bore GT cars throughout the North and South regions this year. More details can be found here.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Sim Racing as a Talent Pipeline
Sim racing is becoming a great pipeline for talent and in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup you will understand why. I also have details on how three race drivers use the sim to prepare for real world competition and much more!
Track Days
The Ultimate Expression of the Ford Mustang | Mustang GTD Liquid Carbon vs. Mustang GT3
IMSA took the Mustang GTD Liquid Carbon to VIR and lined it up with the Mustang GT3 to show how much race-car tech actually carries over. From its fully exposed carbon-fiber body to the weight-saving details, the GTD puts its construction on display in a way that mirrors the GT3’s track-focused design.
British Palace To Be Centerpiece of ‘Genuinely Different’ New Motorsport Event
A historic event, won by 1976 F1 champion James Hunt when launched more than 50 years ago, is set to stage a remarkable return next year. ‘Rewind Tour Britain’, set for May 27-30, 2027, is a new multi-discipline three-day event that will combine aspects of circuit racing and rallying, as was the case when it was initially run in 1973, with Hunt emerging victorious. More details on the event can be found here.
Racing & Testing Opportunities
Radical Cup UK Exclusive Track Day at Donnington Park
The first 2026 dates to experience the latest Radical SR3 XXR at Donington Park Circuit are now live, with full factory support, coaching and catering included. Details can be found here.
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.
