How IMSA selects teams for Its the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in this edition of the Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. I also have racecraft tips, 2027 calendar news and much more.
Overview
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
Pro-Am GT racing
In a recent LinkedIn post, Dan Wells of Drivers Lab talks about his experience with Pro-Am racing. “The format, for those outside it, pairs a professional with a paying amateur, a businessman or enthusiast racing for the love of it, sharing one car across a race. The pairing wins or loses together, which means the professional’s real task is not simply to be quick. It is to make the whole package quick, and most of that package is another human being with a demanding day job and a fraction of your seat time.”
Racecraft Tips from Grassroots Motorsports
Here are three articles featuring racecraft tips from Grassroots Motorsports. The first contains tips for success at Road America, the second contains 5 simple rules to be a better driver off and on the track and the third is on the benefits of karting. I link to them both below.
- Go faster at Road America: Racer Tom O’Gorman’s tips for success
- 5 simple rules to be a better driver–both on and off the track
- Kart racing: a more affordable way to hone your driving skills
Mental Performance Coaches Share 3 ways Athletes (and anyone) Can Become Mentally Tougher
Mental toughness is often treated as an essential ingredient of athletic success, but what does it actually mean—and how do elite athletes develop it? This article from The Athletic asks athletes to share the best mental advice they have received, offering practical insights into handling pressure, setbacks, expectations and the psychological demands of high-level competition. For race drivers, where focus and composure can be just as important as outright speed, there are plenty of lessons worth considering.
Speed Secrets: Get Out of the Way!
Getting into the zone is something many race drivers experience, but understanding how to get there—and what might be keeping you out of it—is another matter. In this edition of Speed Secrets, Ross Bentley explores the mental side of performance driving and argues that flow isn’t something you can force. Instead, drivers may improve their performance by identifying the fear, pressure, expectations and other distractions that get in the way of it.
Race Car & Series Developments
Doonan Explains IMSA Entry Selection Process
IMSA President John Doonan has explained to Sportscar365 the entry selection process in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. “When a team expresses interest, we have an entry insight meeting: ‘Team principal, We understand you want to start a team and your two drivers are going to be ‘Driver A’ and ‘Driver B’ and your’e going to race ‘X’ manufacturer and we hear you’re bringing ‘Company A’ as a sponsor. Now we see the framework of your program. We do that with every team; GTP, factory, independent, in the WeatherTech Championship.”
Inside MX-5 Cup: Michelin Tires Let the Drivers Concentrate on the Racing Now and in the Future
In spec racing, the goal isn’t always to make the car faster—it’s to make the racing better. The Michelin tires used in Mazda MX-5 Cup are designed to provide drivers with consistency and confidence, allowing them to focus on driving, strategy and setup rather than managing unpredictable tire performance. Just as importantly for developing drivers, the familiarity of Michelin’s tire technology can help make the transition to other IMSA series more seamless. Read more at RACER here.
Seventh FIA TCR World Tour Round Moved to New Venue
The seventh FIA TCR World Tour round of 2026 has been moved to a new venue in China following changes made by the local promoter. The championship was originally supposed to race at the Hunan International Circuit in Zhuzhou but will instead move to the Zhejiang Circuit, a decision approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council today. The round keeps its original date of October 23-25.
GEDLICH Racing Announces Capacity Grid for 2027 F4 German Championship
GEDLICH Racing has revealed an impressive, international field of competing teams for the 2027 F4 German Championship certified by FIA. Applications totaling over 70 potential entries were registered, showcasing the desire for single-seater racing to return to Germany. A total of 14 teams have ultimately been selected, representing eight nations. Four of the teams are based in Germany itself, including new projects that will energize the motorsport industry marketplace.
2027 Calendar News
- FIA Formula 3 unveils 2027 calendar (F3)
- FIA Formula 2 Championship announce 2027 season calendar (F2)
- New Prologue test to kick-start 2027 GT4 European Series season (GT4 European Series)
- Ultimate Cup Series Releases 2027 Calendar (Ultimate Cup)
- The 2027 Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe calendar is out (Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe)
- Porsche Carrera Cup Deutchland 2027 Calendar released (Porsche)
- Ginetta Winter Series 2027 (Ginetta)
- Tentative 2027 Hoosier SCCA Super Tour Schedule Announced (SCCA)
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Sim Training for Real-World Track Drivers
Sim training for real-world track drivers is just one of the topics covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also have details on another sim to real-world racing transition, why you need to be fit for sim racing and more!
Track Days
I Did the LRS F1 Experience. Here’s How It Works
Want to drive a real Formula 1 car? The LRS F1 experience at Magny-Cours lets anyone over 25 get behind the wheel of an actual F1 car. Here’s everything you need to know – cost, booking, what’s included, and what to expect. This video is a full breakdown of the LRS Formula 1 driving experience in France. I cover:
- How much it costs
- How to book it
- What cars you drive (F4 and F1)
- What the day looks like
- What training you get (spoiler: not much)
- Is it worth it?
DSC Racing European Motorsport Experience 2027
Experience five days built around real European motorsport. Join DSC.RACING for WEC Spa VIP hospitality, a 400 km open-track driving experience at Spa-Francorchamps, four-star accommodations, hosted dinners, concierge transfers, and your choice of Maastricht sightseeing or an optional Nürburgring driving experience.
Moe details can be found here.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects and the host of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. 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.
