Rwanda is in line for a future Grand Prix according to recent reports and you will find the details in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on IMSA’s future, the latest motorsport legal news and more.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
F1 to Return to Africa for Brand New Grand Prix in Rwanda
Formula 1 is to return to racing in Africa, RacingNews365 has learned from multiple sources. It is understood from well-placed sources in the paddock that Rwanda will be granted the opportunity to host a grand prix, with the race set to join the calendar in 2030. “According to our information, an agreement has been reached, and an official announcement could come later on this year – potentially in the coming weeks.”
F1’s Cost Cap Fix: What’s Actually Proposed, and for When
Formula 1 teams are set to discuss a potential overhaul of financial regulations for 2027 aimed at ending what has been labelled a “cost cap trap” for smaller squads. The Race has learned that the idea of a catch-up mechanism being added to the cost cap is set to be raised at the next meeting of the F1 Commission, which takes place in November.
“The plan is being pushed for by Williams boss James Vowles, who wants revised cost cap rules in place for the start of next season to avoid what he thinks has become a “two-tiered” F1, where the big four teams have pulled away from the chasing pack.”
Malaysia Eyes Permanent F1 Return
Despite a somewhat chaotic race last weekend, Malaysia is eying a potential return to the F1 schedule, with an estimated RM345 million boost in economic spillover for Malaysian micro, small and medium enterprises, according to the government. ““I had the opportunity to hold a meeting with the President who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, before the race began,” said Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim. “We discussed the prospects of reinstating the Malaysia Grand Prix permanently in the Formula 1 calendar, thereby fulfilling the long-standing desire of fans who have eagerly awaited its return to Sepang.””
Saudi F4 Races on as Airport Attacks Raise Travel Concerns
While F1 is due to make a decision about its Middles East races by the middle of this month, Saudi F4 races went ahead this week despite airport attacks in the region. “Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said three people were killed and 36 injured in separate attacks targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 6–7 October. Both incidents caused material damage, and Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility. Neither airport is the championship’s Jeddah venue.”
Doonan Says IMSA ‘Just Scratching the Surface’ of Popularity Growth
Momentum, energy, stability. Those were the key themes of IMSA President John Doonan’s 2026 State of the Sport Address at Road Atlanta. “Nielsen Scarborough (a market research and consumer analytics service) put out a report saying that IMSA in 2026 is the fastest-growing form of motorsport in the United States,” Leigh Diffey, who co-presented the presser with Doonan, said. “I feel like we’re just scratching the surface,” Doonan added.”
Ukraine asks FIA to Address Alleged Sporting Violations by Russian Automotive Federation
Ukraine’s National Sporting Authority (ASN), the Federation Automobile d’Ukraine (FAU), has asked the FIA Senate and FIA World Motor Sport Council to address what it claims are violations of the FIA Statutes and International Sporting Code by the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF).
“We are surprised by the position of the authorized bodies of the FIA, which are trying to hush up this situation,” said FAU President Oleksandr Feldman. “For example, our appeal of 26 August to the FIA Ethics Committee, requesting urgent consideration of the violator’s actions, not only provoked no reaction but was left entirely unanswered. It is precisely because of the inaction of the FIA bodies that we propose to bring this issue before the General Assembly.”
USA Returns as WRC Confirms Landmark 15-Round 2027 Calendar
The World Rally Championship will finally be returning to the USA for the first time since 1988 following the confirmation of the 2027 calendar. It marks the end of a long journey for the WRC to break into the lucrative USA market having earmarked North America as a key area for expansion.
Motorsport Kenya and Government Hold High-Level Talks on the Future of the Sport
Motorsport Kenya Federation (MK-F) recently held a high-level meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, and Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi at Talanta Plaza, with discussions centered on the future of motorsport in Kenya, the upcoming World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally and the revival and development of national motorsport.
IHRA-Owned Racetracks Listed For Sale As Saga Continues
The future of several established American drag racing venues is now in doubt as the turmoil surrounding the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) continues. This article from Dragzine reports that multiple tracks acquired under IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell—including GALOT Motorsports Park, Piedmont Dragway, Milan Dragway, National Trail Raceway and Dragway 42—have been listed for sale. The developments follow cancelled events, the collapse of the IHRA’s professional tour and growing uncertainty about the organization’s direction.
Watch on Sunday, Learn on Monday: You Made the Wrong Call. What Happens Next?
In motorsport, making the wrong strategic call is inevitable. What separates the best teams from the rest is how they respond when a decision doesn’t deliver the expected result. This article from Ignition Performance explores what happens next when a race team gets it wrong, highlighting the importance of reviewing decisions, learning from mistakes and adapting quickly rather than dwelling on the outcome. For drivers and teams alike, it’s a valuable reminder that setbacks can become a competitive advantage when they’re used to make better decisions the next time around.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- How Petit Le Mans Helped Save Endurance Racing (Autoweek)
- McLaren’s £500m Investment Signals a Major Win for British Motorsport and Automotive Manufacturing (R50)
- The new Motorsport UK Growth Grant Scheme is now open (Motorsport UK)
- BlackBook Motorsport Forum USA (BlackBook Motorsport)
- “We Belong Here”: Ann Doherty’s Road to Le Mans (Mlle’s Substack)
- F2 and F3 drop Spa and Budapest for 2027 as part of global expansion (Formula Scout)
- Private Equity and Fund Investment in Sport (JD Supra)
- The Women Putting Southeast Asian Motorsport on the Map (Paddock Journal)
- SPORTEL Monaco 2026: Three Days, One Global Sports Media, Tech and Marketing Community (iSportConnect)
- The Formation’s mission to bring women together through F1 (The Race)
- How McLaren Racing’s CEO Made $108 Million Last Year (Huddle Up)
- Blanksby pushes growth agenda at Motorsport Australia (Auto Action)
- A Lunch with the CEO of Liberty Media (Esses)
- Leveraging racing’s raw sense of sound, Apple to deploy Dolby Atmos audio experience to F1 (SBJ)
- F1 commercial partnerships chief Jonny Haworth departs (Sector)
- Christian Horner received £67 million payoff from Red Bull (Money in Sport)
- RIGHT TO RACE UPDATE: Inroads in Ohio Continue (PRI)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Formula E Prepares for New Era
Formula E is preparing for a new era with new cars, new teams and new tracks and I have the details in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have news on the MAHLE Eco Rallye, Forze Hydrogen Racing and more.
Motorsport Law Roundup
JGR Given Court Deadline to Specify Allegations of Stolen Trade Secrets
Joe Gibbs Racing has been ordered to submit a final statement by the end of next week on the alleged trade secrets it says were misappropriated by its former competition director Chris Gabehart and/or his new employer, Spire Motorsports.
The ruling came Wednesday from U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler, who had heard arguments on five motions to compel discovery on Oct. 1. Spire Motorsports, Gabehart and JGR all filed motions. During that hearing, Spire Motorsports told the court that Gibbs keeps adding to the list of what it claims is a trade secret.
Sponsorship, Licensing and the Value of IP in Sport: Lessons from the F1 Paddock
Formula One’s commercial ecosystem of licensing, sponsorship, merchandise programs and content strategies offers a surprisingly broad array of fascinating lessons. CITMA explains what they are.
Williams Begins £1 Million Legal Case Over Historic Chassis Return
Williams has begun £1 million legal proceedings against a garage owner in the UK, over a historic model that had been loaned but not returned. The team is seeking to recover a Williams FW23, the team’s 2001 car, from the former owner and shareholder of Autotech Performance Ltd in Telford.
Formula E Commercial Legal Director Position Available
Formula E is looking for a proactive, experienced and highly effective Commercial Legal Director to manage and oversee the contractual and legal framework relating to the commercial activities of Formula E. Reporting to the General Counsel, the Commercial Legal Director will be responsible for the development of key media, sponsorship, and commercial projects across the business, as well as supporting the implementation of legal AI tech tools to assist with streamlining processes across the legal team. In addition to working with the General Counsel and the wider legal team, this role will also interact closely with other senior stakeholders within the business.
This is a newly created role which is highly commercial in nature and provides significant scope for strategic input, personal development and genuine ownership of crucial growth areas of Formula E’s business. Full details can be found here.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
- Aston Martin Aramco welcomes BK8 News as Global Partner (Aston Martin F1)
- Why Are So Many People Talking About Nike Potentially Returning to F1? (Paddock Journal)
- Top 5 WEC & Le Mans Endurance Sponsorship Agencies: 24-Hour Global Exposure for Brands (Finger Lakes 1.com)
- How to Launch an F1 Partnership: Great F1 Partnership Announcement Examples (Outlap Agency)
- Legal tech meets motorsport at Silverstone (Legal Insider)
- StubHub Enters NASCAR with Garrett Smithley Partnership Ahead of Homestead-Miami Finale (Speedway Digest)
- Korea Move: The numbers behind Williams’ K-pop collaboration (Sector)
- The ZYN and Scuderia Ferrari partnership that hopes to rewire how a billion people live (Esquire Middle East)
- Single-Season or Multi-Year F1 Sponsorship Deal – Structuring F1 Sponsorship Contract Length (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Marriott’s 14-year Mercedes playbook (Rush)
- The Activation Zone: Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia (Sector)
- Foyt signs multi-year sponsorship extension with Hendricks Holding (RACER)
- The New Sponsorship Premium: Why Sustainability Could Change What Sports Partnerships Are Worth (ESG in Sports)
- VETRESKA Celebrates “Fast Life. Reimagined.” with Global Brand Partner Ollie Bearman in Singapore (PR)
- Red Bull Honda: the MotoGP return from 2027 and what it teaches sponsors (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Crypto in Motorsport: From Landon Cassill’s Paycheck to Kraken on the Williams Wing (Speedway Media)
- NASCAR News: Pennzoil signs long-term extension of Las Vegas race sponsorship (AR1)
- Why Allwyn and McLaren are taking F1 to markets it may never race in (Sector)
- Nike eyes F1 partnership amid new BOD connections (SBJ)
- New MotoGP format 2027: two grids, less practice, more showdowns (RTR Sports Marketing)
The Business of Running a Race Team
The Business of Williams F1
Formula 1 teams need more than speed and sponsorship to succeed—they also need a sound business model. In this analysis, Tiggy Valen examines Williams Racing’s latest financial results, including rising revenue, a growing workforce and continuing losses. She also explores team principal James Vowles’ argument that F1’s cost cap can leave teams playing catch-up, as money that could go toward car development must instead be invested in the infrastructure and systems their rivals already have.
Team & Manufacturer News
- Lamborghini GTD Pro Program Unclear for 2027 (Sportscar365)
- Meyer Shank Racing’s Impact With Acura in IMSA (Sportscar365+)
- Joe Gibbs Racing Shuts Down ARCA Team to Repair Struggling O’Reilly Program (Kickin the Tires)
- Maserati GT2 to Make GT America Debut at Indianapolis (Sportscar365)
- Alpha Prime Racing Expands Development Pipeline with ARCA Menards Series Entry in 2027 (Speedway Digest)
- Team Penske confirms Chevy IndyCar extension (RACER)
- Ford Racing Wanted “Shocking” Visual to Symbolize 125 Years (Sportscar365)
- How Ford is “hitting milestones” in preparation for WEC Hypercar assault (Autosport)
- Honda HRC to get new boss with Watanabe set to retire (HRC)
- Failure to align on future plans led to RFK/Keselowski split (RACER)
- 13 Autosport Set for Bathurst 12H Debut; N24 Plans in Works (Sportscar365)
- Vanwall Returns to Single-Seater Racing With 2027 German Formula 4 Program (Vanwall Racing)
- Arrow McLaren extends IndyCar partnership with Chevy (Motorsport Week)
- How McLaren Uses The IndyCar Offseason To Get Down To Business (Forbes)
- Audi confirms plans for new F1 base (Autosport)
- ECR extends Chevy IndyCar partnership (RACER)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
Hugues de Chaunac Reveals the Secrets of ORECA
In Episode 2 of Build to Win, Hugues de Chaunac looks back on the journey behind ORECA: from the early days, when convincing a bank to believe in the project was a challenge in itself, to building a company that now works alongside some of the biggest names in motorsport.
Over 55 minutes, Hugues shares the stories behind key moments along the way: working with Ferrari and Ford, the success of the ORECA 07, the move into LMDh with Alpine and Genesis, and the relationships he has built with generations of drivers, often taking on the role of mentor as much as team principal.
But this conversation goes beyond racing. It’s also about taking risks, earning trust, building a team, navigating difficult moments and, more recently, looking back on it all as ORECA celebrated its 50th anniversary. Bref, an open conversation about motorsport, entrepreneurship and the people behind the journey.
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.
