Heat hazards and the racecraft required to deal with them is some of what is covered in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. I also have details on plans for the Lamborghini Temerario GT3, how to use kerbs and more.
Overview
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
The Human Element – Why the Singapore GP is the Ultimate F1 Test
This article from Motorsport Technology explains how racing in the hot and humid conditions is a true test of F1 driver ability. “To cope with the conditions at what is perennially one of the longest races on the calendar, both the car and driver must be well prepared beforehand, as well as adapting to the change in timelines that means they are eating breakfast at lunchtime.
Using Kerbs Properly
Kerbs are free lap time or free accidents, and the difference is knowledge most young drivers never get taught. Watch a junior field through any chicane and you will see every philosophy on display at once, drivers avoiding kerbs entirely, drivers attacking them blindly, and a small group using exactly the right amount of exactly the right kerb. Guess who the stopwatch likes. Dan Wells of Drivers Lab explains.
Thinking Patterns
Racecraft is about more than car control, braking points and finding the fastest line. The ability to perform under pressure, maintain focus and make the right decisions when it matters most can be just as important. In this post, Minds on Track explores the role of mental performance in motorsport, highlighting why developing the mind should be an integral part of a racing driver’s preparation for competition.
Claire Jedrek on Racing, Precision and the Mindset Behind Performance
What can motorsport teach us about precision, resilience and performing under pressure? In this interview with Harper’s Bazaar Singapore, former race driver Claire Jedrek reflects on the lessons racing has taught her and how its demands have shaped her approach to life. Her perspective offers a reminder that the skills developed on track—including discipline, adaptability and decision-making under pressure—can translate well beyond motorsport.
A Driver / Fighter Pilot Does Not Need to Lose Consciousness to Lose Performance.
A racing driver’s physical preparation goes far beyond building strength and endurance. In motorsport, the spine must cope with sustained loads, vibration and the physical demands of controlling a race car at speed. In this article, “The Spine Under Load: What a Driver and Fighter Pilot Need to Know,” the focus is on understanding these demands and why targeted physical conditioning and spinal resilience matter for drivers looking to improve performance and protect their long-term racing careers.
Race Car & Series Developments
Lamborghini Finalizing ‘Common Spec’ Temerario GT3
Lamborghini Squadra Corse is working to finalize a common configuration of the Lamborghini Temerario GT3 for all championships worldwide according to the manufacturer’s motorsport boss Andrea Reggiani. “We are working on what the regulations allow to have a car that would be racing with the same configuration all over the world next year,” he told Sportscar365.
A New Sim Tool to Help Ligier Teams Prepare for Each Race
Ligier Automotive and Applied Racing Dynamics are launching Ligier Sim by ARD, a lap time and vehicle dynamics simulation platform developed specifically for Ligier customer teams.
Built around a validated model of the Ligier JS P325, it allows teams to explore setup changes, assess their potential impact on lap time and establish baseline setups and performance targets before arriving at the circuit.
“We wanted to give out customer teams an easy-to-use, affordable simulation tool to help them prepare as thoroughly as possible for each race. Ligier Sim allows them to explore setup options ahead of a race weekend and make more informed use of their time on track.” — Franck Tiné, Motorsport Director, Ligier Automotive
Ligier Sim gives customers the ability to explore setup changes, prepare baseline setups for different circuits and understand potential performance gains before arriving at the track.
“For us, the partnership represents exactly what ARD was created to do: take sophisticated vehicle dynamics and simulation workflows traditionally associated with top-level motorsport and make them accessible to a much wider group of engineers and teams.”
“Simulation shouldn’t be reserved for the biggest budgets. Working with Ligier Automotive allows us to put genuinely powerful engineering tools directly into the hands of customer racing teams, backed by a manufacturer they already know and trust.”
- Oliver Belfiore, CEO, Applied Racing Dynamics
Entries are Now Open for the 2027 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Season
Entries are now open for the 2027 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season—North America’s premier one-make championship and a proven pathway to professional sports car racing. Drivers & teams: contact info@porschemotorsport.com for details. Find out more at: racing.porsche.com
SRO America Adding ‘GT2+’ Cars into SRO3 Class for 2027
SRO America is planning to add upstaged GT2-spec machinery into the top SR03 class of GT America powered by AWS next year following a trial run during the last weekend’s season-ending weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Five Le Mans Auto Invites Awarded After Portimao Finale
Five automatic invitations to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans have been awarded to leading contenders in the European Le Mans Series following last weekend’s 4 Hours of Portimao finale.
Rookie GR GT3 Shakedown Points to Imminent Race Debut
Rookie Racing has begun shaking down a newly-built GR GT3 at Fuji Speedway, as the Akio Toyoda-owned team looks set to become the first team to race the car. The bare carbon-liveried car was spotted turning laps at the Toyota-owned track on Tuesday with development driver Hiroaki Ishiura at the wheel, in what appears to be part of preparations to give the car its long-awaited race debut. It’s understood the car is a freshly built-up monocoque that was delivered to Rookie’s factory, based adjacent to Fuji, in recent weeks.
Ratel Explains “Key Element” of Moving U.S. IGTC Round to COTA
Stephane Ratel said moving the North American leg of Intercontinental GT Challenge to Circuit of The Americas, but most importantly, earlier in the calendar year, has been made in efforts to retain manufacturer participation for the duration of the season.
“I think one of the key elements is to put it before Spa, because we’ve seen a tendency of some manufacturers not returning. To have three of the events before Spa, it was [a strategic decision] clearly.”
BRSCC Announces Landmark Formula Ford Festival Coverage on Sky Sports F1 TV Channel
The British Racing & Sports Car Club (BRSCC) is delighted to announce that the 2026 Formula Ford Festival will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 TV Channel and BRSCC YouTube, bringing one of British motorsport’s most celebrated events to a wider audience through a first-of-its-kind broadcast agreement for the Festival.
Taking place at Brands Hatch on 24–25 October, the 55th running of the event will combine its famous knockout racing with an expanded broadcast platform, giving more fans the opportunity to follow one of single-seater racing’s most coveted trophies.
All of the weekend’s racing will be streamed on the BRSCC YouTube, with the Sky Sports F1 TV Channel broadcasting from the semi-finals onwards on Sunday 25 October.
Calendar News
- 2027 GT Cup Championship calendar announced ahead of 20th Anniversary (GT Cup)
- New Mid-Summer Paul Ricard Date Completes Prototype Cup Europe Calendar For 2027 (Prototype Cup Europe)
- 2026/27 Gulf Radical Cup Calendar (Gulf Radical Cup)
- FIA Formula Regional European Championship expands to 10 rounds for 2027 (FREC)
- Full grid of 22 cars all set for 2027 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy Campaign (Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy)
- GB4 Championship to race at Copa del Sol across Spain in February 2027 (GB4)
- Ligier JS Cup France & Ligier Junior Programme 2027 Calendar Update (Ligier Cup)
- 2027 Carrera Cup Asia Schedule Released (Carrera Cup Asia)
- Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland 2027 race calendar confirmed (Porsche)
- The Indian Racing Festival just got a whole lot BIGGER! (Indian Racing League)
- Fun Cup 2027 (Fun Cup)
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Max Verstappen’s Sim Rig
Max Verstappen’s sim rig was the focus of last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also had details on how sim racing helps develop electric motorsport, using a sim to learn the Madring and more!
Track Days
Drive the Aston Martin Valhalla and Lamborghini Temerario at Robb Report’s Car of the Year
Robb Report’s Car of the Year contest, in its current format since 2003, has been both an outlier and benchmark for the automotive industry when it comes to evaluating some of the world’s finest models. Rather than relying solely on journalists to judge, our evaluators have long been the end user who has an extensive ownership history with many of the top luxury and performance marques.
Whether you are a collector looking for that future blue-chip investment, a gearhead who puts a premium on performance, or a motoring enthusiast that just wants a few of the latest and greatest in their garage, we invite you to join us for the 24th edition of our Car of the Year. The test-drive program takes place over several waves from November 8 through 14, and the Concours Club private circuit is our playing field. Here’s a preview of several cars competing (more to come), and what else you can expect from the exclusive experience.
Registration for the 2027 Just Track It Season is Coming Soon
Registration for the 2027 Just Track It season is coming soon. Meanwhile, save the dates. More 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.
