Toyota GR GT3 Concept is set to debut on track in two weeks and I have the details in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. I also have more racecraft tips, series news, track car developments and much more!
Overview
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
Driver Warm-Up to Maximize Your First Laps
As a driver, you might find that you only hit your peak sharpness at the end of a session. The initial laps often serve as a warm-up period, getting you into the groove. But what if you could start your session with the focus and precision you typically achieve after 10–15 minutes on track? Your Data Driven has 3 simple exorcises to maximize your first laps.
“The following three simple exercises I’ve used successfully with several drivers (including myself) are designed to activate both your body and mind, ensuring you’re mentally and physically primed before you get in the car.”
Racing in Traffic
Traffic is where races are quietly won and lost, and it is the one skill almost no junior driver is deliberately taught. Everyone practices the clear lap. Almost nobody practices the lap with a backmarker in the wrong place, or the lap spent trying to find a way past someone a second a lap slower who will not move. Dan Wells from Drivers Lab gives you some tips on how to race in traffic.
Rethinking Driver Development
Driver development has traditionally focused on preparing racers to perform on track, but are we asking the right questions about what they really need to succeed? In this article, Pieter Bulsink challenges conventional approaches to driver preparation and encourages a broader look at how drivers are developed. For aspiring professionals, the lesson is to look beyond lap times and technical ability to consider the wider skills, decision-making and personal development needed to build a sustainable racing career.
How to Build a Racing School
How do you build a racing school from scratch? INTC co-host Ross Bentley has done it multiple times—and he famously helped start Washington State’s world-renowned DirtFish Rally School.
This episode of the It’s Not The Car podcast has everything: Whales. Islands. Subarus. The philosophy of teaching and culture. Plus a small coastal race track accessible mostly by ferry.
“We talk about how the best coaches in the world deal with egos and beginners, why the words “slow down” are counterproductive on a race track, and how the best coaching move is sometimes just distraction. Plus, there’s a lightning round and an Indy 500 legend named Dick who used to sell insurance.”
The Brains of F1 Drivers Are Indeed Strange
What separates an elite Formula 1 driver from the rest isn’t simply lightning-fast reflexes — it’s the ability to anticipate what comes next. In this New York Times feature, Erik Vance explores the neuroscience behind elite driving, including research suggesting that professional racers have stronger spatial-memory networks and use their brains more efficiently under pressure. The article also examines the physical and mental toll of competing at the highest level, from extreme G-forces and heat to fatigue and the pressure to perform. For aspiring race drivers, the findings highlight why driver development must go beyond time behind the wheel to include anticipation, concentration, mental preparation and recovery.
Racing’s Hidden Costs: The Helmet That Expires Differently in Every Rulebook
Racing helmet expiration rules differ by sanctioning body. Here’s what a Snell SA2015 helmet’s last-legal date really costs according to Backfire Racing.
How Stress Affects a Race Driver’s Vision and Performance
A race driver’s ability to process visual information under pressure can make the difference between reacting in time and missing a critical cue. In this article, Abhishek Kukreti explores how stress affects vision and the way people interpret what they see, with important implications for performance in demanding environments. For race drivers, the lesson is that development should go beyond physical fitness and car control to include visual awareness, maintaining focus under pressure and making sound decisions when the workload is high.
Reading the Right Cues to Become a Faster Race Driver
Race drivers don’t simply react to what happens around them; they learn to recognize the cues that tell them what is about to happen next. In this Speed Secrets article, Ross Bentley explores the connection between visual cues, attention and a driver’s inner mental processes. For racers looking to improve their performance, the key lesson is to develop awareness of what to look for, recognize the right signals earlier and manage the internal thoughts that can interfere with execution. Learning to read the track more effectively — while keeping the mind focused on the task at hand — can be an important part of becoming a faster, more consistent driver.
Race Car & Series Developments
Racing America To Launch the NA Formula Ladder in 2027
The formerly FIA-affliated USF4 Championship and Formula Regional Americas have been rebranded as the NA Formula Ladder. The series will launch in 2027 and will comprise the NAJr Championship, NA4 Championship and NA3 Championship, with each step bringing drivers closer to their dreams and to the biggest stages of motorsport.
“We are thrilled to offer young racers another driver development avenue in North America through the NA Formula Ladder,” said Lee Giannone, CEO of Racing America. “One of our core values at Racing America is to be a magnet for professional talent, innovation and competitors—and the NA Formula Ladder will be just that. The dedication that our staff puts into helping young drivers develop and build successful careers is second to none in the industry.
The Hamilton Spectator spoke with former IndyCar driver Scott Goodyear about the development pathway, which is designed to help aspiring racers progress through increasingly powerful single-seater categories while building their skills and experience.
With this move, thes series will no longer offer FIA Superlicense points. More details are to come.
You can listen to my chat with Scott Goodyear about his approach to driver development on the Motorsport Prospects Podcast here.
Asian Le Mans Cup Names 18-Car Grid for European Debut
The inaugural Asian Le Mans Cup has attracted 18 full-season entries, with several championship-winning teams joining a new competition that will make its debut entirely in Europe.
FIA Expands Circuit Safety Options in Asia Pacific
Circuits across Asia Pacific have gained a new option for certified debris fencing after the FIA approved regional test house C.A.T.A.R.C. and homologated a system from Raxing Technology. The announcement expands the region’s access to both manufacturing and testing for an important part of trackside protection.
IMSA, Lamborghini Extend Super Trofeo Agreement in Multi-Year Extension
Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America is set to continue its exhilarating action under IMSA sanction for at least five more years through 2031.
The announcement of the continued partnership builds on a 14-year history dating to the series’ start in 2013. It also will propel it to the launch of Lamborghini’s newest car, the Lamborghini Temerario Super Trofeo, the next generation car for the one-make category which will be used across its continental championships in Asia, Europe and North America from the 2027 season. The Temerario is the first racecar built in-house by Lamborghini in its Sant’Agata Bolognese headquarters, and its Super Trofeo car will mirror the Temerario GT3 in making its global race debut at Sebring International Raceway.
Mini Challenge Extends TOCA Support Deal Through 2029
The Mini Challenge will continue to form part of the biggest show in British motorsport for the next three years after agreeing an extended deal to remain on the support package for the prestigious British Touring Car Championship.
The new agreement, which takes effect at the end of the current deal, will see the highly competitive one-make series continue to fill one of the coveted BTCC support slots until at least the end of the 2029 season.
GR GT3 Concept To Make World Motorsport Debut In SUPER GT Motegi Grand Final
The GR GT3, Toyota’s next-generation GT3 race car, will make its world racing premiere in less than two weeks at the final rounds of the 2026 Autobacs SUPER GT Series in Mobility Resort Motegi.
ROOKIE Racing will run the #32 GR GT3 Concept in both legs of the Motegi GT 250km Race: Grand Final on Saturday and Sunday, 7–8 November, as revealed through the event’s official entry list. The GR GT3 Concept’s global debut comes in the final races of the SUPER GT campaign before the GR GT3 goes racing full-time next year.
German OEMs: Nordschleife Must Preserve “Full Spectrum”
Manufacturer figures from BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche have all agreed that entry-level categories must be preserved on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, amid ongoing developments over the future of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie following a recent challenge from the promoters of the Nürburgring 24. Sportscar365 has all the details.
WRL Revives 25 Hours of Thunderhill with GRIDLIFE
GRIDLIFE and World Racing League (WRL) have announced GRIDLIFE Thunderhill, a new motorsports event at Thunderhill Motorsports Park in Willows, CA scheduled for April 2-4, 2027. This innovative event format will serve as the opening round of the 2027 GRIDLIFE National Championship season, the event will mark the highly anticipated return of the legendary “25 Hours of Thunderhill,” which last ran in 2023.
Considering Fun Cup UK in 2027?
If you are considering Fun Cup UK for 2027, organizers are heading to Silverstone for the Driven By Racing event, offering existing competition racing license holders the opportunity to experience a Fun Cup race car on track.
- 14th & 15th November
- Silverstone – BRSCC’s Driven By Racing Event
- 25-minute driving session – just £175 + VAT
Radical Cup Canada Registration Opens Nov. 1 and Spenard Named New Sporting Director
Registration for the 2027 Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin will open on November 1, with competitors able to take advantage of early-bird pricing through December 31, 2026. The series, which has enjoyed strong growth in recent seasons, is encouraging teams and drivers to secure their entries early as it prepares for another competitive campaign in 2027.
Alongside the registration announcement, FEL Motorsports has revealed a significant addition to its leadership team with Canadian racing legend Richard Spenard joining the series as Sporting Director. In his new role, Spenard will work closely with FEL Motorsports Manager Peter Lockhart and Race Director Rolf von Engelbrechten, providing support on officiating matters and assisting in the review of on-track incidents.
Motorsport New Zealand Announces New Zealand Hillclimb Championship
Every MotorSport New Zealand-permitted hillclimb is now a round of one national Championship. Race the hills close to home, build your points, and chase a New Zealand title at the live-streamed Grand Final. Full details can be found here.
Foxtel Warns of Tobacco Law’s ‘Chilling Effect’ on Motorsport
How should motorsport preserve its history when historic race cars still carry tobacco branding? In this Speedcafe article, Simon Chapman examines Foxtel’s warning that Australia’s strict tobacco advertising laws could have far-reaching consequences for motorsport broadcasts, including historic races, archival footage and tributes to legendary drivers. The debate follows a regulatory finding that Foxtel breached broadcasting rules after airing a vintage Formula Atlantic car featuring cigarette branding during the New Zealand Grand Prix. For motorsport, the challenge is balancing public health regulations with the preservation of its heritage, while considering how these restrictions could affect the presentation of historic cars and racing events in the future.
2027 Calendar News
- 2027 TCR Europe calendar revealed including first-ever UK round (Touring Cars.net)
- The 2027 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup calendar is here (Porsche Supercup)
- Secure your spot on the 2027 Carrera Cup North America grid (Porsche)
- A change of venue for F4 Germany in July (F4 Germany)
- The 2027 calendar for the FFSA French Circuit Championship is now confirmed (FFSA)
- 2027 World Racing League Schedule of Events (WRL)
- The 2027 International GT Championship schedule is here (IGT)
- The official 2027 Trans Am schedule is here (Trans Am)
- American Rally Association confirms 2027 schedule (RACER)
- Hoosier Super Tour 2027 schedule (SCCA)
- UK Civic Cup 2027 Calendar (Civic Cup)
- The Crossflow Cup Looks Ahead to the 2027 Season (Crossflow Cup)
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Sim Racing for Real-World Drivers
Discover how sim racing helps real-world drivers improve racecraft, learn new tracks and develop their skills, plus the FIA and Track Titan collaboration and sim-to-real racing pathways. All this and more in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup.
Track Days
What It’s Really Like at the Porsche Experience Center
The Golf Club Consolidation Playbook, Coming to Racetracks?
Could racetracks be heading towards the same consolidation trend that transformed the golf industry? In this analysis, MRC Motorsports examines how racetrack ownership is evolving, comparing established operators such as NASCAR and MotorSport Vision with the decades-long consolidation of golf clubs. The article explores whether motorsport could see more multi-track ownership, cross-circuit membership networks and operators managing facilities on behalf of different owners.
For grassroots racers and track-day enthusiasts, these developments could reshape access to circuits; for the industry, they raise important questions about investment, operating costs and the future business models that will sustain racetracks.
COTA Goes Private: What Happens to Grassroots Racers?
Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is moving toward a more exclusive, private-club model, raising questions about the future of local grassroots racers who have relied on the circuit. A proposed second track could help address those concerns, but will it be enough to balance exclusivity with the needs of the wider racing community?
The coverage includes Autosport’s look at the new members-only club and proposed second circuit, alongside ExperiencesXO’s written investigation and podcast examining the impact on grassroots racers, the proposed timeline and the wider implications of making a major motorsport venue exclusive. Read the Autosport article · Read the ExperiencesXO investigation · Listen to the podcast
Circuit Upgrade Kicks Autobahn Country Club Up a Notch
Autobahn Country Club is about to get considerably more exciting for current and future members. The private motorsports club in Joliet, Illinois, is adding nearly half a mile to its North Track as part of a long-term development plan called Drive to 2035.
The nearly $3 million expansion is one of the most significant track investments at Autobahn since the private racetrack opened in 2004. It adds approximately half a mile of new pavement, a 21-foot elevation change, an 11% grade, and a technical series of esses. The longest North Track configuration will now measure 1.5 miles with 12 turns, compared with the original nine-turn layout.
Revolution HyperSport Enters Production
Revolution Race Cars has confirmed that production of its all-new HyperSport has now begun, following an extensive Summer development and test programme.
The Revolution HyperSport was unveiled in April as an entirely new category of track machine, combining the driveability of GT3/GT4 type cars with the performance, safety and efficiency of modern prototypes.
Since its launch, the car has been subjected to an intensive programme at a diverse range of circuits including Snetterton, Blyton, Cadwell, Silverstone and Donington, with testing covering conditions ranging from cold and wet weather through to ambient temperatures exceeding 35°C.
Significantly, the power to weight ratio comfortably beats the launch target with an impressive 515 bhp/tonne being achieved. By comparison, a Porsche 911 GT3 road-legal car and a current LMP3 car have 350 and 470 bhp/tonne respectively, underlining the HyperSport’s positioning as both a trackday and race car.
Hpersport is also going on tour in the United States. The dates are:
– The Motor Enclave, Tampa: Oct 25 – 28
– Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach: Oct 29 – Nov 1
– Autodromo do Algarve, Portimão: Oct 29 – Nov 1
– Circuit of the Americas, Austin: Nov 5 – 8
More information can be found here.
Paragraph5 Has Added More Track Time
Paragraph5 has added more track time and their 2027 calendar just got bigger, with new test dates added. You can see them here.
AGS Single-Seater Training Schedule Released
10 dates from March to October 2027 to experience single-seater racing, guided by the AGS technical teams and coaches.
- Dates: March 12 & 25 | April 16 | May 13 | June 14 & 29 | July 23 | August 20 | September 20 | October 1
- Limited places available.
- Information & bookings: stage@agsracing.com – +33 6 85 32 11 61
Imola Classic 2026: Where Motorsport History Comes Alive
Historic racing brings motorsport’s past to life by putting legendary cars back where they belong: on the track. This Pitlane-News feature explores Imola Classic 2026, where more than 200 historic racing cars gathered at the iconic Italian circuit for the final round of the Le Mans Classic Series. From Porsche 917s and Lola T70s to Group C prototypes and classic touring cars, the event showcased more than half a century of racing history, with well-known drivers and motorsport personalities joining the grids. Beyond the spectacle, the article offers a behind-the-scenes look at the teams, mechanics and dedicated owners who keep these machines competitive, demonstrating how historic motorsport preserves the sport’s heritage through living, breathing competition.
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.
