What the Gazoo Racing rebrand means for privateer teams is just one of the topics covered in this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. I also have racecraft tips, karting to stay sharp and more.
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
How Rally Drivers Use Snowbanks to Cheat Physics
Leaning on a snowbank can be the difference between a stage win and a DNF. But how do you use a wall of frozen powder to actually go faster?
In this masterclass, Adrien Fourmaux breaks down the high-stakes technique of “leaning” on snowbanks. From finding extra rotation in tight corners to the sheer bravery required to trust the bank, Adrien explains the fine line between using the snow as a guide and getting swallowed by it.
Witness the physics behind one of the most unique challenges in the FIA World Rally Championship.
J.G. Pasterjak of Grassroots Motorsports gets a different perspective on left-foot braking by BimmerWorld’s James Clay. “One key difference I see in our overall approaches comes from our missions of the moment. While I spend most of my time on track currently in a time attack format, chasing a single fast lap, James is contending for wins in races that are hours long.” Read the full article here.
Brando Badoer on Karting to Stay Sharp
Brando Badoer has been getting prepared for the new season and has spared no effort in beginning his preparations for the 2026 campaign. The Italian joins Rodin Motorsport for his second year in F3, and has high hopes for what the new collaboration will bring. Ahead of pre-season testing, Badoer explained how he’s been getting ready, with a lot of time spent karting in order to stay as sharp as possible before jumping back into the F3 car.
“It’s definitely very useful to stay in terms of mentality right now to keep the reflexes active, to stay sharp mentally – the simulator is helpful as well. Now I’m really looking forward to drive the car again in Barcelona and make the 2026 season one to remember.”
Lowering the Barrier, Widening the Track with Just Hands Foundation
Just Hands Foundation board member Cagan Sean Yuksel explains how important the foundation is. “For those unfamiliar, Just Hands was founded by Torsten Gross with a simple but powerful belief: driving, performance, and competition should not disappear from someone’s life because of a physical disability. After a life-altering accident as a teenager, Torsten did not walk away from motorsports. Instead, he reimagined how it could work. Hand controls were not treated as a limitation, but as a different interface to the same passion.”
You can get more information on the Just Hands Foundation at:
Race Car & Series Developments
Toyota’s Gazoo Racing Rebrand: What It Means For Privateer Teams
Toyota’s decision to rebrand TOYOTA GAZOO Racing as Gazoo Racing marks a strategic shift toward building a standalone performance brand. With customer racing markets approaching $8 billion, the move signals a sharper, faster approach to global motorsports programs like GR GT3. Vantage explains what this rebrand means for privateer teams.
Introducing Chat GT3: Your Guide to GT3 Racing
GT3 racing is thrilling, complex, and constantly evolving, which is why SRO America is bringing you a new way to understand it all.
Introducing Chat GT3: a new series designed to help fans better understand GT3 racing and the newly updated GT World Challenge America format. This is an opportunity to ask questions, learn the details, and go deeper into what makes this category the global benchmark for GT competition.
Club Spec Porsche Concept Makes National News
A little more than a month ago, the Sports Car Club of America revealed its Club Spec Cayman program, aiming for a full rollout in 2027 as an official class across multiple SCCA disciplines. That announcement stated this new development mirrors that of the Club Spec MX-5 and Club Spec Mustang initiatives centered upon the philosophy of build once, then have tons of fun in as many places as possible with as many people as possible, and still drive to work in the same vehicle.
According to Heyward Wagner, SCCA’s Vice President of Experiential Programs, the concept has been well received. Club Spec Mustangs and MX-5s have populated SCCA autocrosses, Time Attacks, and Targa events, as well as Track Night in America® Driven by Tire Rack gatherings. Now, Porsche’s 718 model – consisting of specific Cayman and Boxster vehicles – has been added to the mix.
Turns out, SCCA wasn’t the only one excited about this. Road & Track and others were, too. Read more at the SCCA website here.
Williams F1 Team Bolster British F4 Champion Prize List for 2026 Season
The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA has announced that the 2026 Drivers’ Champion will be given the unique opportunity to work alongside the Atlassian Williams F1 Team for a day.
Attending Williams’ state-of-the-art premises at Grove, the winner will embark on a development session on the simulator, typically reserved for Williams Academy drivers to hone their craft. Alongside them will also be a Williams Driver Academy engineer to guide them through their program.
In addition, British F4’s 2026 title winner will participate in a training session with a Williams Driver Academy coach in the teams’ dedicated gym; before then rounding off the day with a bespoke tour of the team’s factory and world-famous museum.
Record-Breaking Season Ahead for F4 Central European Zone Championship
With less than sixty days remaining until the start of the new F4 Central European Zone season, it can already be confirmed that the number of participants will be the highest in the series’ history.
“We have been very pleased by the trust shown not only by our existing teams but also by several new ones. By the end of January, we had already registered more than 40 applications, from which we have provisionally selected 14 teams. A further four teams are currently on the waiting list,” said series promoter Josef Křenek.
Trans Am Series Unveils 2026 TA Cup National Championship Schedule
The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli will add a TA Cup National Championship title for Trans Am’s 60th anniversary season. The 2026 TA Cup National Championship schedule features a five-track, six-race lineup that will showcase the class at some of North America’s most iconic road courses. The schedule builds on the momentum of a successful inaugural season in the Western Championship, which concluded with Ken Sutherland earning the title.
Qatar To Host First Round Of 2026/2027 Michelin 24H SERIES Middle East Trophy
Creventic’s ultra-popular Michelin 24H SERIES Middle East Trophy is set for its best ever calendar for the 2026/2027 season, following an exciting announcement today which confirms the first round of the campaign will be held at the incredible Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.
Taking place across Friday, 11 December, and Saturday, 12 December, the Michelin 8H QATAR event will be the curtain-raising race meeting for the three round championship and will also mean the entirety of the new Middle East Trophy season will be contested within the Gulf region.
From Autocross to National Titles: How SCCA Is Powering Grassroots Racing Growth
During Race Industry Week by EPARTRADE, Michael Cobb, President & CEO of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), delivers a comprehensive update on the health, growth, and future of grassroots motorsports in the United States.
With more than 1,800 events across 115 regions and over 100,000 annual participations, SCCA is closing out 2025 at record levels—reinforcing its position as the primary entry point into motorsport for drivers, volunteers, and officials nationwide.
In this in-depth conversation, Cobb explains how SCCA continues to grow participation across a wide range of disciplines including autocross, club racing, rally, hill climb, time trials, time attack, track days, and endurance racing, all supported by a membership base of more than 70,000 racers and enthusiasts.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
How Chris Lulham Went From Sim Racing to the Real Thing
How Chris Lulham went from sim racing to the real thing, with Max Verstappen of all people, is one of the sim to real-world success stories in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also have news on how a sim manufacturer teamed up with a track day organizer and more.
Track Days
VIRTEX and CURBSTONE Partner to Bridge the Gap Between Virtual and Real-World Testing
Virtex, a leader in high-fidelity motorsport simulation, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Curbstone, a premium organizer of professional track days and test events. This collaboration integrates engineering-level virtual testing directly into the workflows of teams competing across single-seater, GT, and endurance racing.
“Simulation has driven performance at the highest levels of motorsport for decades and VIRTEX is now bringing that edge to teams in every category,” says Julien Gillard, Founder & CEO of VIRTEX. “As a leading test day organizer, CURBSTONE understands the teams’ needs and delivers some of the best environments for on-track testing. This partnership allows us to expand our reach and bridge the gap between virtual and real-world testing, helping teams to arrive at the circuit better prepared, whether for a test or a race.”