Mercedes-Benz Canada has launched a $50,000 motorsport scholarship and I have the details in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have details on the importance of team debriefs, what’s coming up on the podcast and much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
How Helio Castroneves Made Indy 500 History
NBC Sports legend Leigh Diffey looks back on Helio Castroneves’ legendary Indy 500 triumph.
Interview with Evelkah Powell, Race for Diversity Program Manager at Motorsport UK
Earlier this year, Mlle Racing had the opportunity to speak with Evelkah Powell during her time as Race for Diversity Program Manager at Motorsport UK. In this interview, she shares her journey into motorsport, the importance of representation and accessibility within the industry, and the impact of creating opportunities for young people from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds.
“As a woman you have to stand firm and believe that you have what it takes to contribute and have an impact in the industry. It is so easy to give in to the false perceptions about what women can or cannot do, but you have to pave the way and walk confidently in it. At the end of the day, you are there for a reason so never take that for granted. Let your work speak for itself and in other cases be bold enough to speak up and have a voice.”
You can read the full interview at:
F1 is a “Billionaires’ Sport”
When David Coulthard said this last month, the junior racing world should have stopped. A 13× F1 Grand Prix winner. Father of a young driver. Calling out the system from inside.
His diagnosis is correct. £8M to go from karting to F1. A grid filled with sons of millionaires and ex-F1 racers. Talent quietly eliminated by economics. But the conversation can’t stop at « the system is broken. » Because it won’t get cheaper. Not next year. Not in five years. Ever. The only variable left is who finances the path.
In this Instagram post, Drive Line explains how families need to approach the problem. And make sure you read the post comments as there are some interesting points made.
How Does Your Team Debrief?
In this LinkedIn post, Dan Wells of Drivers Lab explains how a team debrief session determines how good that team is in developing a driver. “You can tell within ten minutes of a session ending whether a team is serious about developing the driver.”
NASCAR Driver Amber Balcaen On Being Mentally Tough In Order To Succeed
Canadian-born, NASCAR winning, third-generation race car driver, Amber Balcaen, graces the 32nd episode of The Homework Help Show. Amber has since moved to North Carolina to pursue her NASCAR racing career and continues to inspire everyone to follow their dreams. Amber shares motivation tips and tells us the work it takes to succeed in a male-dominated sport. You can watch the episode above. Amber will also be appearing on an upcoming edition of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast.
F1 Academy Partners Don’t Just Back the Drivers – They Help to Build Them
From performance science to driver selection, the commercial partnerships behind F1 Academy go far deeper than a logo – and Sector sat down with Head of Commercial Operations Karin Fink to find out how.
“We realized how important it is to have partners that share a mission and that essentially want to do something to either better the athlete, better the environment, and really work with you on what is important to you.”
Trust Isn’t Given, It’s Proven — Featuring Ludovic Peze
In motorsport, trusting the wrong person can cost you more than a result—it can impact your entire career.
In last week’s episode of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, I spoke with Ludovic Peze about one of the most overlooked but critical aspects of a racing career: trust.
From engineers and mechanics to driver coaches and potential partners, the paddock is full of people who can influence your path—for better or worse. Ludovic explains why trust should never be given blindly, and how doing your research can protect your performance, your reputation, and your long-term prospects in the sport.
We Discuss:
- Why trust must be earned—not assumed—in motorsport
- How to evaluate people and opportunities in the paddock
- The risks of relying on the wrong advice or support
- Practical ways to do your due diligence as a driver
If you’re serious about progressing in racing, this is a conversation that could save you from costly mistakes.
You can listen to the podcast here or better yet, subscribe at so you don’t miss an episode!
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Mercedes-Benz Canada Launches $50,000 Motorsport Scholarship
Mercedes-Benz Canada and Road to Racing have introduced a new scholarship to help young Canadian drivers advance along the motorsport development ladder.
The Mercedes-Benz Youth in Motorsport Scholarship will provide one Road to Racing driver with $50,000 toward a race budget. The recipient will also receive access to Mercedes-Benz experiences in Montreal during the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, along with professional development support.
The first recipient is Alexis Baillargeon, a 14-year-old driver from L’Épiphanie, Que. Baillargeon currently competes in karting and is preparing to transition to car racing.
Full details can be found here.
GR Customer Racing Promotes Future GT Talent with New Young Driver Academy
GR Customer Racing will help develop the next generation of professional racing drivers for its GT programs through a new Young Driver Academy (YDA).
The initiative provides a pathway to identify and promote promising young drivers, based on their skills and performances, with a view to potential participation in GR Customer Racing’s GT3 activities in 2027.
GR Customer Racing’s existing efforts to promote young drivers will be expanded and integrated into broader GT activities. A seamless development ladder will lead from GT4 cars such as the GR Supra GT4 EVO2 all the way to the top of GT3 competition. This progression will be supported by Toyota’s global engineering and motorsport infrastructure, reinforced by the strong competitive foundation already provided by the GR Supra GT4 EVO2 in series around the world.
The Academy features a multistage selection process. Candidates will initially compete in simulator sessions hosted at Toyota Racing’s Cologne facility in April 2026, where performance will be evaluated based on lap time, consistency, and technical feedback.
Drivers who excel in this phase will be invited to Motorland Aragón in Spain this summer for an ontrack test in a GT3 car to showcase their speed, adaptability, teamwork, and capacity to improve through coaching. Those who succeed at this stage may ultimately be recommended for GR Customer Racing’s 2027 GT3 efforts.
Selection Process
All drivers already confirmed to race with a Toyota GT car in 2026 are automatically entered into an initial evaluation process. High-performing racers aged between 17 and 27 may also apply, provided they meet FIA GT3 licence, categorisation, and eligibility requirements.
Applicants currently racing a GR Supra GT4 will receive priority access to this development pathway. By competing in GT4 championships, candidates race under the scrutiny of GR Customer Racing experts, which will increase their opportunities.
The evaluation will be fully data driven at every stage. GR Customer Racing will define clear performance targets, use advanced simulation methods, and structured on-track analytics to ensure progression is transparent and based on measured criteria.
The program aligns fully with FIA GT3 sporting regulations, and all selected drivers will already meet the requirements for GT3 competition. This enables credible and realistic career progression towards the highest levels of GT racing.
Commitment
GR Customer Racing’s longstanding commitment to nurturing new talent ensures that Academy participants will develop their technical knowledge, physical condition and professional skills, as well as their ontrack performance. This philosophy will give drivers the potential to progress in a sustainable way through every level of GT competition.
The Young Driver Academy emphasizes Gazoo Racing’s commitment to contributing to the future of global GT competition. It is designed to evolve further in the coming years to provide a structured pathway for aspiring drivers to progress towards a professional racing career with GR Customer Racing.
Applications and further information regarding the Young Driver Academy are available via youngdriveracademy@toyota-racing.com.
The closing date for 2026 applications was 27 March.
How the McLaren Driver Development Program Has Leveled Up
The McLaren Driver Development Program has enjoyed a productive start to the 2026, but there’s more to come. The Papaya Family will have seen the McLaren Driver Development Program bolster its ranks over the past six months with an array of exciting new talent, but behind the scenes, we have also been working hard to continue to evolve how we support and shape its members.
“Following a busy first few months of the year, we caught up with Chief Business Affairs Officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi and Head of Driver Development Warren Hughes to discuss these new initiatives and where the programme sits heading into the focal point of 2026.”
Read more about the program at the McLaren Racing website here:
AVL Race Tech is Driving the Next Generation Forward
Earlier this year, More Than Equal brought their drivers together for a Formula 4 test, a key step in introducing them to a real high-performance race environment.
Out on track, the drivers put everything to the test: working through a structured plan–do–review process, communicating technical feedback with engineers and coaches, and applying the skills built across previous camps, including what they developed in our professional driving simulator.
AVL Race Tech were ready to welcome the team for the 3rd edition of the AVL RACETECH and More Than Equal F4 Camp last week to further continue their progress.
On the Podcast This Week
The Off-Track Skill That Could Make or Break Your Racing Career — Featuring Alexandra Schieren
Winning races is no longer enough. In today’s ultra-competitive motorsport landscape, every driver on the grid is fast — so what sets you apart?
In this week’s episode of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, Alexandra Schieren joins me to make the case for something too many young drivers overlook: communication and PR. From attracting and retaining sponsors to building a reputation that opens doors, Alexandra explains why your ability to tell your own story is just as important as your lap times.
We cover why communication skills should be developed from day one of your career, the dangers of assuming you’re already good at it, and how showing up as the complete package — physically, mentally, and professionally — is what turns a promising driver into a marketable one.
If you want to stand out, it starts with learning how to speak up.
The episode drops Wednesday, May 27th at 10:00 AM EST. You can listen and subscribe here:
Karting
Velocity Racing Camp Set for June 17-19
Velocity Racing have announced their first Velocity Racing Camp set for June 17-19 at the Orlando Kart Center. The Orlando, Florida facility is primed to provide the perfect setting for three days of on and off track classes with some of the best drivers in the sport today.
The Velocity Racing Camp will be led by coaches Matheus Morgatto, Caden McQueen, and Collin Lloyd. Morgatto is the 2022 FIA Karting World Champion, along with the 2024 SKUSA Pro Tour champion in Pro Shifter and the Brazilian won at the 2026 Superkarts! USA WinterNationals in March. British driver McQueen is ranked sixth in the EKN TaG Driver Rankings and the defending ROK Vegas champion. Florida native Collin Lloyd is a champion at the SKUSA Winter Series and Florida Winter Tour.
Throughout the three days at the Velocity Racing Camp, drivers will cover the unique aspects of karting, including how to approach a qualifying lap, race craft, drafting and simulation scenarios.
“Velocity Racing is really happy to announce the first ever camp,” stated Rick Rosin of Velocity Racing. “We have selected the best coaches to give the drivers the best experience possible for the three-day event. We will work with each driver to pinpoint their goals while attending, while ensuring drivers leave with a better understanding of race craft, qualifying decision making, and overall mindset. Our goal overall is to make sure each driver at the camp takes another step in their careers.”
Each driver attending the Velocity Racing Camp will be provided with a full karting package; including a Sodikart chassis with a Velocity Engines powerplant. Drivers need to only bring their safety gear required to be on track. Damage costs not included.
Registration for the Velocity Racing Camp is available through the VelocityRacing.com website.
Email rick@velocity-racing.com for more details or specific questions.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Why sponsor hospitality is important is just one of the topics covered in last week’s edition of The Business of Being a Race Driver. I also have 5 sponsorship tips for new racers and much more!
From the Sim Racing Roundup
How a GT4 Driver Prepares on the Sim
How a GT4 driver prepares on the sim is just one of the topics covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also have details on the new Simucube Performance Center, why sim racing doesn’t always translate to the real world and more!
Driver Journeys
Doriane Pin On Being a Development Driver
Mercedes development driver Doriane Pin spoke to TSN’s Daniel Zakrzewski in Montreal at the Canadian Grand Prix about her career so far and how being a development driver for Mercedes has opened new doors for her career.
Josh Poore to Compete in 78th Annual Little 500 with AP Driver Development
One of Anderson Speedway’s most accomplished hometown racers is set to take on the biggest challenge of his career, as Josh Poore will officially compete in the 78th Annual Unified Group Services Little 500 presented by Ed Martin Automotive Group at Anderson Speedway, driving for AP Driver Development with primary sponsorship from Yarberry Companies.
A longtime fixture at Anderson Speedway, Poore enters the prestigious 500-lap event with a résumé few local racers can match. Across his standout weekly racing career, Poore has amassed 52 Street Stock feature victories and captured seven track championships, cementing himself as one of the most successful competitors in Anderson Speedway history.
Read more about Josh Poore’s journey here.
Racing With Purpose: Creating a Space in Motorsport with Alba Larsen
Ahead of the F1 Academy season opener, The Paddock Journal spent a morning with Ferrari driver Alba Larsen. The 17-year-old has been making headlines since her debut in the series last season, and after signing with Ferrari at the start of this year, she is set to make the most of her second season in the all-female feeder series.
Alongside her own racing career, Larsen founded the Girls International Racing Lab (GIRL) at just 15-years-old in an effort to promote young girls’ entry into racing. An effort which has been recognised by the industry, receiving the 2025 FIA Women in Motorsport Award.