Sage Karam opens up on his mental health journey in this edition of the Driver Development Roundup. I also have advice on how to master a driver debrief, Motorsport UK’s new accessibility initiatives and much more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Mental Health in Motorsport: One Driver’s Long Road Back
When Sage Karam was leading the 2015 IndyCar race at Pocono, it looked like a breakout moment for the then-20-year-old Chip Ganassi Racing driver. Then everything changed. A crash in Turn 1 sent debris hurtling back down the track, striking fellow competitor Justin Wilson in the helmet. Wilson never regained consciousness and died days later — and Karam, despite no fault being attributed to him, was left to carry the weight of that tragedy alone.
In this deeply personal piece by RACER’s Mark Glendenning, Karam opens up about the guilt, grief, and depression that followed — a mental health spiral that unfolded largely out of public view. With no roadmap for processing trauma of that kind, and at an age where most young drivers are simply focused on climbing the ladder, Karam found himself in a place most in motorsport rarely talk about openly.
Now, more than a decade on, he’s ready to share his story — not just to process it, but to help others who may be going through something similar. It’s a rare and important glimpse into the emotional realities that drivers face far away from the spotlight of the podium.
Read the full article on RACER.
Dorothea Minardi on Mentorship, Equality, and the Pressure Behind the Performance
Mlle Racing speaks with race driver Minardi Management’s Dorothea Minardi where she discusses mentorship, equality and the pressure behind performance. “I’m not scared at all, and I don’t let anybody put us in a different or lower position because we are beautiful. We are intelligent. We have extreme power.”
Read the full interview here.
How You Should Conduct a Debrief
Dan Wells from Drivers Lab explains how you should be conducting a driver debrief. “Most young drivers, when corrected, push back. They explain the corner. They blame the tyres. They blame the traffic. They blame the setup. By the time they have finished defending the lap, the lesson has gone past them and the next session is about to start.”
Read his full post on LinkedIn here.
Motorsport UK heralds Global Accessibility Awareness Day with Circuit Guidelines and new Accessible Simulator
To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Motorsport UK have launched two initiatives continuing our work to make motorsport more inclusive to all:
- Their new Accessible Circuit Guidelines bring together current best practice in one place, making it easier for organizers, clubs, and venues to access and apply relevant guidance.
- The Motorsport UK Accessible Simulator is designed to offer as many adaptations as possible in one device and can also be used to test and standardize adaptations that could be transferred over to real-world race cars
By embedding accessibility into the fabric of the sport, Motorsport UK aims to remove barriers and enable more people to enjoy motorsport more often.
Read more about the initiatives here.
You can also listen to my interview with Head of Esports at Motorsport UK and FIA Esports Commission Member Paul Crawford here.
Formula IDN Opens the MFOS Time Attack Session at Mandalika Circuit on 12–14 June
Formula IDN opens the MFOS Time Attack Session at Mandalika Circuit, Indonesia on 12–14 June. Designed for drivers looking to experience professional-level single-seater performance in a structured Time Attack format.
Session options:
- 45-minute full session
- 15-minute × 3 sessions
Format includes:
Warm up lap → Hot lap → Cooling down lap → Pit in
Limited session availability. Full details can be obtained at the Formula IDN website here.
The Life of a Formula 1 Reserve Driver
Jack Doohan explains to Phillip Horton of AutoWeek the demands of staying F1 race-ready while waiting for an opportunity. “The reserve driver role can change,” Doohan tells Autoweek. “You can be a reserve driver while being in a junior category—or like me where you’re, like, post-divorce!”
You can read the full article at Autoweek here.
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.
Additional Resources Mentioned:
Ready to take your off-track game to the next level? Listen to the full episode now at and connect with Alexandra and the team at ASMC to find out how they can help you build the communication skills that sponsors, teams, and media are looking for.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
Stellantis Motorsport Welcomes Luciano Morano to its Young Driver Program
Building on its circuit racing programs and rally commitments, Stellantis Motorsport continues to actively identify and support emerging talent through its Young Driver Program.
Coming from top-level karting, 20-year-old Luciano Morano quickly progressed to single-seaters before making a name for himself in endurance racing, demonstrating adaptability and steady development, crowned in 2025 with the runner-up title in the LMP3 category of the Michelin Le Mans Cup.
“Across all motorsport programs for Stellantis Group brands, said Olivier Jansonnie, Director of Stellantis Motorsport, our objectives are both technological development and driver identification. Since the launch of the Young Driver Program in 2023, we have discovered talents who are now among the very best in their respective categories worldwide. We welcome Luciano and will give him every opportunity to demonstrate his potential.”
“I am very happy to begin my collaboration with Stellantis Motorsport, said Luciano Morano. This marks an important milestone in my career. Joining an organisation so deeply involved in motorsport, particularly in major international championships, is a fantastic opportunity. When you dream of becoming a professional driver, this is exactly the kind of chance you hope for one day.”
On the Podcast This Week
Why You Need to Get to the Track and Meet People Featuring Mike Maurini
This week on the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, I sit down with Mike Maurini, Team President of HMD Motorsports and owner of RTD Media & Management. Mike shares why getting out to the track and building face-to-face relationships remains one of the most important things you can do for your motorsport career — and offers practical networking tips on how to make the most of those conversations when you get there.
The episode drops on Wednesday, June 3rd at 10:00 AM. Subscribe to the podcast here so you don’t miss it!
Karting
Calling the Next Generation of Female Drivers
The Fat Karting League is partnering with the Petersen Museum to launch a scholarship supporting three female drivers in their Southern California Hub this Fall. Designed to break barriers and create real pathways into motorsport, this opportunity is open to female drivers aged 9–17 to compete in the SoCal Fall Season.
(How) to apply:
This is your chance to get on track, showcase your skill, and be part of the next generation of motorsport talent.
Worr Motorsport Academy
WORR Motorsport is a leading South African karting team and one of the best South African karting teams competing internationally. Their mission is to nurture the next generation of African karting drivers, recognizing that Africa’s young talent holds the future of motorsports in Africa.
Full details on their program can be found at the Worr Motorsport Academy website.
BMB Challenge: A Formula 4 Test Up for Grabs for the Easykart Trophy Champion
The BMB Challenge continues to grow within the Easykart Trophy, attracting drivers who want to have fun, improve and challenge themselves on track. Confirmed for 2026 is the Formula 4 test day awarded to the BMB Challenge national champions (general and ladies rankings). This is a special opportunity to jump into a single-seater, experience something different and get an even closer taste of the motorsport world.
Read the full story on VroomKart.
Botswana Launches Karting Africa
Botswana has taken a major step towards establishing itself as a key player in African motorsport development, following the launch of the groundbreaking Karting Africa Initiative.
The initiative, spearheaded locally Botswana Motorsport in partnership with Cyro Motorsport Group and The Freak Show, aims to transform grassroots motorsport development in Botswana and across the African continent.
“Botswana Motorsport officially introduced karting as a grassroots youth development programme in 2024, marking a historic milestone for local motorsport. The same year, Botswana participated for the first time in the inaugural FIA African Karting Cup held at Zwartkops Raceway in South Africa”, a press statement from Botswana Motorsport reads.
More details can be found here.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Budgeting for Formula 4
Budgeting for Formula 4 is just some of what you learn in last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver. I also have advice on building a brand in motorsport and more!
From the Sim Racing Roundup
How AIX Racing Uses a Sim to Prepare for Formula 2
How AIX Racing uses their sim to prepare for Formula 2 races is just part of what was covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also featured SimCraft’s partnership with the International Council of Motorsport Sciences, why Lewis Hamilton doesn’t use a sim and more!
Driver Journeys
Kimi Antonelli’s Journey to the Podium
At the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Kimi Antonelli won his fourth Grand Prix in a row. 43-point lead in the World Championship. He’s 19 years old. Italian. Rookie season. The motorsport world is celebrating the talent. The motorsport world is wrong about what made it possible.
Drive Line explains what isn’t being said about Antonelli’s rise through motorsport’s ranks here.
Bobby Gossett’s Winning Destination
Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin fields are full of young, hungry drivers intent on being the next big thing by using the Mazda ladder and scholarship money to work their way into the professional ranks. Bobby Gossett isn’t one of them. Yes, he’s young – he just graduated from high school. He’s hungry to do well, too. But a career as a professional race driver isn’t on his radar.
RACER explains what changed here.
Nic Hamilton’s Emotional BTCC Breakthrough Inspires Motorsport World
Lewis Hamilton wasn’t the only member of the family standing on a motorsport podium two Sunday’s ago. While the seven-time Formula One world champion finished second in Montreal – his best result since joining Ferrari – back in England, his brother Nic Hamilton claimed the Jack Sears Trophy at Snetterton in Norfolk, part of a championship for drivers who are yet to achieve an overall podium.
Motorsport UK explains why Nic’s BTCC breaktrough has inspired the motorsport world.