The BMW M Racing Academy has announced their class of 2026, and I have the details of the winners and the program itself in this edition of the Driver Development Roundup. I also have tips on achieving success, Formula Global Shootout Program and more!
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Success is a One Step At a Time Game
What is the Red Bull Junior Team? A Look at Marko’s F1 Legacy
Helmut Marko is no longer in charge of the Red Bull Junior Team, a role he has held for 21 years. Ed Hardy of Autosport looks at the program and the legacy that Marko leaves behind.
Eurocup-3 Strengthens its European Presence with Three ELMS Rounds in the 2026 Calendar
Eurocup-3 has unveiled its updated and nearly finalized 2026 calendar, featuring eight rounds across Europe and a major milestone for the championship: three events will run alongside the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), strengthening the international presence of the series ahead of its fourth season.
Marco Rodríguez, General Coordinator, said: “This updated calendar reflects the continued growth of Eurocup-3 at European level. Partnering with ELMS for three events marks a major step forward for the visibility of our drivers and teams, and offers an exceptional sporting environment across some of the most iconic circuits in Europe. We look forward to an exciting 2026 season.”
Formula Global Shootout Program 2026 Details Announced
RPPL has announced the 2026 International F4 test and development program (TDP) with 3 training camps (all on Grade 1 circuits) for drivers looking to start their F4 journey or transitioning from karting to single seaters.
The Formula Global Shootout Program (FGSP), the only championship managed shootout program entering its third year in 2026 will be awarded to two drivers with two selection program:
- 1st FGSP: Middle East in April dates TBC.
- 2nd FGSP: Circuit du Var, France from 18-20th May 2026.
Further details regarding the programs with dates, venues and costs will be announced shortly.
Register here to receive further updates.
The 2026 F1 Academy Calendar is Here
F1 ACADEMY has unveiled the calendar for the 2026 season, which, once again, features seven rounds in support of the FIA Formula One World Championship, including the series’ first-ever appearance at Silverstone.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “In just three seasons, F1 ACADEMY has developed some fantastic drivers and grown a huge and passionate fanbase all over the world. It inspires women and girls to consider a role in motorsport, be that on or off the track, by removing barriers and showing what can be done. I would like to thank Susie Wolff and her team for their drive and vision in creating such an outstanding series, and congratulate 2025 Champion, Doriane Pin, for her incredible achievement.
“I’m also grateful to our race promoters for their enthusiasm and commitment to making F1 ACADEMY a key fixture at their Grand Prix weekends. We’ve also seen fantastic growth in grassroots participation, which is vital for the future of the sport. Next season is set to be another brilliant year, and I can’t wait to see how the 2026 grid performs.”
Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY, said: “Our 2026 F1 ACADEMY calendar reflects the momentum we’re building and the visibility we’re earning across the sport. Silverstone and Austin are two fantastic additions to our 2026 roster, and returning to five established races gives us our strongest calendar yet, closing once again in Las Vegas where we aim to finish the season with the same style and flair we delivered this year.”
The Life
The MAVTV Original series features top athletes from across the spectrum of global motorsports, following them through a week in THE LIFE. Get an insider’s perspective and insights into what it is really like to live out your racing dreams. You can watch the episodes here.
How I Learned to Become a Racing Driver in a Single Day
Goodwood’s Novice Driver Course promises to turn rookies into racers – here’s what happened when writer Charlie Thomas put it to the test. “I am not here to watch the Revival; the vintage motoring meetup which draws a crowd of thousands every year. I am not here, as many are, for a track day, driving their own machines around this technical circuit. Rather, I am here to take my first step to becoming a racing driver. Rain was not supposed to be part of the plan.”
Read the full article at Elite Traveler here.
SRO GT Academy Goes Global with Pan-Continental Young Driver Competition
SRO GT Academy is going global in its search for the next generation of racing talent by introducing a new prize for the 2026 season.
Four drivers – one each from British GT and the continental GT World Challenge powered by AWS series in America, Asia and Australia – will earn a fully-funded seat at the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The successful quartet will share a Silver Cup entry run by an accomplished professional team, providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to impress at the biggest GT race in the world.
Get more details here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
BMW M Racing Academy Class of 2026 Announced
The BMW M Racing Academy, BMW M Motorsport’s support program for customer racing, is entering its second season. Three drivers from three continents make up the “Class of 2026”: German Thomas Rackl, American Josh Green and Australian Ryder Quinn. BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann, Max Hesse and Robby Foley accompany the program as mentors. Björn Lellmann: “Our ‘Class of 2026’ has the unique opportunity to spend a year gaining insights into the work of BMW M Motorsport that can help them make significant progress.”
Here are a few articles that look at how the Class of 2026 were selected and information on the program itself.
Derek Gluchacki Named Winner of 2025 Kulwicki Driver Development Program
A year after finishing runner-up in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) competition, Derek Gluchacki returned as a finalist in 2025 and has made history, becoming the first Massachusetts-native to win the coveted Kulwicki Cup.
The 24-year-old driver defeated a talent-packed class of finalists in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program this season, which includes Bryce Miller of Wisconsin, Seth Christensen of Georgia, Noah Eisenhower of Illinois, and Taylor Hoar of Vermont.
Full details can be found here.
Kobe Pauwels is the Newest Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy Winner
2025 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Silver Cup [GTWC] champion Kobe Pauwels has become the latest exciting talent to graduate from the prestigious Aston Martin Racing [AMR] Driver Academy.
The AMR Driver Academy is an annual initiative designed to fast-track talent from within Aston Martin’s thriving partner team network and is another way for the legendary British ultra-luxury sportscar manufacturer to contribute back to motorsport by investing in and honing future talent.
A unique and unrivalled platform for learning and development with an established manufacturer, this essential initiative is fine-tuned annually and improved to effectively coach drivers through the early stages of their careers. Competitors aged between 17 and 26 with Vantage GT3 and GT4 race programmes in recognised championships are eligible. Selection has now begun to accept candidates for the 2026 AMR Driver Academy.
The prize on offer for the successful graduate includes financial support towards their 2027 race program as well as assistance and guidance from the factory tailored to their season plans. Further evaluation of the most outstanding candidates may also include a test in a Vantage GT3 at the end of the 2026 season.
Read more about the program here.
Karting
FIA WMSC Approves Expansion of the “Global Karting Plan” for 2026
Following a successful 2025 season, the FIA World Motor Sport Council has today approved a series of new regulations that mark the start of the next phase of the “Global Karting Plan”. This includes the growth of the “Arrive & Drive” categories, new sporting formats and major advances in safety.
Kartcom has the details.
FIA Launches Global Karting Shootout as Hitech Partners with Tony Kart
Junior single-seater team Hitech GP has announced a long-term partnership with OTK Kart Group and its famed kart brand Tony Kart.
It will create a ‘kart to cars programme’ with Tony Kart’s factory team, supporting its drivers aged 13 to 15 who seek to progress to single-seaters. This will include access to Hitech’s factory, simulator and personnel in multiple departments, and those who star in the programme will then get opportunities to do Formula 4 tests.
Read more about the program at Formula Scout.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Last weekend’s PRI Show hosted a seminar on Sponsorship 101, and I had the details in last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver. I also had tips on building your brand, sponsorship lessons from Formula 1 and more!
From the Sim Racing Roundup
How Sim Racing Reinvented Simon Pagenaud
How sim racing reinvented Simon Pagenaud is just one of the topics covered in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also had the latest tech news and reviews, software updates and much more!
Driver Journeys
Lando Norris: From Karting to F1 World Champion
Lando Norris was crowned Formula 1 World Champion at the final race of the season last week. Here are a few articles on hos journey to F1 and his impact on the sport.
Finland’s Vilho Aatola’s Journey From Finland to America
With his second place finish in his third ever USF Juniors race, Finland’s Vilho Aatola explains why he made the journey from his home country to race in the United States. “As the only full-time driver in the series based in Europe, his journey to the grid involved frequently traveling eight timezones, learning how to communicate both verbally with his team in English, as well as communicate about a car which he had less experience driving than practically anyone else in the USF Juniors field.”
Read the full profile at US Open Wheel Nation here.
The ‘Balance’ Filipino Racer David Found in Focusing on Japan Over Europe
Zachary David made the atypical move from Formula Regional Europe to Super Formula Lights this year despite having offers to step up to F3 and F2, and he is now gearing up for his first test in Super Formula machinery later this week. The Filipino spoke to Feeder Series about his career so far and the reasons he decided to race closer to his home country despite cultivating a promising career in European motorsport.