The mental aspect of racecraft is a major focus of this week’s Racecraft & Race Cars Roundup. You will find inspiration, tips and advice on this vital aspect of driving a race car. I also have 2026 calendar news, race series developments and more!
Racecraft Tips & Techniques
The Secret to Staying Mentally Sharp All F1 Season
Seasons are and life is long, but that doesn’t mean it needs to drain your energy. Here is a quick tip from Enzo Mucci that can help you if you find yourself losing mental energy
5 Mental Tools to Become a Complete Driver
The Winfield Racing School explains the 5 mental tools to become a better race driver. “You already know how to brake late and hit the apex. But what about the part you can’t see? Focus, visualization, inner language and recovery all shape the way you perform under pressure. Lap after lap, your brain strengthens the link between what you feel and how you react, until instinct takes over. The real challenge is keeping that flow steady when tension rises. That is where mental strength takes the lead. So how do you train it?” Read the complete article here.
NASCAR’s Alex Bowman Enthusiastic About Mental Health
Alex Bowman knows that it’s the dream of millions of everyday people to become a race car driver, just as it was for him growing up while watching NASCAR. Yet, as one of the more affable faces in the nation’s biggest auto racing league, Bowman has been tapped to talk about a subject that may be taboo to a lot of men who participate in and follow motorsports: mental health.
“I think mental health awareness is super important for anyone across the board.
Doesn’t matter if you are a competitive athlete or a regular person,” said Bowman during our Zoom interview last week. While Bowman admits that racing is both his favorite thing to do and a bit of a release, he said that “anxiety is something I’ve battled with” too.
Read the complete interview on Forbes here.
See How Telemetry Data Can Help You Drive Faster
Where do you start with motorsports data? Is it even worth it? All you want is to drive faster so how can squiggly lines on a page make any difference? In this brief video from Samir Abid of Your Data Driven, he shows you how he uses data to help him piece together a lap. “By knowing how to determine what works and what doesn’t work, you will hopefully gain an appreciation of how data can help you drive faster.”
Read the accompanying article here.
Subscribe to the PitFit Newsletter
If you are not subscribed the the PitFit monthly newsletter, you need to be. Here are some highlights from December’s issue:
- Kettlebell Training for Race-Car Drivers
- Heat + Cold = Better Recovery & Sharper Focus
You can sign up for the newsletter here:
Race Car & Series Developments
All-Porsche 911 Cup Grid for Carrera Cup NA Next Year
Porsche’s new 911 Cup car will make up the entire grid in Porsche Carrera Cup North America next year according to Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO Volker Holzmeyer, who expects around 35 of the new cars in the series.
“We will have enough cars to field the whole grid,” he said. “The whole field will have new cars. There will be no 992.1 in the Carrera Cup field next season.”
BMW M2 Racing Set to ‘Redefine’ Entry-Level Segment for IMSA
The BMW M2 Racing is set to “redefine” the entry-level segment as a new class in the endurance rounds of IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge next year according to BMW of North America customer and racing manager Adam McGregor.
“With the launch of the new BMW M2 Racing, we are continuing a proud tradition of building accessible, high-performance racing cars that deliver both excitement and results,” said McGregor.
A New BMW M2 Cup France as Part of the French FFSA Tourism Championship
A new one-make series will debut in 2026: the BMW M2 Cup France. Starting with the upcoming Easter Cups at Nogaro, this competition will be integrated into the FFSA French Touring Car Championship, thus creating a new class within the French championship. Full details can be found here.
Zenith Racing Series Announces $1M+ Driver Championship Awards Program in Alignment with IMSA and SRO America
Zenith Racing Series (ZRS) is introducing a year-end Driver Championship awards program totaling more than $1,000,000 USD across ZR2, ZR3, and ZP2. The program is a direct investment in the drivers who define Zenith through preparation, performance, and sportsmanship, and it reflects the series’ long-term commitment to building endurance racing that rewards excellence. Full details can be found here.
GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli Opens Entries for 2026 campaign
The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli has opened the entry process for its much-anticipated 2026 season, which will feature several innovations aimed at creating a thriving and competitive grid. Full details can be found here.
Opening of 2026 Entries for the Ligier European Series
Entries for the 2026 season of the Ligier European Series officially opened on 1 December 2025. Following its continued success — with 26 Ligier JS P4 and Ligier JS2 R cars on the grid in 2025 — the series, organized by Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM), reaffirms its position as a gateway to the championships of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). For its seventh edition, which will begin in April 2026, the series further enhances its support to drivers: the renewal of its €250,000 prize fund for the overall champions and the introduction of a new scheme dedicated to AM drivers, offering LMP3 and JS P4 test sessions to ease their transition towards higher categories.
Full details can be found here.
Ford Racing Launches World Racing League Contingency Program for 2025/2026 and Beyond
World Racing League and Ford Racing are excited to announce the WRL Ford Racing Contingency program for 2026 and beyond, effective immediately! This program will apply to all Ford products raced in the GTO or GP1 categories. With more than $100,000 available across the WRL championship season, including payouts for GTO and GP1 podiums and season championships, Ford Racing is supporting their customers in a big way in 2026 and beyond. Along with this contingecy program comes the announcement that the Ford Racing Darkhorse R is officially eligible for GP1 competition. Full details can be found here.
The Enduring Appeal of the Walter Hayes Trophy
On its 25th anniversary, the Walter Hayes Trophy for Formula Ford machinery served up fiercely competitive racing from a field of more than 100 entries. Stephen Lickorish of Autosport speaks of its enduring appeal.
“Any event that can attract 103 drivers to a cold and windy Silverstone in November is clearly pretty popular. And it’s brilliant that the thrilling final of the 25th edition of the Walter Hayes Trophy ensured that the anniversary was celebrated in style.”
BTCC Confirms Points System for New Qualifying Race
The points system for the qualifying races being introduced into the BTCC in 2026 have now been confirmed, alongside revisions to the way in which Saturday’s will work work next season. Touring Car Times has all the details.
FIA and ACI Announce 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship Calendar
The FIA and the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) have unveiled the official 2026 calendar for the FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) following its approval by e-vote of the World Motor Sport Council.
2026 will be the first season of full FIA support for the series positioned between national level FIA-certified Formula 4 championships and the international FIA Formula 3 Championship.
The eight-event calendar will feature a combination of traditional two-race events together with all-new enhanced weekends featuring three-races, offering young drivers increased competitive mileage while maintaining a balanced and cost-controlled sporting framework. This refined format strengthens the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid by delivering varied race environments and maximising development opportunities.
TCR Europe Cup Announced for 2026
The promoter of the TCR Europe Touring Car Series has announced a new initiative for 2026, a two-round TCR Europe Cup, designed for amateur and aspiring professional racing drivers to get a taste of top level touring car racing while racing with a competitive team, and the support and tutelage of an experienced co-driver. Full details can be found here.
Radical Cup North America 2026 Schedule Announced
Radical Cup North America has announced their 2026 six-round schedule with two dates to be announced. The 2026 Radical Cup North America season will culminate at the FIA World Endurance Championship event at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).Full details can be found here.
Formula Race Promotions Announces 2026 Schedule
Formula Race Promotions have announced that the 2026 schedule is now confirmed and announced. With an eight-event program featuring historic tracks and some of North America’s favorite venues, the FRP staff is excited about the series’ future and growth in 2026 and beyond. The full schedule can be found here.
MSA Provisional Annual Calendar for 2026 Released
The Motorsport South Africa Provisional Annual Calendar for 2026 is now live, and it is packed with the key dates you will want on your radar. Start penciling in the championships, big weekends, and must see events so you are ready from the first flag drop. You can view the provisional calendar here:
Formula Pro USA Western Championship 2026 Schedule Now Available
The Formula Pro USA Western Championship events take place at a great mix of tracks based on the west coast. The Series runs as far south as Southern California and as far north as Oregon and Washington. They also race at world class Sonoma Raceway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The full schedule can be found here:
The 2026 Masters Historic Racing Calendar is Officially Complete
Masters Historic Racing unveiled an exciting new mid-summer highlight: a full Masters weekend at an iconic venue Monza, marking the final addition to their 2026 calendar. Entries for the 2026 Masters Historic Racing season are officially open, unlocking a year that promises to be one of the most remarkable chapters in Masters history. Full details can be found here.
Discover the 2026 BOSS GP Racing Series Calendar
Discover the 2026 BOSS GP Racing Series calendar featuring 6 events with a total of 12 races in 5 different countries on world-class circuits with rich F1 and MotoGP history
and unforgettable fan favorites. Full details can be found here.
From the Sim Racing Roundup
Dialing In Your Field of View
How to dial in your field of view is just one of the things that you will learn in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. I also cover the advantage that sim racing gives you on real tracks, the latest tech news and more!
Racing & Testing Opportunities
Racing Women 2026 Training & Development Ladder
2026 is all about making bold moves. Racing Women is launching a step-by-step driver development ladder: Start with your first lap and professional sim coaching, then climb up to real-track UK Javelin Sprint Series action. Whether it’s your first time or you’re gunning for the podium, they’ll help you level up. Interested in provisional details and pricing? Contact them here.