Design Week’s Post

fat.kartingleague launched to make #motorsport more accessible FAT International and the Smedley Group have partnered to launch the FAT Karting League (FKL), an initiative designed to make motorsport accessible to young racers. FKL’s focus is on inclusivity and affordability. Rob Smedley, CEO of Smedley Group, said, “This initiative is something I’m deeply passionate about, and with FAT and Four Gardens Motorsport’s partnership, we will drive huge change to break down barriers to make motorsport both accessible and inspiring for all.” Ferdi Porsche, CEO of FAT International, said, “Our mission is simple: to open the doors to motorsport for everyone. With the FAT Karting League, we’re breaking down barriers and creating a platform where talent and passion can thrive, no matter where you come from.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ey64JsgN #motorsportengineering #PMWExpo #motorsport #technology

The reigning F1 Academy Champion Marta García drove in Formula E's Berlin Rookie Test as one of the only two women there, representing ERT Formula E Team. 🏎️ García got into the electric car straight from the first round of Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), racing in Hockenheim with Iron Dames alongside her teammate Doriane Pin on the weekend before Monday's testing in Berlin. ✊ Because of the sudden change, the Spanish driver talked a lot about having to adapt, as the cars and the whole experience naturally feel "different in general". But is it just about adapting to the technical side of things, or is there more in it? 🪄 Only drivers with very little to no experience in FE can take part in the Rookie Test, each team choosing two young talents to drive for them. How important it really is? What's the idea behind the testing and is there potential for the drivers to impress the sponsors and teams to get a future seat in the all-electric series? What would that mean for García? Learn more about Marta García in my article for Pit Debrief! 🖇️💋 #MartaGarcía #FormulaE #F1Academy #FRECA #WomenInMotorsport #Formula1 #F1 #FE #Motorsport #Article #DorianePin #ERTTeam #Hockenheim #Berlin

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗮   Malta is set to become a leading destination for Drag Racing in Europe as an exciting redevelopment project gets underway at the Hal Far drag strip. The government-backed initiative, in collaboration with Trakbak Racing Limited Racing, Malta-based partners, and UK-based track design specialists Driven International Ltd, promises to transform the facility into a world-class motorsport venue.   This multi-million-euro investment will bring significant upgrades to the drag strip, including: • A new concrete track, designed to meet standards for FIA Championship racing. • New concrete retaining walls for FIA – Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile compliance. • A modern race control tower and hospitality facilities, providing top-tier amenities for racers and spectators alike. The project aims to secure Hal Far’s place on the international motorsport map, with the ultimate goal of hosting an FIA and FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) European Drag Racing Championships round in the near future. Key changes to the facility include: • Moving the start line back 60 meters to allow for an extended shutdown area. • Increased pit space to accommodate a larger field of competitors, including Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod and Pro Stock.   With Malta’s low altitude in the European drag racing season, the upgraded Hal Far strip is poised to become a record-breaking venue for the sport. The project, which is set to begin before the end of the year (2024), reflects a collaborative effort between key stakeholders in Malta and the UK. Duncan Micallef, President of the Malta Motorsport Federation, played a pivotal role in driving the project forward.   Keith Bartlett, CEO of Trakbak Racing, emphasized the importance of his team’s involvement in the project since 2017: “The expertise that Trakbak Racing brings to this project has been invaluable. We are thrilled to contribute to creating a facility that meets the highest international standards and has the potential to become one of the best drag racing tracks in Europe.”   Jonathan Bruno of the Malta Motorsport Federation added: “This redevelopment marks a significant milestone for motorsport in Malta.” The project has also received substantial backing from the Office of the Prime Minister.   “This project will demonstrate what can be achieved when stakeholders come together with a shared vision.” said Duncan Micallef. #Motorsport #Europe #Championship   𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵: 𝘋𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘐𝘗𝘔, 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘪, 𝘔𝘋𝘙𝘈. 𝘎𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘭 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘢, 𝘔𝘋𝘙𝘈. 𝘑𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘻𝘰𝘯, 𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵. 𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘑𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘰, 𝘔𝘔𝘍 𝘚𝘦𝘤. 𝘉𝘦𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘚𝘐𝘗𝘔.

WHY NEW "PERFECT" RED BULL RING KERB SOLUTION COULD BANISH F1'S TRACK LIMITS PROBLEM https://lnkd.in/eSSEa-sY A new kerb and gravel trap solution introduced at the Red Bull Ring could become the blueprint to banish track limit problems everywhere in Formula 1. As F1 teams got a first glimpse of the solution that has been incorporated at several corners of the Austrian Grand Prix venue on Thursday, F1 race director Niels Wittich has suggested the series has finally found a "perfect set-up." With the Red Bull Ring having been one of the circuits where track limits have been a major problem in the past, with there being more than 1200 offences in last year's Austrian GP, it was clear action needed to be taken for this year. So, following input from the FIA, a series of key revisions have been implemented in specific areas of the circuit aimed at resolving the matter for good. And rather than it simply being a case of race organisers introducing gravel traps behind the kerbs to deter drivers from running wide, the changes are more detailed than that in an effort to sort the track limits problem for good (...).

Delighted to announce that my first book, The Grand Prix Year, will be released in the UK on January 30, 2025, via Bloomsbury Sport. The Grand Prix Year delves inside a Formula 1 season, diving into each grand prix on the current calendar, with 24 unique events taking place across 21 countries, from the classic century-old venues, the expansive new-builds of the modern era, and everything in between. It features insights from drivers, team personnel, race promoters, journalists and many more about everything that makes up this crazy sport, and how life on the road never truly stops. That includes: - The festival vibes of Silverstone, rural tranquillity of Spielberg, the reverence of Suzuka - The influence of drivers on events, such as Max Verstappen in the Netherlands, or Fernando Alonso in Spain - Why Austin gave Formula 1 the foothold in the USA it long craved - How Bahrain stole a march on its regional counterparts, an area where the sport is now heavily expanding - The craziness of Monaco, the chaos of Mexico City and, and the magic of Monza - The intensity of Singapore, the night races, and coping with associated travel, jet lag and exhaustion - How Formula 1 keeps moving logistically, the preparation that goes into each season, how the TV broadcast works, and looking out for the next generation You can pre-order it now (and United States and Australia releases also coming before the start of the 2025 season!)

We need to talk about the biggest problem for junior drivers in motorsport... Money. Earlier this week, FIA Formula 2 driver, Zak O'Sullivan, announced that he won't be finishing the F2 season with his team, ART GP. In an emotional Instagram post, the young driver explained that in motorsport, "there are more factors at play than just the stopwatch". The issue, he said, was a simple one - he hasn't got enough funding to continue paying for his F2 seat. In Formula 2, drivers are expected to pay for their seats, either through their own sponsors or through a driver academy. But, on average, an F2 seat can cost a driver between $2 -3 million PER SEASON. And some, like Zak, simply can't obtain sponsorship to afford a full season. This is frustrating for a number of reasons, but particularly when you consider Zak's achievements: 👉 Winning the GB3 Championship in 2021, beating 28 drivers including Ollie Bearman (who will be driving in Formula 1 next year). 👉 Crowned as runner-up in last year's FIA Formula 3 championship, beating current Formula 1 driver, Franco Colapinto. 👉 In his first year in Formula 2, winning the race in Monaco and taking victory in the sprint race at Spa. Motorsport is one of the least meritocratic sports in the world. In football, all you need is a ball, a pair of football boots, and heaps of natural talent. But with motorsport, all you need is... a sponsor willing to give you two million dollars. If I was predicting the future, I would say that the biggest change in motorsport will come when someone finds a way to fix the financial model for junior categories - through more investment, stronger broadcasting deals and a commitment to marketing junior categories in the same way as Formula 1. Would love to hear - what do you think is the solution? 🤔👇 📸 Zak O'Sullivan #motorsport #sportspartnerships #sportssponsorship #sportbusiness

🚗🏁 WHAT WAS THE BEST FORMULA STUDENT TEAM IN 2024? 🏁🚗 The Formula Student World Ranking List has recently been published on fs-world.org, but let's face it — the calculation method can feel overly complicated. So, I decided to simplify things and create the Vincenzo Ranking List (VRL)! Using the classic Formula 1 scoring system from the golden era (1991–2002), I awarded points to the top 6 teams at each competition (10 points for the winner, 6 for second place, and so on). The results? Truly fascinating — the top 5 positions perfectly match the official World Ranking List, but let’s dive into the details! 👇 🥇 1st Place: FS Team Tallinn The Estonian team delivered a dominant season, winning at #FormulaSAEItaly and Formula Student Austria, and taking second place at two other events. A remarkable achievement was completing 4 consecutive endurance runs (3 wins, 1 second place), including an unforgettable victory at Formula Student Germany in damp and treacherous conditions. Their success owes much to the extraordinary driving talent of Robert-Juss Soe 🥈 2nd Place: AMZ Racing The Swiss team showcased exceptional professionalism and perfection, claiming 3 overall wins this season. Their standout moment was at Formula Student Switzerland, where they dominated with an incredible 983/1000 points. With a car that excelled in all disciplines and Formula 1-level operations, AMZ gave the Estonians a run for their money at every turn, beating them twice. 🥉 3rd Place: Joanneum Racing Graz A magical weekend at Formula Student Czech Republic defined their season, where they scored 983 points and won 6 disciplines. Special recognition goes to Katrin Rieger and her team for an outstanding Business Plan Presentation, winning that discipline at 3 events. Expectations are now sky-high for Anja Kerschenbauer, who is ready to step into the spotlight! 🏆 4th Place: TU Graz Racing Team Always considered the best team in the world, TU Graz Racing Team had a spectacular 2024 season. Their cutting-edge active aerodynamic system helped them dominate Skid Pad, winning at every event they entered. With new regulations now in place, the 4.135 World Record set by Markus Pleschberger will likely remain unbeaten, just as Stefan Bellof's Nordschleife lap record. Driver Nico Schober impressed with AutoX wins at 3 events, twice beating both FS Team Tallinn and AMZ Racing Team. Their crowning achievement? A masterclass performance at Formula Student Alpe Adria, solidifying their place as legends of the season. These teams have shown that Formula Student is not just about competition but innovation, teamwork, and passion. Congratulations to everyone who participated this season — the future of engineering is in great hands! What are your thoughts on this year’s performances? Who stood out to you? Let’s discuss below! 👇 #FormulaStudent #Innovation #EngineeringExcellence #FS2024

Formula E's tenth season is now complete, after Pascal Wehrlein took the Drivers' title and Jaguar TCS Racing were crowned Teams' Champions in London over the weekend 🏁 With eight different race winners and a three-way fight for the title going into the last round, there can be no doubt that this season has provided some of the most exciting racing in the series' history so far. However, how does this year stack up for the series away from the track? 💸 Increased revenues, reduced losses, a new controlling stakeholder and principal partner 📺 Unclear viewership picture, balancing moving behind a paywall with free-to-air exposure 🌍 Industry-leading sustainability initiatives 🤝 Doubling of participation in FIA Girls on Track initiative, plus several female senior leadership appointments Cian Brittle has reflected on all of this, as well as how the series is set up for the future and its regular comparisons with Formula 1, in his season review - read the full article below 👇 #formulae #f1 #motorsport #racing #sustainability #sportsbiz https://lnkd.in/e6kFXWzk

The news that the Iron Dames will be competing in the FIA World Rally Championship is another step for the series in demonstrating its commitment to increased female participation at the top level the sport. Firmly established in sportscar racing, the Iron Dames will broaden their rallying involvement and will field an all-female crew in the WRC2 class, consisting of driver Sarah Rumeau and co-driver Julie Amblard - the pair stepping up from their 2024 season in the French Rally Championship. Rallying, alongside drag racing, has historically been one of the disciplines of motorsport that has seen the most success for females - led by Michèle Mouton, who finished runner-up in the 1982 World Championship. Today, the WRC is set on establishing a clear pathway for female drivers, with its young driver program launched earlier this year. That program saw a final group of 15 drivers take part in a three-day training camp, where three finalists were ultimately selected to take part in the penultimate round of this season's World Championship, with one winner receiving a fully supported 2025 drive in the junior WRC. It's great to see the Iron Dames expanding their motorsport program, as they are very much at the forefront of increasing visibility for females competing at the top level, which is key for encouraging future generations of women to pursue a career in the sport. #motorsport #rally #wrc #irondames #womeninmotorsport #sportsbiz