WorldSBK’s Post

Formula E on Friday announced the NXT Gen Cup, the world's first 100% electric junior touring car series with both male and female drivers, as a support series to help develop the next generation of young talent in key motorsport markets. The NXT Gen Cup will feature at all four European race events of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Formula E World Championship’s Season 10 including Misano, Monaco, Berlin and its season finale in London. It is planning for its strongest calendar to date with six European races in total, with the start of its driver line-up, many of whom are aged under 17, to be announced from next week. The FIA Formula E World Championship introduces the NXT Gen Cup as a dedicated support series giving young male and female talent the opportunity to compete on the same circuits as Formula E’s 22 world-class drivers. Subject to final FIA approval, the NXT Gen Cup’s inaugural appearance in the Formula E paddock will kick off in Misano on April 13 and 14, marking the start of the World Championship’s European tour and the first time it has raced at the World Circuit. #FIA #FormulaE #NXTGenCup #ElectricMotorsport #JuniorTouringCar #NextGeneration #SupportSeries #EuropeanTour #Misano #Monaco #Berlin #London #FutureOfMotorsports #YoungDrivers #469Motorsports

In what is thankfully becoming a more regular occurrence, it is another week where women in motorsport are in the spotlight. As we build up to the next round of the F1 Academy, last weekend saw the inaugural rounds of the FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) take place at Misano in Italy. The first world championship in road racing exclusively for women, WorldWCR is integrated within the Superbike World Championship season as an official support category, with its first season comprising 12 races across six locations. 25 riders representing 18 countries are competing, with Yamaha as the single manufacturer for the championship. From a broadcast perspective, running under the umbrella of World Superbikes brings with it some significant benefits. Races will be streamed on a dedicated WorldWCR YouTube channel, as well as on WorldSBK's VideoPass subscription platform. In the UK, Eurosport will also be showing the series, meaning a pretty comprehensive broadcast offering for a championship in its first year. Up to now, a lot of the growth and development of women's motorsport has been focused on four wheels, so it is a very encouraging sign to see such a significant step taken in the two wheeled world. Visibility is fundamental to the growth of women's motorsport, and the series has put itself in a good position to showcase not only the women on the current grid, but also to inspire and engage the next generation of female riders. Maria Herrera, racing with the Klint Forward Factory Team, took two victories in Misano after last-lap battles in both races, with the championship's next round taking place at Donington, UK, from 12th - 14th July. #motorsport #racing #womeninmotorsport #sportsbiz

🏎️ Exciting Weekend Ahead 🏁 This upcoming weekend marks the third round of the Porsche Schweiz AG Sports Cup Suisse, where our friend and driver Felix Hirsiger embarks on the next challenge to repeat what has been achieved in the last two weekends. After an amazing performance in Le Castallet during the second round of the championship, Felix currently leads with a 38-point advantage over the second place. But there's no time to rest. Imola, a new track Felix has not yet driven on, is up next for a thrilling round. Our partnership with a racing driver enables us to view the day-to-day challenges in business from a sporting angle. Just like in racing, business requires meticulous preparation, quick decision-making, and the ability to navigate unforeseen obstacles. Both arenas demand resilience, strategic planning, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Felix’s dedication to mastering new tracks mirrors how we approach new market challenges – with agility, determination, and an unwavering focus on our goals. As Felix gears up for Imola, we are reminded that in both business and racing, it’s not just about reaching the destination but also about the journey, the learning, and the continuous improvement along the way. Here's to pushing boundaries and achieving new milestones, both on the track and in the business world. Best of luck, Felix! 🏆 https://lnkd.in/e8G8q6Yg #PorscheSportsCup #Racing #TeamWork #Performance

I recently came across an insightful article reporting that Formula 1 has reached a deal to move the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona to Madrid starting in 2026. Here are some of the key takeaways: - The race will shift to a new circuit being built around the IFEMA MADRID convention center near the airport. It will host the event each year through at least 2035. - This ends Barcelona's streak of hosting the race consecutively since 1991. With their contract up in 2026, it appears they will lose the race a year early to Madrid. - The Madrid circuit will be 5.47 km with 20 corners and have a capacity for over 110,000 spectators daily, with potential to expand to 140,000 in the future. - F1 projects an economic impact of €450 million annually for Madrid by hosting the race. The move likely aims to tap into Madrid's strength as Spain's premier commercial hub. - The popularity of F1 in Spain has grown tremendously thanks to star drivers like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. The Madrid race will start a "new chapter for F1 in Spain" per F1 President Stefano Domenicali. - For Barcelona, it closes a 30+ year chapter of hosting one of the most storied races in F1. This was a great overview of the business and strategic factors driving Formula 1's decision to move its Spanish Grand Prix to Madrid. #Formula1 #Sports #SpansihGrandPrix

On this day in history 05/26/24. In 1923 the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race for cars started through public roads around Le Mans, France; inaugural winners: André Lagache and René Léonard (France) for Chenard & Walcker. The 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans, officially the 24 Hours Grand Prix of Endurance was the inaugural Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 26 and 27 May 1923. A strong field of twenty manufacturers entered, all from France aside from a single Bentley from Great Britain and a pair of Excelsiors from Belgium. In a rain-soaked race it was the Chenard-Walcker team and the Bentley that set the pace, chased by the smaller 2-litre Bignan. The Bentley was delayed by stones smashing a headlight and puncturing the fuel tank, and in the end the Chenard-Walckers of René Léonard / André Lagache and Christian Dauvergne / Raoul Bachmann had a comfortable 1–2 victory. However, there was no official victory for them as this event was the first part of three consecutive annual races, for the Rudge-Whitworth Triennial Cup, where the ultimate winner would be the manufacturer whose best car exceeded their nominated target distance by the greatest margin. Despite some cars having time-consuming engine issues, only three were not running at the end of the race. Indeed, the 90% finish ratio was the best for many years and it was not until 1993 that as many as 30 cars finished a Le Mans. Despite the weather, it was a record distance for a 24-hour race. Now you know. Abstracted from On This Day & Wikipedia. #onthisdayinhistory #inaguralrace #24hoursoflemans #lemansfrance #year1923

As the Tour de France 🇫🇷🚴 draws to a close this year, it's been a race full of unforgettable moments. Some highlights for me include: 🥇 Romain Bardet winning stage 1 and donning this year’s first yellow jersey 🚴♂️ Mark Cavendish achieving his record-breaking 35th stage win 😢 Victor Campenaerts’ emotional stage winner’s interview 🔥 Jonas Vingegaard outsprinting Tadej Pogačar 🌟 Remco Evenepoel proving his worth as a strong contender However, there’s one story that deserves more attention is that of Uno-X Mobility rider Jonas Abrahamsen. In a weight-obsessed sport, Abrahamsen took an unconventional path. Once weighing just 60kg, he struggled to perform at his best. However, upon securing a two-year contract with Uno-X, he embarked on a plan to gain weight gradually, reaching around 80kg. The remarkable fact about this transformation is that it allowed him to increase his peak power from 900 watts to 1,500 watts, making him a more versatile and powerful rider. His improved performance led to leading the Tour de Pologne for two days and achieving a career-best bronze in the Norwegian road race championships. And while all of this could be deemed old news, it’s only thanks to Abrahamsen constant presence at the front of the peloton during the first week of the tour, not looking like a super featherweight that most spectators believe the wearer of polka dot jersey should be. So what does this mean for the rest of us? Hopefully it's finally time to dispel the myth that you can only eat brown rice, grilled chicken and broccoli in measured amounts - and enjoy that mid-ride slice of cake knowing you’re not doing any serious harm to your power. Image Credit: Getty Images Link to article about Abrahamsen’s weight gain 👇🏻

Karting risks losing its unique identity at the altar of Formula 1. Sheila Van Damn, a respected '50s rally driver, and owner of the Windmill Theatre in London, had an all-female kart team. They were captured on TV driving karts around London in the early '60s. Delve deeper, and you'll uncover remarkable anecdotes like competitors driving road-registered karts to competitions. Did you also know that karting used to have several events on the Isle of Man? Sure, you might have caught a video of the Peel GP that circulated a few years ago, but did you know about the Douglas GP and the Southern 100 kart races? Did you know karting has had a female FIA World Champion and multiple female top-level drivers? Even the silver screen holds secrets, with the van in "The Italian Job" belonging to actor David Salamone, doubling as his cherished karting transport. Did you know the Karting World Championship had a round on the streets of Monaco in 1967? Did you know the Heysham Head World Cup was sponsored by John Player and would attract over 20,000 spectators each year? Did you know that Silverstone hosted the SuperKart GP in the 80s, which had hundreds of entries and thousands of spectators? Did you know the last race at Crystal Palace was a kart event? These quirks of karting barely touch the sides of its rich and illustrious history. Almost every other day, something will pop up on the British Historic Kart Club’s Facebook page where someone will post a story about karting that will leave you asking, “How did I not know about this? Karting is amazing!” Despite these treasures, Karting's identity faces erosion as Formula 1's allure intensifies. In the wake of viral incidents, such as the misconceived altercation in 2020, Karting struggles against misrepresentation. As Formula 1 secures and entrenches its dominant place within motorsport, a sport like karting can easily find itself drowned. The sport's top events are now very much starting to look like Formula 5, and the governing bodies don’t seem bothered at all. Is there a way out for karting? It seems unlikely, but I wholeheartedly recommend diving into the various historic karting groups; you’ll never know what you might find.

Racing and Competitions: Thrilling Stories and Achievements of Classic Cars Classic cars are not just meant for cruising and showing off. They can also be raced and competed in a variety of events. From vintage rallies to historic races, classic car racing is a thrilling and exciting sport. It is a great way to see these iconic cars in action and to experience the history of motorsport. Here are a few of the most famous classic car races: The Mille Miglia: The Mille Miglia is a classic car race that was held in Italy from 1927 to 1957. It was one of the most dangerous races in the world, and it was won by some of the greatest drivers of all time. The Targa Florio: The Targa Florio is a classic car race that was held in Italy from 1906 to 1977. It was a challenging race that was held on a winding mountain road. The Monaco Grand Prix: The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One race that has been held in Monaco since 1929. It is one of the most prestigious races in the world, and it is a great place to see classic cars racing. The Goodwood Revival: The Goodwood Revival is a classic car race meeting held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in England. It is a unique event that recreates the atmosphere of motor racing in the 1950s and 1960s. These are just a few of the many classic car races that are held around the world. These events are a great way to see these iconic cars in action and to experience the history of motorsport. #ClassicCars #VintageAutos #RetroRides #OldSchoolWheels #AntiqueAutomobiles #TimelessTransport #CollectorCars #NostalgicMotors #HeritageVehicles #IconicCruisers

What Madrid means for the future of the F1 calendar This week, Formula 1 confirmed Madrid would be joining the race calendar from 2026 on a 10-season deal, bringing into question the future of the current Spanish race in Barcelona. The country’s capital is set to be the next exciting addition, although the announcement hasn’t been received well by all fans, with some claiming the circuit lacks creativity. Discussions are understood to be underway to determine if the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will also remain on the calendar. The Spanish GP has always divided fans, with a common opinion being the circuit lacks overtaking opportunities and spectator thrills. Having two prominent Spanish drivers on the grid has increased the buzz around events in their home country, meaning two Spanish races wouldn’t be entirely out of the question. In the 2023 season, Carlos Sainz demonstrated rapid improvement, being the only driver outside of the Red Bull garage to bring home a GP win. His childhood hero Fernando Alonso has been an icon to Spanish fans since joining the grid in 2001, so it would be understandable if organisers optimised the fact both Spaniards are still part of the driver lineup. #F1 #Formula1 #FormulaOne #SpanishGP #Madrid https://lnkd.in/ekUkhp8W

What Madrid means for the future of the F1 calendar This week, Formula 1 confirmed Madrid would be joining the race calendar from 2026 on a 10-season deal, bringing into question the future of the current Spanish race in Barcelona. The country’s capital is set to be the next exciting addition, although the announcement hasn’t been received well by all fans, with some claiming the circuit lacks creativity. Discussions are understood to be underway to determine if the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will also remain on the calendar. The Spanish GP has always divided fans, with a common opinion being the circuit lacks overtaking opportunities and spectator thrills. Having two prominent Spanish drivers on the grid has increased the buzz around events in their home country, meaning two Spanish races wouldn’t be entirely out of the question. In the 2023 season, Carlos Sainz demonstrated rapid improvement, being the only driver outside of the Red Bull garage to bring home a GP win. His childhood hero Fernando Alonso has been an icon to Spanish fans since joining the grid in 2001, so it would be understandable if organisers optimised the fact both Spaniards are still part of the driver lineup. #F1 #Formula1 #FormulaOne #SpanishGP #Madrid https://lnkd.in/e-97YF2Z