The Nepal Automobiles' Association (NASA Nepal) recently organized the Nepal Sim Racing National Championship 2026 at the International Sports Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal. Supported by the FIA Motorsport Funding Program, the project has strengthened grassroots motorsports development in Nepal by providing sim racing training to more than 400 young people.

The championship comprised four regional competitions and one national championship, offering regional exposure to the junior and senior winners, who demonstrated promising talent on the two FIA-accredited sim racing simulators NASA Nepal purchased to support the competition.

The championship used advanced sim racing technology and the iRacing platform, allowing participants to compete on internationally recognized virtual circuits. The event provided an opportunity to develop racing skills, precision, strategic thinking and competitive discipline in a structured digital motorsports environment.

The championship was officially opened by NASA Nepal President Dasarath Risal and Chandra Kumar Rai, chief of the International Sports Complex in Satdobato.

Through the Esport Championship in Nepal project, NASA Nepal aims to expand access to motorsports, identify emerging talent, and create new opportunities for young people to participate in the sport. The initiative supports the continued development of motorsports in Nepal in line with the FIA's commitment to doubling global participation.

In the senior category, Jay Pratap Maskey finished first, followed by Niman Shakya. Maskey recorded a best lap time of approximately 1 minute 22 seconds on the Circuit de Lédenon. In the junior category, Kushal Bhandari secured first place, followed by Sparsha Byanju and Binit Maharjan. Bhushan Kumar Shrestha won the Promotional Challenge category. Winners received cash prizes, medals and certificates.

For more information, read the FIA announcement or visit fia.com.

The Petrolina Cyprus Rally returns to the international stage October 23-25, hosting the final round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) after a one-year absence.

The three-day event opens in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, and features narrow, winding gravel stages through the Troodos Mountains. The entry list includes 19 FIA entries and 11 additional competitors in a national-status rally, with eight FIA entries eligible to score MERC points.

Organized by the Cyprus Automobile Association, the rally will feature 12 gravel special stages covering 114.28 competitive miles (183.92 kilometers) within a total route of 408.71 miles (657.74 kilometers). The service park, rally headquarters and media center will be based in Nicosia, while the start and finish will take place in the port city of Larnaca.

For more information, including the entry list, read the FIA article or visit fia.com.

A total of 75 sprint cars are pre-entered for the 59th annual running of the Western World Championships at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, Arizona, from Thursday to Saturday, October 22-24, according to USAC Racing.

At press time, 39 USAC AMSOIL National and Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA 410 c.i. Sprint Cars are expected to compete in the three-night event on the 3/8-mile dirt oval. The 410s will be competing for $7,500-to-win on both Thursday and Friday night. Saturday's grand finale will pay $35,000 to win and a minimum of $ 1,000 to start.

Furthermore, 36 USAC Avanti Windows Southwest 360 c.i. Sprint Cars are signed in for Western World. A $3,000 winner's share is up for grabs on Thursday and Friday. Saturday's weekend capper pays $5,000 to win and a minimum of $1,000 to start.

Both divisions will be competing on all three nights with a complete program for both divisions on each of the three evenings.

More details are available on the USAC Racing announcement and usacracing.com.

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has announced Jonathan Winker as its new director of Information Technology (IT). 

"Jon brings more than 15 years of progressive IT leadership experience, with extensive expertise in cybersecurity, network infrastructure, business continuity, disaster recovery and enterprise technology strategy to his role at the SCCA," said SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb. "Throughout his career, he has successfully led complex technology operations, overseen multi-company IT environments, managed critical security initiatives, and partnered closely with executive leadership teams and boards of directors to align technology investments with organizational objectives."

Joining the Armed Forces after high school, Winker became a U.S. Army infantryman who was deployed to Iraq in 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nearly a year after deployment, he was involved in an accident that resulted in him losing his left leg below the knee; he then medically retired from the Army in 2011. Following his military service, he built a career in information technology, beginning as an IT intern and advancing to director of Infrastructure and Security for OwnersEdge, a mid-market ESOP holding company.

His time recovering from the injury rekindled his passion for cars and motorsports, ultimately taking him to the Skip Barber Racing School, where he obtained his SCCA Competition License.

A Milwaukee Region SCCA member since 2018, Winker has become an active leader in the motorsports community through his involvement with various racing organizations and driver development programs. He also co-founded the Resilience Racing Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing adaptive motorsports technologies and expanding opportunities in motorsports for disabled veterans.

"I've spent years building and leading technology teams professionally, while much of my personal time has been dedicated to motorsports and the communities that make it possible," said Winker. "The chance to bring those experiences together at the SCCA and contribute to an organization I care deeply about is incredibly exciting."

Winker's first day as SCCA's Director of Information Technology was October 1, 2026, with him attending the Mission Foods SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. He will report directly to Cobb and work closely with SCCA leadership to support technology strategy and future growth.

For more information, visit scca.com.
 

PRI will offer a range of educational opportunities at the 2026 PRI Show, December 10-12, at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The program will cover business strategies, motorsports engineering and career development, with sessions designed for professionals at different stages of their careers.

Friday, December 11, will feature PRI Education sessions addressing key business and technical challenges facing motorsports, including:

• Using Tribology to Find Extra Horsepower (9:00 a.m.): Peter Lee of Southwest Research Institute and Lake Speed Jr. of SPEEDiagnostix will explain how reducing friction can improve engine and drivetrain performance.
• State of the Racing Market (11:00 a.m.): PRI Director of Market Research Gavin Knapp will discuss new research on industry performance, market conditions and business expectations.
• How a Culture Can Cure Your Crew Needs (1:00 p.m.): Tom Shay of Profits Plus Solutions will share strategies for attracting employees, improving retention and building a stronger workplace culture.
• Using AI for Sponsorships (3:00 p.m.): Alex Striler of SponsorshipTactics.com will explore how racers can use artificial intelligence to strengthen their sponsorship programs.
   

"Education is an important part of helping motorsports businesses adapt to changes in the industry and find new opportunities for growth," said PRI Managing Director Doug Bresnahan. "The PRI Show brings together people with practical experience and expertise who can share ideas, address common challenges and help businesses prepare for what comes next."

The inaugural PRI Motorsports Engineering Symposium will expand the PRI Show's educational offerings Thursday, December 10, with technical discussions on simulation, powertrain development, materials, manufacturing and workforce development. The program will feature experts from INDYCAR, Purdue University and Motor State Distributing and is open to all registered PRI Show attendees at no additional cost.

New for 2026, NextGen Connect presented by Carlyle Tools will help students and young adults explore motorsports careers through educational sessions, networking, resume reviews and career guidance. The program will also feature daily Lunch & Learn sessions covering professional branding, apprenticeships and internships, and career paths in motorsports. The NextGen Connect Breakfast on Saturday, December 12, will feature a keynote address from Hendrick Motorsports Director of Technical Partnerships Alba Colon.

"The PRI Show offers opportunities for people at every stage of their careers to learn from industry experts and connect with others across motorsports," said PRI Show Director Karin Davidson. "From business strategies and technical education to career development, these programs give attendees practical knowledge they can take back to their businesses and careers."

Register for the 2026 PRI Show

The 2026 PRI Show takes place December 10-12 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, bringing together motorsports professionals from across the globe.

Register today to connect with more than 1,000 exhibiting companies, explore new products and technologies, attend education sessions, network with industry professionals, and experience everything the PRI Show has to offer.

To register and learn more, visit PRI2026.com/Attend. PRI membership is no longer required to attend.

PRI has expanded its Right-to-Race advocacy campaign nationwide. The time to protect race tracks is now, before more long-standing facilities are pushed out of their communities. Learn more at sema.org/advocacy/right-to-race.

Here's the latest on PRI's Right-to-Race advocacy campaign: 

Michigan's Right-to-Race Push Still Alive––Help It Across the Finish Line

PRI representatives speak at the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association meeting at Michigan International Speedway earlier this month.
 

Michigan is one of the few legislatures still at work in 2026, and the state's SEMA- and PRI-supported right-to-race bill could still pass with the right amount of support from stakeholders and enthusiasts. 

• State Senator Jeremy Moss is the key to this end-of-year push; PRI is urging coalition members and racing enthusiasts to send him a letter asking him to support Michigan's racetracks and help advance SB 773 and HB 5652 before year's end. 
   

To keep the state's stakeholders engaged, PRI met with members of the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association (MSPA) at Michigan International Speedway on October 14 to update them on the organization's advocacy efforts to protect and advance motorsports. 

To learn more about how you can help in Michigan, contact Tierra Hubbard, PRI's director of government affairs for racing, at tierrah@performanceracing.com. 

PRI Hosts Wisconsin Lawmakers at La Crosse Speedway

From left to right: Tierra Hubbard, PRI and SEMA, Wisconsin State Senator Brad Pfaff, Gregg McKarns, La Crosse Speedway, Wisconsin State Representative Steve Doyle, Tom Deery, PRI Ambassador, during a tour of La Crosse Speedway in Wisconsin.
 

La Crosse Speedway and PRI, during the first week in October, hosted Wisconsin Senator Brad Pfaff and Representative Steve Doyle during Oktoberfest Race Weekend. The tour, led by track operator Gregg McKarns and his team provided a firsthand look at the motorsports industry and its importance to their constituents and local communities. 

After Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed PRI's right-to-race legislation during the 2026 legislative session, the Promoters and Operators of Wisconsin Auto Racing (POWAR) decided to double down on advocacy efforts for next year. Bringing lawmakers out to the track is one way to spark up conversations. 

This and other track visits give lawmakers the opportunity to learn more about businesses, jobs and economic activity supported by the motorsports industry, while engaging directly with industry leaders in an exciting environment. 

• See the economic impact of the motorsports industry on your state and community here.  
   

As PRI prepares for the 2027 legislative session, these conversations are an important part of building relationships with policymakers, raising awareness of the industry's priorities and earning support for policies that protect and strengthen motorsports in Wisconsin and nationwide. 

Race for the Million, the pavement 410 sprint car series, has expanded to five events for the 2027 edition and announced that Racing America will be the exclusive broadcast partner for the event series.

Founded by Richard Fieler, Race for the Million launched in 2026 and offered more than $1 million in combined purse money and championship points fund awards.

The series has added a fifth event, up from four in 2026, to its 2027 calendar, adding new stops at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee, and Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Additionally, Race for the Million has partnered with Racing America as the exclusive broadcast home for the 2027 season. The platform brings fans more than 250 live pavement grassroots and road racing events annually, along with on-demand race replays, highlights, interviews and original programming. Fans can watch on computers, mobile devices and supported television apps.

The partnership gives RFTM another avenue to build its national audience, connecting fans with the series beyond the grandstands and providing teams, tracks and sponsors with greater exposure throughout the season, according to series officials. Racing America will also help distribute and promote content throughout the year in support of Race for the Million.

For more information, visit raceforthemillion.com.

See the full schedule below:

For the first time ever, all nine women who have competed in the Indianapolis 500 will come together in one room for the opening panel at the Women In Motorsports North America Women With Drive Summit VI, an educational and networking event held in conjunction with the PRI Show, December 7-9, in Indianapolis.

Moderated by FOX Sports broadcaster Jamie Little, this conversation will bring together nine remarkable women whose determination, talent and courage helped to change the face of motorsports:

• Janet Guthrie: The pioneer who broke barriers in 1977, becoming the first woman to compete in both the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 in the same year.
• Lyn St. James: A seven-time Indy 500 starter, the first woman to earn Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors and co-founder of Women in Motorsports North America.
• Sarah Fisher: The record holder for the most Indy 500 starts by a woman (nine), a former INDYCAR team owner and honorary chair of this year's Summit.
• Danica Patrick: The first woman to lead the Indy 500, the highest-finishing woman in race history (third in 2009) and the first woman to win an INDYCAR race.
• Milka Duno: The Venezuelan racer who made her Indianapolis 500 debut in 2007 and brought an impressive international sports car racing résumé to the Speedway.
• Ana Beatriz: A four-time Indy 500 starter and the first woman to win a race in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.
• Simona De Silvestro: Known as the "Iron Maiden," this Swiss racer earned Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors in 2010 and has made six starts in the legendary race. She made history with Paretta Autosport at the 105th Indianapolis 500 in 2021 as the first INDYCAR team with a majority-female race and pit crew.
• Pippa Mann: A seven-time Indianapolis 500 starter and passionate advocate for creating opportunities for women in motorsports.
• Katherine Legge: Katherine Legge, a five-time Indianapolis 500 starter, most recently competing in the 2026 race.

For more on the Women With Drive VI Summit, visit womenwithdrivesummit.com.

The legendary Formula 1 machines of the 1970s and 1980s will return to the iconic seaside circuit at Long Beach for the Historic Formula 1 Challenge at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 16-18.

The historic F1 machines will take center stage in two action-packed, 20-minute races throughout the weekend. The first will thunder through the streets on Saturday, April 17, alongside the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, with a second showdown on Sunday, April 18, adding even more excitement to a day headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race.

Formula 1 ran for eight years in Long Beach, from 1976-83, and with winners during those years including Mario Andretti (1977), Niki Lauda (1981), Nelson Piquet (1980), Clay Regazzoni (1976) and Gilles Villeneuve (1979). Andretti's 1977 black and gold John Player Lotus, along with 1982 Long Beach runner-up Keke Rosberg's Williams FW07D are expected to be in the field, with other entries from famous marques like Shadow, Penske, Wolf, McLaren, March and Surtees to be announced in the coming weeks.

The historic event at Long Beach will be sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA).

"We're bringing together an incredible field of historic Formula 1 cars that represent one of the most exciting eras in racing," said HMSA President Cris Vandagriff. "These legendary machines are an important part of Long Beach's rich racing heritage, and there's nothing quite like hearing their engines roar through the streets where Formula 1 history was made. Giving fans two opportunities to experience these remarkable cars in action will make this year's event even more special."

"The return of historic Formula 1 cars brings an exciting new level of energy to an already spectacular race weekend," said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Liaw. "These legendary machines are part of Long Beach's racing DNA, and fans will love seeing and hearing them roar through our streets once again. With 10 races from six world-class series, including these cars, INDYCAR and IMSA all on the same weekend, it's a motorsports experience you won't find anywhere else."

The 2027 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as well as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In addition, the weekend will include the Super Drift Challenge under the lights on Friday and Saturday nights plus doubleheader action from Robby Gordon's SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks, Porsche Carrera Cup North America and the Historic F1 Challenge.

For more information, visit gplb.com.

American Rally Association (ARA) has announced its schedule for the 2027 ARA National Championship.

ARA's 2027 National Championship will again feature eight events, starting with Northern Michigan's Sno*Drift Rally, February 5-6, but for the first time, the tour will extend into November as the Boone Forest Rally––based in the foothills of Appalachia midway between Lexington, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee––steps up to National status, serving as the new ARA season finale, November 12-13.

Oregon Trail Rally, which spans the Oregon-Washington border, approximately 90 minutes east of Portland, returns to its traditional May date (May 14-16) as round four of the series after using 2026 to rebuild its organizing committee and event infrastructure. At the same time, the Ojibwe Forests Rally, based in Minnesota's Northwoods, four hours northwest of Minneapolis, will step back to Super Regional status for 2027.

Late summer will see the return of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) to American soil for the first time in nearly 40 years. With the American Rally community, including ARA officials, event organizers and experienced rally competitors and volunteers from across the country lending their attention and support to the WRC's Rally US in late August, Overmountain Rally Tennessee will go on hiatus for 2027.

"After one of the closest and most exciting seasons in American Rally history, the ARA National Championship is continuing its upward trajectory," said Preston Osborn, ARA series manager. "With the return of the WRC to the United States, 2027 could be an inflection point for rally in this country. In keeping with our mission to preserve, protect, and promote stage rally in America, we are going to do everything in our power to make the most of this opportunity to elevate our national championship and advance every level of the sport for the benefit of all."

Other national tour stops include yearly favorites: Rally in the 100 Acre Wood (Salem & Potosi, Mo., Mar. 12-13), Olympus Rally (Shelton, Wash., Apr. 17-18), Southern Ohio Forest Rally (Chilicothe & Portsmouth, Ohio, June 10-12), Rally Colorado (Rangely, Colo., July 24-25), and the Lake Superior Performance Rally (Marquette, Mich., Oct. 8-9).

The full 2027 ARA calendar, including three regional championships—East, Central, and West—and totaling more than two dozen events—Nationals, Super Regionals, Regionals, and RallySprints—will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit americanrallyassociation.com.

See the full 2027 schedule below: