The FIA has approved a new, reduced cost cap for F1 teams and a new sliding scale rule for aerodynamic testing after a vote of the World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday.

A cost cap had already been agreed by the teams and the sport's governing body, but after Wednesday's vote, the cap for 2021 will be lowered from the original figure of $175m per year to $145m, with further reductions in the following years.

The new, reduced cap has been brought in as a response to the coronavirus pandemic that has delayed the start of the 2020 F1 season, which has in turn had a serious effect on the finances of the teams.

The FIA also announced a brand new sliding scale for aerodynamic development, which is also set to be brought in for 2021.

Under the agreement, the lower a team finishes in the constructors' championship, the more wind tunnel time it will be allowed to use to develop the car the following year.

The move is designed to allow the field to close up, and prevent bigger teams from gaining too much of an advantage over those with fewer resources.

The FIA has also approved a measure to limit downforce on the 2021 cars. With key parts of the cars – such as the chassis and suspension – staying fixed from 2020 to 2021, the new rule means teams will have to trim part of the floor to reduce the downforce created, largely so a new tire compound will not be needed for next season, before a switch to 18-inch tires in 2022.

There were also a number of other tweaks in the pursuit of cutting costs and promoting sustainability. These include:

•         A number of components including the chassis and gearbox have been frozen between 2020 and 2021. A token system will be used to allow a very limited number of modifications, such as McLaren needing to make changes to accommodate a switch to Mercedes power.
•         From next season, there will be a limitation on the number of upgrades a power unit manufacturer can do over the course of a season.
•         For 2021, the minimum weight increases by 3kg to 749kg.
•         Provisions can be made for "open" and "closed" events in 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic which makes holding mass gatherings challenging.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

NASCAR and IMG ARENA, a sports betting service and content hub, announced that IMG ARENA has licensed official assets to create a virtual sports betting game that replicates some of NASCAR’s most iconic tracks, including Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Watkins Glen International. The virtual product, created by Leap Gaming, will be offered to sports betting operators around the world.

Additionally, NASCAR and IMG ARENA have formed a long-term partnership that will provide international sports betting operators the ability to live-stream NASCAR Cup Series races for the first time. The remaining 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season will be available to betting operators outside of the U.S. and Canada.  

“IMG ARENA is the leading partner for global sports and entertainment media. We are excited to work together to provide a global audience the ability to engage with our sport virtually and in real-time,” said Scott Warfield, Managing Director of Gaming, NASCAR. “The international sports gaming landscape is mature and vibrant, and this partnership allows us to offer compelling products that further enhance our international footprint.”

In the past year, NASCAR announced a series of agreements to prepare the industry and its fans for the growing sports betting landscape in the US, including its first authorized gaming operator, an exclusive data partnership, an integrity partner to safeguard and protect the sport, and unique content deals. Furthermore, the sanctioning body granted all teams and tracks the ability to sell marketing sponsorships to sports betting companies and licensed sportsbooks.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Iowa race tracks can return to racing beginning June 1. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced on Tuesday that motorsports facilities in the state will be allowed to resume operations with capacity limited to 50%.

One major race track in the state, Knoxville Raceway, announced plans to host its season opener on June 6, with hot laps beginning at 6:45 p.m. local time, and open practice sessions set for June 4-5. Knoxville officials have installed additional hand sanitizer and washing stations, and masks are highly recommended for all visitors. Additional precautions, including plexi glass dividers and more frequent cleaning schedules, were also announced.

For more information, visit knoxvilleraceway.com. For a state-by-state directory of race track reopening schedules, visit the PRI Race Track Resources page here.

Photo courtesy of Knoxville Raceway, Eagle Eye Photography

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) will be closed for the national holiday on Monday, May 25. The PRI staff wishes the racing industry a happy and safe Memorial Day.

For more information on the PRI Trade Show, including how to reserve booth space online, visit pri2020.com. For more information on the PRI Coronavirus Updates & Resources page, including PRI's Race Track Promoter Helpline, visit performanceracing.com/corona-updates.

For the first time, Motorsport UK has issued full technical and safety regulations for electric vehicles (EVs). The membership organization and governing body for four-wheel racing based in Colnbrook, Slough, United Kingdom, is one of the first in the region to do so, according to a press release.

The framework and regulations were developed by the Motorsport UK Executive and Technical Committee with assistance from industry experts. They are designed for all types of EV builds, including hybrid and full battery electric, and will allow Motorsport UK to create new categories for motorsports competition.

At a grassroots level, the new regulations will allow a standard production EVs to compete unmodified in disciplines that allow standard road cars, for example Sprint and Hill climb Road Car Categories, or Autotests and Autosolos.

For more information, visit motorsportuk.org.

The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum (NSCHoF & Museum) is now open to visitors for the first time since March 20. The non-profit museum located at 1 Sprint Capital Place in Knoxville, Iowa, previously closed due to COVID-19. 

Hours for Memorial Day weekend are Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, May 24, 12–5 p.m.; and Monday, May 25, 12–5 p.m. The museum currently features a special exhibit honoring the late Greg Hodnett's sprint car racing career.

“We have been very busy here at the museum even though our doors have been closed,” National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Executive Director Bob Baker said. “We’re excited about the prospects of visitors, but want them to be advised to practice social distancing... use hand sanitizers, and stay safe.”

The museum is following COVID-19 precautions and guidelines implemented by the governor of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Public Health. This includes temporarily closing the iRacing simulator, the Rick Ferkel “sit-in” car, and all touchscreens.

NSCHoF & Museum officials advise those who are sick, or those who are especially susceptible to severe complications with the virus, to refrain from visiting at this time.

In related news, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) announced the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is set to take place Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1, in Knoxville, Iowa.

For more information, visit sprintcarhof.com.

An updated 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule was released, displaying calendar adjustments implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway remains the season opener with a night race on the 1.5-mile oval Saturday, June 6. The next race on the INDYCAR calendar will be the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course Saturday, July 4.

"Our teams and athletes are ready to get back on track and will deliver world-class action at Texas Motor Speedway and the Racing Capital of the World," Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles said. "We appreciate the opportunity to begin our season during these unprecedented times, and I'm confident we'll put on a great show."

The REV Group Grand Prix at Road America has been rescheduled from June 21 to July 11-12, becoming a double-header with championship points races Saturday and Sunday on the iconic, 4-mile road course.

Two events have been canceled for 2020 due to local restrictions surrounding the pandemic: the Indy Richmond 300 on Saturday, June 27, at Richmond Raceway and the Honda Indy Toronto on Sunday, July 12, on the streets of Toronto.

The season finale will be the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, Oct. 25, a new date recently announced after the originally scheduled season opener March 15 in St. Pete was postponed due to the global health crisis.

For more information, visit indycar.com.

Well established motorsports leader Rick Humphrey has been named president and general manager of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Since 2014, Humphrey has served as vice president of IMSA Properties, and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta has served as his base of operation. In that role, he oversaw management of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway and Seven Sebring Hotel.

In his new position, Humphrey will concentrate his efforts on the day-to-day operation and promotion of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and will report to David Pettit, IMSA senior vice president of marketing and business operations.

Longtime motorsports executive and former Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta president and general manager Geoff Lee announced his retirement from the company.

“We are grateful to Geoff Lee for his many contributions to the success of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and wish him the very best in his retirement,” said Pettit. “Geoff and Rick Humphrey worked together to transform Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta into the world-class facility it has become, and Rick is a natural choice to succeed Geoff. In his previous role, Rick developed a firm understanding of our sport and operation; we expect a seamless transition.”

The first major public event that Humphrey will oversee as track president is Drift Atlanta, July 3-4. The 23rd Annual Motul Petit Le Mans, Oct. 14-17, rounds out the remainder of the 2020 spectator calendar.

For more information, visit roadatlanta.com.

Turn 14 Distribution, Inc., the distributor of high-performance automotive parts and accessories for race vehicles and more, has announced the company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Motovicity Distribution, Inc. 

Turn 14 Distribution, based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, will extend employment offers to “a majority” of employees from Motovicity, which has headquarters in Madison Heights, Michigan.

Motovicity, a wholesale-only distributor that offers products from some of the industry’s most recognized brands, first opened in 2002 after a diverse group of enthusiasts, racers, and business professionals came together in the pursuit of redefining the automotive performance aftermarket. In 2013, Motovicity was recognized as SEMA’s 2013 Warehouse Distributor of the Year.

“Motovicity’s singular commitment to the B2B channel, impressive enthusiast employee base, and unapologetic competitiveness pair perfectly with Turn 14 Distribution’s core values. I look forward to combining our efforts and increasing our capabilities to further build Turn 14 Distribution’s position as the leader in the distribution of high-performance parts and accessories for the automotive aftermarket,” Turn 14 Distribution CEO Jon Pulli said.

This transaction marks Turn 14 Distribution’s first asset purchase agreement since its formation in 2007. Moving forward, Motovicity’s operations will cease and the company will operate exclusively under the name Turn 14 Distribution.

“We believe this agreement will result in a more robust and capable company and look forward to working with our new team to drive innovation in the aftermarket distribution space,” Turn 14 Distribution CTO Chris Candido said.

For more information, visit turn14.com.

Dr. Jamie Meyer has taken the role of President of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show and media company, effective this week. Meyer, who has a long and storied history in motorsports and racing, will lead the PRI team in increasing engagement and support for the industry through enhanced programs and services for the motorsports community.

 

“In addition to providing the industry with world-class trade events and publications, PRI is committed to enhancing resources, advocacy and representation for the motorsports industry,” said Chris Kersting, president and CEO of SEMA. “Dr. Jamie Meyer will be instrumental in leading the team. He has great knowledge and understanding of racing businesses, teams and drivers, and he will be a valued leader to help motorsports and the industry grow.”

 

Meyer leaves a very successful 15-year career at General Motors, where he served as the Advanced Performance Parts Program Manager, the Performance Marketing Manager, as well as several marketing and advertising roles for Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick. 

 

“I have always enjoyed sportsman motorsports,” said Meyer. “I was influenced early on by local circle track racers and that lead to a fascination of fast street cars and drag racing. I am looking forward to bringing that passion and energy to the PRI community and working with an already established team of industry leaders.”  

 

Meyer led the revival of the COPO Camaro, E-ROD crate engine, LSX race block and engine family, and initiated such events as the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals, LSX Shootout, and sponsorship of the NMCA series of drag races. Meyer was also instrumental in onboarding the Force Family to Chevrolet as well as multiple marketing activities with NASCAR drivers. 

 

Most recently, Meyer developed the performance parts and racing parts strategy for all General Motors vehicles including their full-size truck lineup, C8 Corvette, current Camaro models, and the coming portfolio of battery electric vehicles. Meyer’s marketing efforts include the development of multiple websites, national advertising campaigns, trade show strategy development, and the formation of the social media suite of offerings from Chevrolet Performance. 

 

Meyer began his racing career in upstate New York when he formed Mom’s Racing, a non-profit drag racing sanctioning body designed to give street racers a safe alternative at their local drag strips. Meyer’s drag racing efforts continued with Fun Ford Weekend, World Ford Challenge, and support for the formation of the National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA). He served as the lead announcer, racer relations, as well as a freelance contributor with hundreds of published articles.

 

Based in Indianapolis, Meyer will lead efforts to establish a new office and permanent presence in the area as he serves and engages the racing community, develops programs and services for the motorsports industry, and continues to lead the PRI Trade Show, one of the top 40 trade events in the United States. 

 

To contact PRI, interested members of the racing community are encouraged to visit performanceracing.com or contact mail@performanceracing.com.