May your week be filled with many T1 incident avoidances. If I only had a nickel every time someone told me that at the beginning of each race. “Remember, you can’t win in Turn 1.” That’s a lie. You can, because everyone else wrecks behind you… Am I right?
NEWS FLASH
Hidden tech revealed: F1's 2026 preseason testing in Bahrain is pulling back the curtain on radical design departures, with Ferrari and Mercedes ditching traditional front brake ducts for a cleaner aerodynamic profile. Teams like Audi and Aston Martin are exploiting clever regulation loopholes, utilizing "slotted" floors and rear floor "mouse holes" to combat turbulent tire wake and reclaim lost downforce. This year's championship will be won in the margins, as intricate details like Williams’ monolithic bargeboard towers and multi-element front wing actuators become the new battleground for engineering supremacy.
Direct to the point: Fanatec is making a play for your wallet by slashing prices across its hardware, including the flagship GT DD Extreme. The 15 Nm powerhouse dropped $280 to a new $1,219.99 sticker price, while the entry-level GT DD Pro 5 Nm bundle finally cracked the sub-$800 ceiling. These cuts aren't just a flash sale; they are a permanent "new standard pricing" aimed at aligning bundles across global markets and lowering the barrier for high-end direct drive setups.
Sim to street: Max Verstappen is trading his Red Bull cockpit for a mentor's headset in the new Viaplay docuseries New Ground. The three-part special tracks the four-time champion as he launches his own racing team and successfully gambles on sim racer Chris Lulham, proving that digital speed translates to the real world after the duo secured a GT3 victory at the Nürburgring.
Grab your popcorn: The official trailer for Drive to Survive Season 8 has launched, confirming a February 27 Netflix release that chronicles the 2025 three-way title scrap between Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri. Beyond the championship drama, the new season promises a behind-the-scenes look at headline driver moves and the contrasting fortunes of a packed rookie field during one of F1's most chaotic years.
🏠 In racing, success rarely comes from speed alone—it comes from preparation. Race To Approval applies that same mindset to mortgages, helping Ontario homeowners understand their options, plan ahead, and avoid last-minute surprises. Calm strategy beats chaos, on track and off.
SIM RACING SNIPPETS
ACE of Spades: Assetto Corsa Evo is overhauling its early access experience with the v0.5 update, introducing seven new vehicles including the Audi Sport quattro and the iconic layouts of Watkins Glen and Paul Ricard. This patch marks a significant shift by disabling Career Mode in favor of a sandbox "Open Mode," while adding a precise gain-based track cut system and a free camera mode for virtual photography.
Fixing the formula ladder: iRacing’s open-wheel ladder is currently a ghost town compared to the GT3 hype machine because of punishing skill gaps and a total lack of high-stakes special events. To stop the bleed, veteran driver Emil Bernstorff brings a hot take by bridging the gap with the Indy NXT car, launching 100% distance formula special events, and fixing the twitchy tire models that make the world’s fastest cars feel like they’re driving on ice.
Racing’s ultimate crossover: SimRacing Expo Charlotte has partnered with the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Motor Speedway to launch "The Golden Ticket," a premium package combining expo access, a seat at the Coca-Cola 600, and trackside perks. Holders also snag a high-value goodie bag loaded with $50 in iRacing credits, VRS coaching, and a shot at a $4,000 Skip Barber driving experience.
MOTORSPORTS REPORT
Endurance on hold: Honda is officially swiping left on a factory entry for the World Endurance Championship, choosing instead to put its chips on the 2026 F1 engine partnership with Aston Martin. While a factory squad is out, the manufacturer is leaving the door ajar for customer teams to field the winning Acura ARX-06 in the Hypercar category if they have the appetite for it.
Street-legal formula: RYN Motors is bypassing bureaucratic red tape to bring the 220hp FP3, a genuine formula car you can legally drive to the grocery store, to market. By classifying the 1,140-pound beast as an "autocycle," the company delivers 2.6 lateral G’s and a 2.8-second 0-60 sprint without interfering with traditional passenger car regulations.
Investing in the dust: KCB Bank Kenya is doubling down on the WRC Safari Rally, injecting a fresh $1.76 million USD (Ksh 227 million) into the 2026 edition of the iconic event. This latest move brings the lender's total contribution to roughly $7.6 million USD (Ksh 980 million) since the rally returned to the global stage in 2021. The funding is split between direct race organization and backing five specific drivers, including Rwanda's Queen Kalimpinya and Uganda's Oscar Ntambi, as the tour heads to Naivasha this March.
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THE SPOTLIGHT
The Mountain’s Marathon: Bathurst 12
Mount Panorama is more than just a racetrack; it’s a cathedral of speed carved into a New South Wales hillside. While the Bathurst 1000 is the historic heart of the mountain, the Bathurst 12 Hour has become its soul for the global GT racing elite. This isn’t just a race; it’s a twelve-hour strategic chess match played at 180 mph.
The event’s DNA has shifted more times than a gearbox at Forrest's Elbow. It started in 1991 as a "showroom" showdown—a gritty response to the skyrocketing costs of touring cars. The goal? Prove that the car in your driveway could survive a day of absolute punishment. Toyota Supras and Mazda RX-7s ruled the early era, turning the mountain into a high-stakes marketing brochure.
After a decade-long hiatus and a brief, ambitious flirtation with a 24-hour format, the modern renaissance arrived in 2011. The watershed moment? Switching to FIA GT3-spec machinery. This move transformed a local production car enduro into a marquee stop on the Intercontinental GT Challenge, sitting alongside icons like the 24 Hours of Spa.
The Modern Power Play
Today, the 12 Hour is a "shot of economic espresso" for the region, drawing over 50,000 fans and the world’s most prestigious manufacturers.
The Velocity Leap: In 2011, lap times hovered in the 2:09s. By 2023, Maro Engel obliterated the record with a staggering 2:00.88, a testament to the terrifying evolution of GT3 tech.
A Global Grid: The 2025 edition saw BMW snap a 15-year drought, taking their first GT3-era win on the mountain. With Ford and Chevrolet joining the fray for 2026, the old-school "Ford vs. Everyone" tribalism is set for a high-tech reboot.
With a 174-meter elevation change and concrete walls that don't believe in "rubbing is racing," Bathurst remains the ultimate proving ground. It’s where heritage meets high-tech, and only the most disciplined survive the climb.
MEMBER FEATURE
The Voice Crossing Borders
Meet Justin Prince, the Windsor, Ontario-based dual citizen who might actually spend more time behind a microphone than most people spend sleeping. If there’s an engine roaring—real or simulated—from Canada down to the US, there’s a high probability Justin is the one telling you why it matters.
Averaging a staggering 250 to 300 races a year, Justin has become a ubiquitous force in the commentary booth. His resume reads like a "who’s who" of racing broadcasts, spanning Kart Chaser, SRO Motorsports, and RaceSpot. He isn’t just talking into the void, either; he’s been the voice for the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and filled the PA system for major SRO events.
The Hustle at a Glance:
Notable Wins: Former pit reporter for the eNASCAR peak, 2025 SRO PA announcer, and a fixture in Canadian collegiate championships for nearly a decade.
Current Grind: Leading the charge for the LMU Masters, High Tide Racing League, and a slate of series for VSPEED and Maconi Entertainment.
The North Star: Justin is locked in on one goal—becoming a national-level announcer.
When he isn’t calling the shots for the Moonshiners Racing League or managing sim rigs with SimStaff, he’s… well, he’s usually still at the track. For Justin, the distance between the digital asphalt and the real stuff is just a matter of which border he crossed that morning.
Connect with Justin:
LinkedIn: justinprinceplaybyplay
Portfolio: justinprince.org
X (Twitter): @JustinPSports
Email: [email protected]
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SRN RECAP AND UNFILTERED THOUGHTS
Bathurst 12 iRacing special event is just around the corner. It’s been a busy last few weeks with lots on the go. Social media has been lifting off, apps are in development and partnership negotiations are in full stride. See you next week!
🏆Join The Roster: Ready to move from the public lobbies to the broadcast stage? SRN Esports is recruiting competitive drivers to join our official roster. As a team member, you'll get access to free high-tier coaching, priority for sponsored events, and a clear path to grow within a supportive group of racers. Click the link below.
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