Motorsport Jobs How too?

[ollie854]

Hi,

Well basically at the moment I work for Ford at my local dealer as an apprentice. Now I know I do not want to stay in a conventional for the rest of my life and would love to get into motorsport.

Im wondering how I would go about getting into it? Im going back to college doing evening courses for maths in september to make sure ive got a C at GCSE level as I have only a D at the moment. I realise that motorsport is very hard work and not often greatly paid but its definitely my calling in life.

Thank you for any help

[K87]

For a start, work out what you want to do... motorsport is a big field...

[RenesisEvo]

There are several threads on here about this already, and as above - you need to know what you want to do more than just 'motorsport'. Do you want to fabricate or machine, do you want to be a mechanic or technician, or do you want to do design, analysis, or other forms of engineering? Do be aware that there are many many people out there with the same desires as you, you will need to work very hard for possibly a very long time and go the extra mile (and then some) to get noticed. It's worth it, though.

I work in motorsport so feel free to PM me with any questions.

[ollie854]

I'd love to be on a Race team As a mechanic but I have no idea to get there. Although the process of designing/fabricating interests me too but I fear I dont have enough qualifications to that. Im willing to work very hard on where I want to be because I want to make this dream reality.

[MotorsportTom]

I spent an age sending emails off to race teams that were fairly local to me so if I were you i'd do that. Say why you want to do it, what experience you have and send a CV aswell
At first I doubt you'll be paid as there are plenty of people who offer their services for free just to be in and around motorsport but after you get some experience behind you who knows what might happen.

Chances are you won't get a reply as I must have emailed well over 50 teams and probably got around 8 replies back, don't let this put you off and if it is your dream just keep tapping away at the keyboard and something will come up.

Good luck!

P.S.
I know of a fellow who might need an occasional hand in his rallycross that he races and I can put you in contact if your interested? I see your profile says south and he is based in High Wycombe IIRC so depending on where you are it might be alright?

[AndyFoo]

MotorsportTom said:

I know of a fellow who might need an occasional hand in his rallycross that he races and I can put you in contact if your interested? I see your profile says south and he is based in High Wycombe IIRC so depending on where you are it might be alright?

If you don't mind me jumping on this. I'm in High Wycombe and very interested...

[MotorsportTom]

AndyFoo said:

MotorsportTom said:

I know of a fellow who might need an occasional hand in his rallycross that he races and I can put you in contact if your interested? I see your profile says south and he is based in High Wycombe IIRC so depending on where you are it might be alright?

If you don't mind me jumping on this. I'm in High Wycombe and very interested...

YHM!

[ollie854]

Thanks for the help everyone, im going to start emailing people as soon as possible just to help out. I don't care that it's not paid because ive got my current Job that's brings me money In. Then hopefully go from there

[RenesisEvo]

ollie854 said:

I'd love to be on a Race team As a mechanic but I have no idea to get there. Although the process of designing/fabricating interests me too but I fear I dont have enough qualifications to that. Im willing to work very hard on where I want to be because I want to make this dream reality.

When you contact all these teams, make sure you ask them, what they look for in their mechanics - what qualifications, etc. Experience will be the number 1 thing, so as has been said, you might have to do it for free at the weekend, but get yourself out there lending a hand, also from there who knows what doors might open to you. Something like an NVQ or apprenticeship in motorsport may be a good start if you want to spanner at a higher level, a few places do those (OCVC in Bicester being one that I know of). That could equally allow you to go down the fabrication route. The design stuff requires much higher levels of qualifications, including a truck-load of maths (which I've not really used since but there we go!).

One important thing - good luck, and don't give up, you'll get there

[ollie854]

RenesisEvo said:

When you contact all these teams, make sure you ask them, what they look for in their mechanics - what qualifications, etc. Experience will be the number 1 thing, so as has been said, you might have to do it for free at the weekend, but get yourself out there lending a hand, also from there who knows what doors might open to you.Something like an NVQ or
apprenticeship in motorsport may be a
good start if you want to spanner at a
higher level, a few places do those
(OCVC in Bicester being one that I know of). That could equally allow you to go
down the fabrication route. The design
stuff requires much higher levels of
qualifications, including a truck-load of
maths (which I've not really used since
but there we go!).

One important thing - good luck, and don't give up, you'll get there

Thank you very much when I'm back from holiday I'll start emailing people asking whether they need/want help at weekend. I couldnt go into a motorsport apprenticeship yet as Ive still got 2 years of my ford apprenticeship left.