How does motorsport sponsorship work in the UK (for brands)

[richhead]

pablo said:

If the Wookie says you’ll struggle, I’m inclined to agree…. but I also like a challenge so….

A simple approach is Drivers/Teams list the car, series, driver details, location, championships, previous results etc then what they are willing to offer, track days, appearances, hospitality etc and what they expect in return, cash, stickers etc. Potential sponsors log in and see what’s available for their budget.

Then there is a drivers log in where they can see potential sponsors who have stated what they are willing to offer, cash, stickers etc and what they want in return. With some basic web skills, you could automate this so if Bobs Plumbing want to sponsor a British GT car, want some hospitality and have £50k to throw at it, and a BGT team just happen to need a £50k boost and have a big awning….

But as many have said, sponsorship is more often than not about relationships and whether the client and team get on. For years I was mystified as to why Beechdean ice cream sponsor a BGT car, what’s really in it for them? Do GT drivers eat a lot of ice cream? Oh, wait, has the founder of Beechdean, Andrew Howard, always been a fan of endurance racing….. and that’s how it happens.

IMHO, I think Your idea is good but it’s going to need to be ultra slick and the website needs to be clear and easy to use. After all Collecting Cars is just a platform for buyers to meet sellers, they don’t handle any of the money transaction elements, that’s all this needs to be really.

Edited to add how you choose to monetise it is your call, do drivers/teams pay to list ? Do potential sponsors pay to view drivers/teams ? Do both have to pay?…

Edited by pablo on Thursday 24th August 21:00

And lets not forget Andrew Howard also drives the car, so hes basicly using his own company to help funt the team, like i said before, alot of drivers fund it themselves, directly or indirectly, and obviously advatising(sponsership) is offset against tax, so if you own a company and like racing its a no brainer, spend it on your hobby, or give it to the tax man.
the old joke is, how do you make a small fortune in motor racing, you start with a big one.
There are very few drivers who dont pay for racing, even at some very high levels.
Why do you think LMP2 and GT am are so big at lemans, mainly funded by one driver.
Ive worked with people spending millions, and without them a whole industry would collapse over night, even more so in historic racing.
So long may it continue. Motor sport is a far bigger employer in the uk than people realise.
And most pro drivers get the work by hocking up with one or more am drivers with funding.
Its only really the likes of F1 etc that have the media coverage to attract the big brands, Although media coverage for lower formula is way better than it was just a fe years ago.
The avarage man on the street has no idea that raceing outside of F1 or maybe BTCC exist at all.