Finding a race drive
Discussion
As a long-time fan of motor racing, I've been wondering how do most aspiring racing non-professional racing drivers find their next drive? Say for example someone looking to find a drive in one of the BTCC support classes (e.g. Clio Cup), would this ordinarily be via personal contacts, responding to adverts (e.g on racecars direct) or some other means? And if a driver does find what looks to be a good opportunity, would most teams be happy just to take the money in exchange for the drive, or would they seriously scrutinise a driver's racing history, finishing record, previous teams etc?
I know for classes like Formula Ford upwards (i.e. feeder classes) that teams would be more inclined to opt for drivers with a strong background, but does this apply across the board, or is it enough that if I were to win the lottery tomorrow (I wish!) I could just buy myself a drive in whatever class I fancy?
This is all hypothetical by the way, I'm under no illusions I have the talent to be a racing driver
I know for classes like Formula Ford upwards (i.e. feeder classes) that teams would be more inclined to opt for drivers with a strong background, but does this apply across the board, or is it enough that if I were to win the lottery tomorrow (I wish!) I could just buy myself a drive in whatever class I fancy?
This is all hypothetical by the way, I'm under no illusions I have the talent to be a racing driver
you start in a club series to get the signatures required to go from nat b novice to nat b, then you phone up a clio cup team and say you want to race one of their cars, bloke on phone asks for colour of your money, you then meet and wave a very large cheque under his nose. bloke then says here is your car sir, you do clios for how long then decide you fancy something a bit faster, so you says to your gaffer I really fancy a porsche or ginetta G55 waving another big cheque under his nose. Bloke then gets on phone and organises a car etc. You do okay then decide you are up for the big un, you now have a international license so you phone dave bartrum/ian harrison/dick bennets (delete as appropriate) and say ere mate i wanna drive touring cars, so you meet and wave a massive cheque in his direction. you are now a btcc driver... simples
marshal_alan said:
you start in a club series to get the signatures required to go from nat b novice to nat b, then you phone up a clio cup team and say you want to race one of their cars, bloke on phone asks for colour of your money, you then meet and wave a very large cheque under his nose. bloke then says here is your car sir, you do clios for how long then decide you fancy something a bit faster, so you says to your gaffer I really fancy a porsche or ginetta G55 waving another big cheque under his nose. Bloke then gets on phone and organises a car etc. You do okay then decide you are up for the big un, you now have a international license so you phone dave bartrum/ian harrison/dick bennets (delete as appropriate) and say ere mate i wanna drive touring cars, so you meet and wave a massive cheque in his direction. you are now a btcc driver... simples
He's not wrong you know!TobyLaRohne said:
marshal_alan said:
you start in a club series to get the signatures required to go from nat b novice to nat b, then you phone up a clio cup team and say you want to race one of their cars, bloke on phone asks for colour of your money, you then meet and wave a very large cheque under his nose. bloke then says here is your car sir, you do clios for how long then decide you fancy something a bit faster, so you says to your gaffer I really fancy a porsche or ginetta G55 waving another big cheque under his nose. Bloke then gets on phone and organises a car etc. You do okay then decide you are up for the big un, you now have a international license so you phone dave bartrum/ian harrison/dick bennets (delete as appropriate) and say ere mate i wanna drive touring cars, so you meet and wave a massive cheque in his direction. you are now a btcc driver... simples
He's not wrong you know!
t, money is the limiting factor not their talent, shame really but thats the way the way it is..The first things teams look for is money. After that they like to consider how much money is available, then finally how they can get hold of it.
However, if there are two drivers with the same money available then they would consider the relative abilities of them.
Then they would ask for more money and give the drive to the one who paid most.
However, if there are two drivers with the same money available then they would consider the relative abilities of them.
Then they would ask for more money and give the drive to the one who paid most.
TobyLaRohne said:
marshal_alan said:
you start in a club series to get the signatures required to go from nat b novice to nat b, then you phone up a clio cup team and say you want to race one of their cars, bloke on phone asks for colour of your money, you then meet and wave a very large cheque under his nose. bloke then says here is your car sir, you do clios for how long then decide you fancy something a bit faster, so you says to your gaffer I really fancy a porsche or ginetta G55 waving another big cheque under his nose. Bloke then gets on phone and organises a car etc. You do okay then decide you are up for the big un, you now have a international license so you phone dave bartrum/ian harrison/dick bennets (delete as appropriate) and say ere mate i wanna drive touring cars, so you meet and wave a massive cheque in his direction. you are now a btcc driver... simples
He's not wrong you know!marshal_alan said:
you start in a club series to get the signatures required to go from nat b novice to nat b, then you phone up a clio cup team and say you want to race one of their cars, bloke on phone asks for colour of your money, you then meet and wave a very large cheque under his nose. bloke then says here is your car sir, you do clios for how long then decide you fancy something a bit faster, so you says to your gaffer I really fancy a porsche or ginetta G55 waving another big cheque under his nose. Bloke then gets on phone and organises a car etc. You do okay then decide you are up for the big un, you now have a international license so you phone dave bartrum/ian harrison/dick bennets (delete as appropriate) and say ere mate i wanna drive touring cars, so you meet and wave a massive cheque in his direction. you are now a btcc driver... simples
Sums it up really rather well to be fair. ma9mwah said:
You don't even have to do the club bit. We've had novices in our clio cup team who had never raced before (well a bit of karting as a kid). Just turn up with a nice big cheque and you'll be racing in no time.
sorry, didnt realise you could do clios with a black cross on a yellow background, new series was nat b thoThis is how it works.
REALIST123 said:
The first things teams look for is money. After that they like to consider how much money is available, then finally how they can get hold of it.
However, if there are two drivers with the same money available then they would consider the relative abilities of them.
Then they would ask for more money and give the drive to the one who paid most.
However, if there are two drivers with the same money available then they would consider the relative abilities of them.
Then they would ask for more money and give the drive to the one who paid most.
Speed Badger said:
You need a big cheque for Clio Cup? I thought this was the cheapest thing you can do outside of club racing?
Out of interest does anyone know how much funding you would need for a season of Clios or BTCC?
BTCC is a low-mid 6 figure sum for the full year, and that's before tyres, fuel, testing and damage. I know one drivers final bill for this year began with a 9..... Out of interest does anyone know how much funding you would need for a season of Clios or BTCC?
Blimey! 900k! It's always amazed me how some average drivers can seem to attract hundreds of thousands in sponsorship with no real results, yet other excellent drivers (ie Paul Rivett as an example) never seem to attract anything like that.
Is it just gift of the gab? Rich company director dad? Who you know rather than how good you are? I'm more talking about younger drivers here, rather than the Jeff Smiths or Nick Fosters -(by no means average, just examples of successful businessmen pursing a dream).
I mean, when they get their big £500k's worth (or whatever) of sponsorship from Crabbies say, then go on to have a fairly mediocre season, barring say, one 2nd place, how come Crabbies don't pull the plug and go with a random other driver who has pitched for possible sponsorship that has been lighting up another series, or a current excellent BTCC driver without funding ie Turkington? Then their Crabbies BMW would be lighting up the podium most race weekends with a very popular, media savvy driver, rather than sodding around in 17th place?
Is it just gift of the gab? Rich company director dad? Who you know rather than how good you are? I'm more talking about younger drivers here, rather than the Jeff Smiths or Nick Fosters -(by no means average, just examples of successful businessmen pursing a dream).
I mean, when they get their big £500k's worth (or whatever) of sponsorship from Crabbies say, then go on to have a fairly mediocre season, barring say, one 2nd place, how come Crabbies don't pull the plug and go with a random other driver who has pitched for possible sponsorship that has been lighting up another series, or a current excellent BTCC driver without funding ie Turkington? Then their Crabbies BMW would be lighting up the podium most race weekends with a very popular, media savvy driver, rather than sodding around in 17th place?
Speed Badger said:
You need a big cheque for Clio Cup? I thought this was the cheapest thing you can do outside of club racing?
Out of interest does anyone know how much funding you would need for a season of Clios or BTCC?
Arrive and drive for Clio Cup [at least a couple of years ago] was £50-75k plus VAT. Including miscellaneous damage and tyres, you'd be doing well to manage a season for sub £100k.Out of interest does anyone know how much funding you would need for a season of Clios or BTCC?
emicen said:
Arrive and drive for Clio Cup [at least a couple of years ago] was £50-75k plus VAT. Including miscellaneous damage and tyres, you'd be doing well to manage a season for sub £100k.
Whoa! I had no idea it was so much! Thought the cars were around 25k built, brand new? 75k on Tyres, entry fees and random damage???you are also paying for crew (mechanics truckies etc) fuel and servicing of truck to get your car and kit to tracks, all the consumables a race car uses (fuel, tyres, brakes, suspension etc) damage, your own accomodation and trvel. fair adds up. realistically clios is 100k, porsches/ginetta supercup 150-200k and btcc 400k plus. dont forget your sponsors expect to be fed and watered too so possibly another truck/bus for that
Speed Badger said:
emicen said:
Arrive and drive for Clio Cup [at least a couple of years ago] was £50-75k plus VAT. Including miscellaneous damage and tyres, you'd be doing well to manage a season for sub £100k.
Whoa! I had no idea it was so much! Thought the cars were around 25k built, brand new? 75k on Tyres, entry fees and random damage???Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff