Driver Sponsorship
Discussion
What experience have you had so far?
What can you offer a sponsor that the countless other drivers that ask for sponsorship can't?
What results have you had so far? Championships won? Poles taken? Race wins?
What level of racing have you been competing in to date and how did you fare against the rest of the grid?
Sory for the questions, but its a start as to what you have to answer. Before even moving on to putting a package together to try and get backing.
What's your website address? Scratch that, I checked your profile!
>> Edited by racefan_uk on Monday 24th April 21:49
What can you offer a sponsor that the countless other drivers that ask for sponsorship can't?
What results have you had so far? Championships won? Poles taken? Race wins?
What level of racing have you been competing in to date and how did you fare against the rest of the grid?
Sory for the questions, but its a start as to what you have to answer. Before even moving on to putting a package together to try and get backing.
What's your website address? Scratch that, I checked your profile!
>> Edited by racefan_uk on Monday 24th April 21:49
John, I'm not sure you're gonna want to hear my opinions!!
I think you've got a long way to go before you can offer a sponsor anything that they would be willing to pay for. You need to be able to offer something special and this close to your ARDS test, I can't see that you are in a position to do that. My gut feel having looked at your website is that sadly you are starting this very late (and you're younger than me so I'm not being ageist!).
Any driver who gets somewhere will have worked incredibly hard and will have had a dream of being a race driver. I remember Andy Priaulx telling me of the vast amounts of money that he had raised whilst he was running in F3 a few years ago - it was huge and he spent every minute of his time either instructing or trying to raise sponsorship money. It's an incredibly hard life. Andy ended up living in a caravan at Silverstone with his wife and baby for a while as they put every penny they had and much much more into his racing. He was lucky that he has a very supportive family and a very supportive wife. He came very close to quitting because he wasn't making money out of it, if the works drive hadn't come along when it did who knows.
There are people on here who can give you some tips on getting sponsorship but you must work out what YOU have to offer a sponsor and what the sponsor will get out of it - your website says television coverage - the reality is that the lower formulas are not often televised and even when they are it is doubtful how much value there is in a halfhour slot on Motors. You need to work out what else you can offer a sponsor.
Sorry not to be more positive, good luck, you sound very committed to this so I hope it works out for you. I've seen a lot of drivers come and go over the last few years, many of them very very good but unable to land the right deals (anyone remember Marc Hynes?).
I think you've got a long way to go before you can offer a sponsor anything that they would be willing to pay for. You need to be able to offer something special and this close to your ARDS test, I can't see that you are in a position to do that. My gut feel having looked at your website is that sadly you are starting this very late (and you're younger than me so I'm not being ageist!).
Any driver who gets somewhere will have worked incredibly hard and will have had a dream of being a race driver. I remember Andy Priaulx telling me of the vast amounts of money that he had raised whilst he was running in F3 a few years ago - it was huge and he spent every minute of his time either instructing or trying to raise sponsorship money. It's an incredibly hard life. Andy ended up living in a caravan at Silverstone with his wife and baby for a while as they put every penny they had and much much more into his racing. He was lucky that he has a very supportive family and a very supportive wife. He came very close to quitting because he wasn't making money out of it, if the works drive hadn't come along when it did who knows.
There are people on here who can give you some tips on getting sponsorship but you must work out what YOU have to offer a sponsor and what the sponsor will get out of it - your website says television coverage - the reality is that the lower formulas are not often televised and even when they are it is doubtful how much value there is in a halfhour slot on Motors. You need to work out what else you can offer a sponsor.
Sorry not to be more positive, good luck, you sound very committed to this so I hope it works out for you. I've seen a lot of drivers come and go over the last few years, many of them very very good but unable to land the right deals (anyone remember Marc Hynes?).
porkus said:
Damon was older than me when he won the championship, Raztenburger was older than me when he got into F1, Burnd Schnieder is winning DTM races at 7 years older than me
Nissani was 41 and got a test driver job in F1
Those are not the best examples;
Hill had been a very competitive rider since the age of about 17, then transferred to cars.
Ratzenberger had only just got into F1 when he had his fatal accident, but had at least 10 years experience in junior formulae, plus a lot of race experience in Japan, where even F3 and F3000 drivers were paid very well in those days. As an example, Eddie Irvine was a very wealthy man as a result of his racing in Japan before he ever got to F1.
Schneider has been racing since the age of 16.
Nissany is 41, yes, but he paid $6million for the privilege of being Minardi's test driver, otherwise he would have been laughed out of the paddock. There was never any chance of him ever racing the car, so the risk is dramatically reduced.
Anyway, the good news is that money will get you anywhere in motorsport. It will help if you have a good record before approaching sponsors, but in the event that you don't, offer something different, maybe in your personality or even your driving style.
If you can get a copy, buy "Sponsorship and the world of Motor Racing" by Guy Edwards. His story is remarkable - he went from being a skint club racer in a Mini (getting poor results) to being a Formula 1 driver in the space of six years. When he retired he went on to be a very successful sponsorship agent, securing over $180million in deals, of which he took 10%, so the bloke knows what he's talking about!
BUT - enjoy the racing first and foremost, don't put yourself under too much pressure. Get your licence, and in time remember that subject to funding, a drive in something like a 911 GT3 at Le Mans is very attainable. Something to tell the Grandkids!
>> Edited by GarrettMacD on Tuesday 25th April 00:52
You are really going to need some decent results before any real sponsorship is offered. Your best bet will be looking at local independant (but large) company's and playing on the idea of them supporting a local racing driver. This may earn you a bit, however it will never cover the complete costs. More like they will pay entry fees or a set of tyres every couple of events.
You best bet is just to get a car and get out racing, if you've got what it takes you should be able to dominate the lower 'clubman' classes and from this you can get the sponsorship you need to go further.
Hope this is of some help
Cheers
You best bet is just to get a car and get out racing, if you've got what it takes you should be able to dominate the lower 'clubman' classes and from this you can get the sponsorship you need to go further.
Hope this is of some help
Cheers
GarrettMacD said:
Damon was older than me when he won the championship, Raztenburger was older than me when he got into F1, Burnd Schnieder is winning DTM races at 7 years older than me
Nissani was 41 and got a test driver job in F1
Those are not the best examples;
Hill had been a very competitive rider since the age of about 17, then transferred to cars.
Ratzenberger had only just got into F1 when he had his fatal accident, but had at least 10 years experience in junior formulae, plus a lot of race experience in Japan, where even F3 and F3000 drivers were paid very well in those days. As an example, Eddie Irvine was a very wealthy man as a result of his racing in Japan before he ever got to F1.
Schneider has been racing since the age of 16.
Nissany is 41, yes, but he paid $6million for the privilege of being Minardi's test driver, otherwise he would have been laughed out of the paddock. There was never any chance of him ever racing the car, so the risk is dramatically reduced.
Anyway, the good news is that money will get you anywhere in motorsport. It will help if you have a good record before approaching sponsors, but in the event that you don't, offer something different, maybe in your personality or even your driving style.
If you can get a copy, buy "Sponsorship and the world of Motor Racing" by Guy Edwards. His story is remarkable - he went from being a skint club racer in a Mini (getting poor results) to being a Formula 1 driver in the space of six years. When he retired he went on to be a very successful sponsorship agent, securing over $180million in deals, of which he took 10%, so the bloke knows what he's talking about!
BUT - enjoy the racing first and foremost, don't put yourself under too much pressure. Get your licence, and in time remember that subject to funding, a drive in something like a 911 GT3 at Le Mans is very attainable. Something to tell the Grandkids!
>> Edited by GarrettMacD on Tuesday 25th April 00:52
Sorry to quote the whole post.....As GarrettMacD says, these aren't great examples as the drivers had been racing for a number of years and/or had big money behind them.
Having seen drivers come and go over the last 7 or so years, I wonder whether it is possible for the Guy Edwards scenario to happen now? I've seen some really "special" drivers who've disappeared into the abyss because of a lack of funding and drivers who are merely adequate going forwards because they have the funding behind them in the form of family money or a "big" sponsor usually secured through a contact or being able to offer something different - take Sata and Honda (I'm not actually saying that Sato is merely adequate so perhaps not a good example).
To go back to the Andy Priaulx example his family funded him through a number of years racing (he started in powerboats and hill climbing) long before there was any significant sponsorship around.
Your difficulty is that if you need sponsorship to get you through the lower level of motorsport there really is very little payback for the sponsor. The facilities at the meeting aren't such that they can wow their clients, the TV exposure isn't dreadfully valuable - I'm just not sure what they will get. I'll ask again the question that has been asked already - what value will a sponsor get - they aren't intrested in your technical knowledge, they need something tangible that they can sell to their Finance Director.
I'm not having a go at you and I'm not being deliberately negative - you hear these things often because they are true. Those of us who've been around a while - and I'm a mere newcomer compared to most - have seen it time and time again. I know a number of jobbing sportscar drivers who either have to pay for their drives or at best are drafted in because they are "solid" drivers who can keep the car on the road and bring it home in one piece. They are very rarely (at BGT/LMS/FIA/Le Mans level) paid for what they do - if they are lucky their expenses are paid to and from the circuits and they don't have to sleep in their hire car for the duration of the meeting!
I admire you for being ambitious enough to persue your dream and I really do hope you can make it. The bottom line is are you prepared to sell all you've got to fund your dream?? Will you and your wife live in a caravan to fund the last set of tyres of a season to let you win the championship that might be the springboard to better things????
Im really sorry to be blunt chap but you have a hell of a lot of learning to do as yet.
For a season in FF duratecs your looking at around 50k with a decent team. Then palmer audi is 55k for a season as well. Only if you finish in the top 3 of them will you get noticed then be offered a test in a f3 car for example. Then they will expect a cheque for £100k and you can go racing that year with them!
Unless you have the family funds or a major backer then motorsport doesnt happen.
I have many mates who have done the odd ff1600 races. won them beating the uk champions etc and they just got offered a drive, still have to cough up the huge sums of cash though!
I would suggest you start to enjoy motorsport by looking at 750 motor club etc, start there unless you have a large budget to begin with!
But very best of luck, and remember most of the drivers in most formulas have been karting since the age of 10, so they know all the tricks of the trade etc!
For a season in FF duratecs your looking at around 50k with a decent team. Then palmer audi is 55k for a season as well. Only if you finish in the top 3 of them will you get noticed then be offered a test in a f3 car for example. Then they will expect a cheque for £100k and you can go racing that year with them!
Unless you have the family funds or a major backer then motorsport doesnt happen.
I have many mates who have done the odd ff1600 races. won them beating the uk champions etc and they just got offered a drive, still have to cough up the huge sums of cash though!
I would suggest you start to enjoy motorsport by looking at 750 motor club etc, start there unless you have a large budget to begin with!
But very best of luck, and remember most of the drivers in most formulas have been karting since the age of 10, so they know all the tricks of the trade etc!
Piglet said:
sensible stuff
It's not about telling a large international corporation that you're the best driver ever, or even showing them that you have won 5 consecutive BTCC titles. It's about business. A sponsorship proposition is not a request for funding in return for a logo on a car. It needs to be a business partnership that gives the sponsor more return for their money than they would receive from straight advertising.
You will pick up a few small sponsors along the way, like free consumables from local firms, but when it comes down to hard cash, it's gotta be a professionally presented partnership. It's not easy, but if you have the knowledge, drive and determination, you will do it.
The recommendation of "Sponsorhsip and the world of Motor Racing" is a good one. Digest some of the techniques in there (bearing in mind technology changes over the years so you must adapt it slightly), and you should have a good formula as a head start.
Good luck, and most of all, have fun.
How many British drivers are there that actually make a living from race driving? (discounting instructing jobs) I reckon no more than a couple of dozen. Even something like the BTCC, which has decent tv coverage, must only have 2 or 3 guys that earn a wage from the team rather than bring in sponsorship.
I've just gone down this road.
Spent one season trying to drum up sponsorship (about 10k or so) to hire Graham Waldens Tasmin for the 2005 TVRCC Challenge. This never happened, companies don't want to spend even a portion of this on a 100mph sticker, and at that level and with my experience, that's all I could offer potential sponsors.
In March 2005 I quit my comfy job as an engineer for Rolls Royce plc to try my hand at something more risky (financially) and if the risk paid off I could afford to sponsor myself through. So far it's paid off, I've made the first two grids of the 2006 Tuscan Challenge, with minimal external sponsorship and putting in long hours both in the workshop and the office.
If you think you have what it takes, both the commitment and talent, test the water, get your through ARDS, hire a ride maybe, the MX-5 Max 5 series is about £700 a race from memory, I'm sure there are cars for hire in the stock/hot hatch series etc. If you're any good then try and sell yourself to sponsors.
Personally, for the foreseeable future, I'll be sponsored at my bank managers discretion!
Regards
Iain
>> Edited by chassis 33 on Tuesday 25th April 10:17
Spent one season trying to drum up sponsorship (about 10k or so) to hire Graham Waldens Tasmin for the 2005 TVRCC Challenge. This never happened, companies don't want to spend even a portion of this on a 100mph sticker, and at that level and with my experience, that's all I could offer potential sponsors.
In March 2005 I quit my comfy job as an engineer for Rolls Royce plc to try my hand at something more risky (financially) and if the risk paid off I could afford to sponsor myself through. So far it's paid off, I've made the first two grids of the 2006 Tuscan Challenge, with minimal external sponsorship and putting in long hours both in the workshop and the office.
If you think you have what it takes, both the commitment and talent, test the water, get your through ARDS, hire a ride maybe, the MX-5 Max 5 series is about £700 a race from memory, I'm sure there are cars for hire in the stock/hot hatch series etc. If you're any good then try and sell yourself to sponsors.
Personally, for the foreseeable future, I'll be sponsored at my bank managers discretion!
Regards
Iain
>> Edited by chassis 33 on Tuesday 25th April 10:17
porkus said:
Thanks for the help everyone
I am now off to Rockingham to talk to a UKFF team to see what they can do for me for my pocket change
Whats Caterham racing like? or global GT lights?
To be honest, if you really want to be a sportsacr driver, I wouldn't bother throwing money at too much single seater racing. Go for Caterhams or Ginettas to start with and try to make a name for yourself in that type of racing. The closeness of the racing and the ease of running will be better suited to a future in GT racing.
Its where quite a few of the top line GT racers from the UK started.
If you want to get a career in racing sell your TVR NOW!!! Today. Buy a super cheap tow vehicle/road car and the best race car you can for the cash thats left (thats how most of us less fortunate drivers started). Get out there prove your commited and not just dreaming and start getting some experience before you waste more time thinking about someone doing it for you.
Prove you want it by showing some real commitment/sacrifice off the track, then as you gain experience and contacts the ball MAY just start to roll so you can at least be involved in someway with the sport in future. But only YOU make it happen.
This guarantees nothing of your dream but at least it starts the potential because nobody else is going to do it for you no mater how much you want it or what background you come from.
Doesnt mater what type of car your racing so long as your racing in a populas grid with hopefully a few experienced drivers in it to guage yourself against. Best budget options at present are FF1600, MaX5 and the Seloc/Production BMW series.
Prove you want it by showing some real commitment/sacrifice off the track, then as you gain experience and contacts the ball MAY just start to roll so you can at least be involved in someway with the sport in future. But only YOU make it happen.
This guarantees nothing of your dream but at least it starts the potential because nobody else is going to do it for you no mater how much you want it or what background you come from.
Doesnt mater what type of car your racing so long as your racing in a populas grid with hopefully a few experienced drivers in it to guage yourself against. Best budget options at present are FF1600, MaX5 and the Seloc/Production BMW series.
I don't want to seem unkind, but you give the impression that you have no real idea what is involved in being a successful racing driver, or how difficult it will be to get any significant sponsorship. I suggest you plan on the basis that you won't get any sponsorship in the foreseeable future. Keep trying certainly, but don't count on succeeding.
This talk about overtaking all and sundry on the roads and being poorly on race day, may well be true but if I was a potential sponsor I'd run like hell if I read that. There is nothing in your posts here or your promotion pack that shows any understanding of why somebody would actually sponsor you. I would suggest that you being a good driver and maybe winning is no reason for a potential sponsor to spend money on you.
£1800 for a couple of test days sounds extraordinarily expensive to me, why on earth would you spend your money there rather than racing? I don't see that an article in the local rag will give you any benefit at all, if you think it will then write a press release yourself telling them what you are up to.
I get the impression that you have saved up quite a lot of money and taken the very first steps on the road to going racing, but you still don't have the basic equipment to actually race. Having your own safety equipment is pretty essential. Realistically you will need to compete in a championship for long enough to prove your worth before you can even begin to think about serious sponsorship. Data logging equipment is no big deal but don't spend more than you can afford. Test days are fine but on top of racing not instead of. You have limited funds, spend them doing what you want to do, what you need to do: go racing. Don't expect to make a living at it because you won't.
This talk about overtaking all and sundry on the roads and being poorly on race day, may well be true but if I was a potential sponsor I'd run like hell if I read that. There is nothing in your posts here or your promotion pack that shows any understanding of why somebody would actually sponsor you. I would suggest that you being a good driver and maybe winning is no reason for a potential sponsor to spend money on you.
£1800 for a couple of test days sounds extraordinarily expensive to me, why on earth would you spend your money there rather than racing? I don't see that an article in the local rag will give you any benefit at all, if you think it will then write a press release yourself telling them what you are up to.
I get the impression that you have saved up quite a lot of money and taken the very first steps on the road to going racing, but you still don't have the basic equipment to actually race. Having your own safety equipment is pretty essential. Realistically you will need to compete in a championship for long enough to prove your worth before you can even begin to think about serious sponsorship. Data logging equipment is no big deal but don't spend more than you can afford. Test days are fine but on top of racing not instead of. You have limited funds, spend them doing what you want to do, what you need to do: go racing. Don't expect to make a living at it because you won't.
thanks for all the info. Yes you are all right I am new to racing thats why I asked for advice in the first place because I AM inexperienced
I did however not ask to be flamed or so it appears anyway
Yes I have saved a lot for taking the first steps and I do have the relevant safety kit; all FIA approved gloves, boots and suit, underwear etc but I want better kit than I have now, if I didnt have the kit I would not have passed scrutineering for my first four races would I surely? But I want better stuff than I have now as the more expensive the better. I have borrowed a new lid from Silverstone but have my own on order
I only asked for a little bit of newcomer advice on how to go about getting sponsorship,.......I didnt think I had asked anyone to pick holes in my efforts?
Yes I know it is a hard brutal world to get into and I am a bit green but then also we all have to start somewhere dont we?
The 1800 is for testing and a later drive with a championship winning Nascar team who have had 20 years of experience in Formula Ford, yes it is a lot but then it will lead to a paid drive in the FF1600 championship.Yes I am a good driver but I am a poor businessman but thats not my fault and at least I have tried to remedy that even if it was not a top effort
Surely it was better to go the academy route than waste thousands on a car to find out I wasnt any good?
I did however not ask to be flamed or so it appears anyway
Yes I have saved a lot for taking the first steps and I do have the relevant safety kit; all FIA approved gloves, boots and suit, underwear etc but I want better kit than I have now, if I didnt have the kit I would not have passed scrutineering for my first four races would I surely? But I want better stuff than I have now as the more expensive the better. I have borrowed a new lid from Silverstone but have my own on order
I only asked for a little bit of newcomer advice on how to go about getting sponsorship,.......I didnt think I had asked anyone to pick holes in my efforts?
Yes I know it is a hard brutal world to get into and I am a bit green but then also we all have to start somewhere dont we?
The 1800 is for testing and a later drive with a championship winning Nascar team who have had 20 years of experience in Formula Ford, yes it is a lot but then it will lead to a paid drive in the FF1600 championship.Yes I am a good driver but I am a poor businessman but thats not my fault and at least I have tried to remedy that even if it was not a top effort
Surely it was better to go the academy route than waste thousands on a car to find out I wasnt any good?
[quote=GreenV8S]This talk about overtaking all and sundry on the roads and being poorly on race day, may well be true but if I was a potential sponsor I'd run like hell if I read that. There is nothing in your posts here or your promotion pack that shows any understanding of why somebody would actually sponsor you. I would suggest that you being a good driver and maybe winning is no reason for a potential sponsor to spend money on you.
quote]
I will just have to prove I can do it better when I am well in my next two races then wont I?
As for the road driving I am brisk but not stupid, I just like proving to some idiots with all the money that they cannot drive properly when they try and shunt me off the road when they tailgate me (everyday), in other words I drive safely and within my limits....you have to on a bike otherwise you die which is where I learnt my roadcraft.
You say about my post and pack and my lack of understanding.......but you dont explain what is wrong with it.....why suggest it is incorrect without offering a valid solution?
Also rather than point out the flaws: quote.... "I would suggest that you being a good driver and maybe winning is no reason for a potential sponsor to spend money on you.".... why dont you offer a good suggestion as to why it is not a good reason?
What is the point of advice if it is not actually advice?
In fact it just appears arrogant and know it all to me.
>> Edited by porkus on Tuesday 25th April 19:15
quote]
I will just have to prove I can do it better when I am well in my next two races then wont I?
As for the road driving I am brisk but not stupid, I just like proving to some idiots with all the money that they cannot drive properly when they try and shunt me off the road when they tailgate me (everyday), in other words I drive safely and within my limits....you have to on a bike otherwise you die which is where I learnt my roadcraft.
You say about my post and pack and my lack of understanding.......but you dont explain what is wrong with it.....why suggest it is incorrect without offering a valid solution?
Also rather than point out the flaws: quote.... "I would suggest that you being a good driver and maybe winning is no reason for a potential sponsor to spend money on you.".... why dont you offer a good suggestion as to why it is not a good reason?
What is the point of advice if it is not actually advice?
In fact it just appears arrogant and know it all to me.
>> Edited by porkus on Tuesday 25th April 19:15
The original post seems to have been removed (at least, I can't see it on my screen!), but I've just had a quick scan through the Guy Edwards book. Here are a few things you should be doing...
1) Sell the TVR, now! You DON'T need it, if you are serious about this you need to run a very cheap car, like a VW Passat diesel estate, and every spare penny you have should go towards racing. You'll need the estate for all your gear, and somewhere to sleep on the evening before the race
2) If you have a house, think about re-mortgaging. This is what Nigel Mansell had to do early in his career.
3) Approach a few race teams with a view to offering your services, free of charge, in return for some free laps, or some instruction from one of their drivers.
4) Approach some race schools, ask if there is anything you can do for their business FOC in return for free laps. This is what Guy Edwards did - he worked as a typist at Brands Hatch in return for 10 free laps per week.
5) Approach large local companies with a view to giving them a huge amount of branding for virtually zero. The reason for this is that you need a contact first and foremost, and you need to have a sponsor who can easily cope with a larger outlay. It's no good giving the whole car's branding to the local MoT station, the money isn't there further down the line. You need companies who think nothing of spending millions in advertising, and you need to start with a small amount and look long-term. As an example, the increase in sponsorship from Halfords on the Team Dynamics BTCC cars.
6) If you have no backer, accept that unless your race results are extraordinary, you will have to pay for your own racing, like 99.9% of other racers. But it's better than playing golf...
1) Sell the TVR, now! You DON'T need it, if you are serious about this you need to run a very cheap car, like a VW Passat diesel estate, and every spare penny you have should go towards racing. You'll need the estate for all your gear, and somewhere to sleep on the evening before the race
2) If you have a house, think about re-mortgaging. This is what Nigel Mansell had to do early in his career.
3) Approach a few race teams with a view to offering your services, free of charge, in return for some free laps, or some instruction from one of their drivers.
4) Approach some race schools, ask if there is anything you can do for their business FOC in return for free laps. This is what Guy Edwards did - he worked as a typist at Brands Hatch in return for 10 free laps per week.
5) Approach large local companies with a view to giving them a huge amount of branding for virtually zero. The reason for this is that you need a contact first and foremost, and you need to have a sponsor who can easily cope with a larger outlay. It's no good giving the whole car's branding to the local MoT station, the money isn't there further down the line. You need companies who think nothing of spending millions in advertising, and you need to start with a small amount and look long-term. As an example, the increase in sponsorship from Halfords on the Team Dynamics BTCC cars.
6) If you have no backer, accept that unless your race results are extraordinary, you will have to pay for your own racing, like 99.9% of other racers. But it's better than playing golf...
GarrettMacD said:
The original post seems to have been removed (at least, I can't see it on my screen!), but I've just had a quick scan through the Guy Edwards book. Here are a few things you should be doing...
1) Sell the TVR, now! You DON'T need it, if you are serious about this you need to run a very cheap car, like a VW Passat diesel estate, and every spare penny you have should go towards racing. You'll need the estate for all your gear, and somewhere to sleep on the evening before the race
2) If you have a house, think about re-mortgaging. This is what Nigel Mansell had to do early in his career.
3) Approach a few race teams with a view to offering your services, free of charge, in return for some free laps, or some instruction from one of their drivers.
4) Approach some race schools, ask if there is anything you can do for their business FOC in return for free laps. This is what Guy Edwards did - he worked as a typist at Brands Hatch in return for 10 free laps per week.
5) Approach large local companies with a view to giving them a huge amount of branding for virtually zero. The reason for this is that you need a contact first and foremost, and you need to have a sponsor who can easily cope with a larger outlay. It's no good giving the whole car's branding to the local MoT station, the money isn't there further down the line. You need companies who think nothing of spending millions in advertising, and you need to start with a small amount and look long-term. As an example, the increase in sponsorship from Halfords on the Team Dynamics BTCC cars.
6) If you have no backer, accept that unless your race results are extraordinary, you will have to pay for your own racing, like 99.9% of other racers. But it's better than playing golf...
Thank you for your constructive suggestions
porkus said:
Thank you for your constructive suggestions
No problem!
You are quite right about your equipment though. Get the absolute best, it will make you faster. Psychologists call it 'risk compensation', i.e. you are more comfortable under dangerous conditions (like Motor Racing) because you have first-rate safety equipment, it takes that little nagging doubt away.
I hope all the tests go well for you, and seriously, plan on what series you want to ultimately be in, it will make your choice of racing a lot easier, and should save a few wasted £££'s aswell!
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