Discussion
How does it work driving in the championship.
Take for example Andy Jordan who may be out of the BTCC as he hasn’t got enough sponsorship. Do the actually teams like BMW Honda and Toyota pay the drivers? Do the sponsors pay the drivers? I’m confused! 🤷🏼♂️
Basically:
Who pays for the car?
Who pays the driver?
Take for example Andy Jordan who may be out of the BTCC as he hasn’t got enough sponsorship. Do the actually teams like BMW Honda and Toyota pay the drivers? Do the sponsors pay the drivers? I’m confused! 🤷🏼♂️
Basically:
Who pays for the car?
Who pays the driver?
Most drivers are having to pay for their drives in some way and if 'racing driver' is their sole occupation, they need to be able to raise enough sponsorship over and above the cost of the seat as their income. Some like AJ have had a good relationship with Pirtek over the years, and Red Bull, others have to cultivate a large number of smaller sponsors to achieve the same amount.
A few drivers / teams may be lucky with manufacturer support to a greater or lesser extent, or have family run teams.
A few drivers / teams may be lucky with manufacturer support to a greater or lesser extent, or have family run teams.
It's a spread between a choice few who might effectively be employed by the team (possibly Turks, although I couldn't say for sure), and some who are completely self funded with family teams.
The majority of us are somewhere in between, relying on a combination of team sponsorship (which teams will apportion to each driver depending on how much they want them/how much they can afford) to reduce their asking budget with personal sponsors and/or family money to top up the remainder.
There will also be a choice few (maybe JP for example) who will bring more sponsorship money than the team will take for running the car, and they will earn a living from it.
The majority of us are somewhere in between, relying on a combination of team sponsorship (which teams will apportion to each driver depending on how much they want them/how much they can afford) to reduce their asking budget with personal sponsors and/or family money to top up the remainder.
There will also be a choice few (maybe JP for example) who will bring more sponsorship money than the team will take for running the car, and they will earn a living from it.
The Wookie said:
It's a spread between a choice few who might effectively be employed by the team (possibly Turks, although I couldn't say for sure), and some who are completely self funded with family teams.
The majority of us are somewhere in between, relying on a combination of team sponsorship (which teams will apportion to each driver depending on how much they want them/how much they can afford) to reduce their asking budget with personal sponsors and/or family money to top up the remainder.
There will also be a choice few (maybe JP for example) who will bring more sponsorship money than the team will take for running the car, and they will earn a living from it.
And if you're debating is sponsorship works. Because Wookie is sponsored by Alcon. I've checked out their website and know I can get a brake kit for a GT86 should I want one. Check out their new website: https://www.alcon.co.uk/ What's stopping you?The majority of us are somewhere in between, relying on a combination of team sponsorship (which teams will apportion to each driver depending on how much they want them/how much they can afford) to reduce their asking budget with personal sponsors and/or family money to top up the remainder.
There will also be a choice few (maybe JP for example) who will bring more sponsorship money than the team will take for running the car, and they will earn a living from it.
(I get free tickets now right?...no?...damnit)
Munter said:
And if you're debating is sponsorship works. Because Wookie is sponsored by Alcon. I've checked out their website and know I can get a brake kit for a GT86 should I want one. Check out their new website: https://www.alcon.co.uk/ What's stopping you?
(I get free tickets now right?...no?...damnit)
EDIT - Ohhhh free tickets!!! Sorry should have read that properly. I would gladly offer but unfortunately I already have a long line of tight b(I get free tickets now right?...no?...damnit)
d friends and family scabbing my limited supply 
Edited by The Wookie on Monday 30th September 15:20
fairly certain Turks is a BMW contracted driver. He has the obligatory BMW company car changed every 9k miles so he is on BMW GB's books in some capacity. Eliphant as well but probably less money and Jordan will be funding the drive but getting some BMW freebies.
The Dynamics Honda boys will be getting a tip in from Honda and Plato brings more than he needs. The rest `I think use social media to develop a profile and get some monies from smaller companies. You only have to look at their helmets and overalls to see that.
One of the TV presenters for BTCC gets a deal out of BMW for free cars every 6 months due to his media profile, work doing passenger rides and general all round nice guy. However it's not strictly free, you should normally do something for the opportunity.
Many years ago I used to work for BMW and sorted out the loaners to all the sports stars that BMW GB were working with, from golfers to racing drivers, yachtsmen and horse riders.
Some of these people do not look after their free cars....but still BMW provided them with something.
If I was you Wookie, if you haven't already, I'd been down your local Ford dealership trying to get a loaner from them, a nice Focus RS should do the job.
The Dynamics Honda boys will be getting a tip in from Honda and Plato brings more than he needs. The rest `I think use social media to develop a profile and get some monies from smaller companies. You only have to look at their helmets and overalls to see that.
One of the TV presenters for BTCC gets a deal out of BMW for free cars every 6 months due to his media profile, work doing passenger rides and general all round nice guy. However it's not strictly free, you should normally do something for the opportunity.
Many years ago I used to work for BMW and sorted out the loaners to all the sports stars that BMW GB were working with, from golfers to racing drivers, yachtsmen and horse riders.
Some of these people do not look after their free cars....but still BMW provided them with something.
If I was you Wookie, if you haven't already, I'd been down your local Ford dealership trying to get a loaner from them, a nice Focus RS should do the job.
I think you’d be surprised at the deals that some of the ‘factory’ drivers are reputed to have!
BMW are known to be pretty generous with their cars, I won’t name names but I know someone was getting a very cheap or free car from them years after they parted company just because they liked him! In fact I’m not sure if he doesn’t still get a car!
We do get a bit of support from Ford but no chance of me getting a free car. Never going to happen unfortunately. Plenty of Nestlé products knocking around the cupboards though thanks to Shredded Wheat!
BMW are known to be pretty generous with their cars, I won’t name names but I know someone was getting a very cheap or free car from them years after they parted company just because they liked him! In fact I’m not sure if he doesn’t still get a car!
We do get a bit of support from Ford but no chance of me getting a free car. Never going to happen unfortunately. Plenty of Nestlé products knocking around the cupboards though thanks to Shredded Wheat!
The Wookie said:
I think you’d be surprised at the deals that some of the ‘factory’ drivers are reputed to have!
BMW are known to be pretty generous with their cars, I won’t name names but I know someone was getting a very cheap or free car from them years after they parted company just because they liked him! In fact I’m not sure if he doesn’t still get a car!
We do get a bit of support from Ford but no chance of me getting a free car. Never going to happen unfortunately. Plenty of Nestlé products knocking around the cupboards though thanks to Shredded Wheat!
I work in the industry, it is easier than you might think, you just have to know how the system works.BMW are known to be pretty generous with their cars, I won’t name names but I know someone was getting a very cheap or free car from them years after they parted company just because they liked him! In fact I’m not sure if he doesn’t still get a car!
We do get a bit of support from Ford but no chance of me getting a free car. Never going to happen unfortunately. Plenty of Nestlé products knocking around the cupboards though thanks to Shredded Wheat!
For example, lets say you wanted a Focus ST, retail on that might be £30k, dealer purchase price about £26k before registration bonuses. Essentially that car to them after its been registered is probably £23k, which would be very close to the value of the car after one year with 20k miles on it. Therefore it's almost a no cost sponsorship deal to the dealer. you stick their name on your helmet, sticker up the car so its says 'Local Ford dealer racing with the Wookie' then give them some free tickets, or a bit of hospitality and you have the makings of a deale that has more value than costs.
Honestly give it a go, dealers need to register cars, they have marketing budget and are encouraged to use it, and you have something to bring to the party.
I've tried in the past but to be honest it's always ended up being quite a lot of effort as you need to keep people feeling happy and valued. I think if you're full time when it comes to racing then it's worthwhile and one of those things you can do to reduce your own personal overhead if you see what I mean, but with me having an often very intense day job it's hard work to keep smaller sponsors happy all of the time, even with my wife helping me out massively with it all.
Also I can't imagine many Ford dealers would be happy with me putting 30-40k per year on their cars for my day job either!
I end up with not much social life (and sometimes sleep!) for long periods of the year anyway trying to balance everything. To give you an example, I booked my honeymoon literally the morning after my wedding to fly out the following day as it depended heavily on me being able to rearrange enough meetings and slot in enough work around racing and the tyre test. We only managed three full days too before I had to come back for a meeting on the Friday!
Anyway, 100% not meant to be a 'woe is me', I am incredibly lucky and I have an amazing life, even with the day job. I love what I do even if the touring car stuff frustrates me literally to the point of tears from time to time. I am literally living the dream, it just gives you an idea of the balancing act some of the drivers often make in different ways.
Also I can't imagine many Ford dealers would be happy with me putting 30-40k per year on their cars for my day job either!
I end up with not much social life (and sometimes sleep!) for long periods of the year anyway trying to balance everything. To give you an example, I booked my honeymoon literally the morning after my wedding to fly out the following day as it depended heavily on me being able to rearrange enough meetings and slot in enough work around racing and the tyre test. We only managed three full days too before I had to come back for a meeting on the Friday!
Anyway, 100% not meant to be a 'woe is me', I am incredibly lucky and I have an amazing life, even with the day job. I love what I do even if the touring car stuff frustrates me literally to the point of tears from time to time. I am literally living the dream, it just gives you an idea of the balancing act some of the drivers often make in different ways.
Edited by The Wookie on Tuesday 1st October 10:51
The Wookie said:
BMW are known to be pretty generous with their cars, I won’t name names but I know someone was getting a very cheap or free car from them years after they parted company just because they liked him! In fact I’m not sure if he doesn’t still get a car!
He is a thoroughly nice bloke though.Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
fairly certain Turks is a BMW contracted driver. He has the obligatory BMW company car changed every 9k miles so he is on BMW GB's books in some capacity. Eliphant as well but probably less money and Jordan will be funding the drive but getting some BMW freebies.
The Dynamics Honda boys will be getting a tip in from Honda and Plato brings more than he needs. The rest `I think use social media to develop a profile and get some monies from smaller companies. You only have to look at their helmets and overalls to see that.
One of the TV presenters for BTCC gets a deal out of BMW for free cars every 6 months due to his media profile, work doing passenger rides and general all round nice guy. However it's not strictly free, you should normally do something for the opportunity.
Many years ago I used to work for BMW and sorted out the loaners to all the sports stars that BMW GB were working with, from golfers to racing drivers, yachtsmen and horse riders.
Some of these people do not look after their free cars....but still BMW provided them with something.
If I was you Wookie, if you haven't already, I'd been down your local Ford dealership trying to get a loaner from them, a nice Focus RS should do the job.
All 3 drivers get cars from BMW at the moment. The Dynamics Honda boys will be getting a tip in from Honda and Plato brings more than he needs. The rest `I think use social media to develop a profile and get some monies from smaller companies. You only have to look at their helmets and overalls to see that.
One of the TV presenters for BTCC gets a deal out of BMW for free cars every 6 months due to his media profile, work doing passenger rides and general all round nice guy. However it's not strictly free, you should normally do something for the opportunity.
Many years ago I used to work for BMW and sorted out the loaners to all the sports stars that BMW GB were working with, from golfers to racing drivers, yachtsmen and horse riders.
Some of these people do not look after their free cars....but still BMW provided them with something.
If I was you Wookie, if you haven't already, I'd been down your local Ford dealership trying to get a loaner from them, a nice Focus RS should do the job.
Luckily I've had a proper job with both Ford and BMW as a pleb, so I can add something.
I worked for Ford first, back in the late '90s, every employee was allowed three Privilege Club vouchers every 9 months, which were 22.5% discount on a brand new car and was allowed for family (including inlaws and step) and most people bought on what was called Ford Options, which was a conditional sale contract with a balloon payment (called an MGFV - minimum guaranteed future value).
The idea behind that was as an employee you would buy a new car, trade it in after 9 months and it would be worth more than what you paid, giving you equity on a new car, lower your monthly payments.
I believe this scheme is still in place with Ford now, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will comment.
I worked for BMW in the early 00s, when I first started, you were given an amount of points (depending on your employment level) and each point was a pound.
You could then use this to pay for a brand new BMW, which you were given a 20% discount and in interest free loan to buy any car and you kept for 9 months of 9,000 miles (which changed to 6 months and 6,000 miles whilst I was there) - for example I received 180 points, and a 320 Coupe was a 140 points, so cost me nothing, whereas my last car was a 330i Coupe Sport that was 185 points, so I had £5 a month deducted from my salary.
The thought behind this was that as you got 20% discount, when you sold the car back to BMW for them to release into the dealer network, the cars were still worth what we had paid, if not more.
There were certain restrictions, 95% of 6 cylinder cars were automatic, you couldn't choose stupid colour combinations (we tried), but if there were cancelled new orders from customers you would get the odd added spec, strange colours, etc.
Back then BMW did the best car scheme, as it boosts what is called Parc registrations, which is what sales numbers are based on, so if you have 5,000 employees, you were getting about 10,000 (at least) extra registrations each year.
Most manufacturers do similar schemes now, generally at least 2 cars allowed each year.
Before my late Dad passed away Vauxhall allowed him a new car every year - in period he was allowed to buy any new sporting Vauxhall that he wanted (massively discounted) and sell as new through his dealership.
Going back to the original original question, every driver on the BTCC grid definitely pays to be there, they get a sponsorship deal, approach a team with tha money they have been offered and see who will run them and at what cost.
Colin Turkington might be slightly different now, but he was out of the championship for so many years because he lost the RAC sponsorship he had (when he first won the championship) and its also why certain drivers change teams so often, taking their sponsorship money with them.
I worked for Ford first, back in the late '90s, every employee was allowed three Privilege Club vouchers every 9 months, which were 22.5% discount on a brand new car and was allowed for family (including inlaws and step) and most people bought on what was called Ford Options, which was a conditional sale contract with a balloon payment (called an MGFV - minimum guaranteed future value).
The idea behind that was as an employee you would buy a new car, trade it in after 9 months and it would be worth more than what you paid, giving you equity on a new car, lower your monthly payments.
I believe this scheme is still in place with Ford now, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will comment.
I worked for BMW in the early 00s, when I first started, you were given an amount of points (depending on your employment level) and each point was a pound.
You could then use this to pay for a brand new BMW, which you were given a 20% discount and in interest free loan to buy any car and you kept for 9 months of 9,000 miles (which changed to 6 months and 6,000 miles whilst I was there) - for example I received 180 points, and a 320 Coupe was a 140 points, so cost me nothing, whereas my last car was a 330i Coupe Sport that was 185 points, so I had £5 a month deducted from my salary.
The thought behind this was that as you got 20% discount, when you sold the car back to BMW for them to release into the dealer network, the cars were still worth what we had paid, if not more.
There were certain restrictions, 95% of 6 cylinder cars were automatic, you couldn't choose stupid colour combinations (we tried), but if there were cancelled new orders from customers you would get the odd added spec, strange colours, etc.
Back then BMW did the best car scheme, as it boosts what is called Parc registrations, which is what sales numbers are based on, so if you have 5,000 employees, you were getting about 10,000 (at least) extra registrations each year.
Most manufacturers do similar schemes now, generally at least 2 cars allowed each year.
Before my late Dad passed away Vauxhall allowed him a new car every year - in period he was allowed to buy any new sporting Vauxhall that he wanted (massively discounted) and sell as new through his dealership.
Going back to the original original question, every driver on the BTCC grid definitely pays to be there, they get a sponsorship deal, approach a team with tha money they have been offered and see who will run them and at what cost.
Colin Turkington might be slightly different now, but he was out of the championship for so many years because he lost the RAC sponsorship he had (when he first won the championship) and its also why certain drivers change teams so often, taking their sponsorship money with them.
Gregor Marshall said:
Luckily I've had a proper job with both Ford and BMW as a pleb, so I can add something.
I worked for Ford first, back in the late '90s, every employee was allowed three Privilege Club vouchers every 9 months, which were 22.5% discount on a brand new car and was allowed for family (including inlaws and step) and most people bought on what was called Ford Options, which was a conditional sale contract with a balloon payment (called an MGFV - minimum guaranteed future value).
The idea behind that was as an employee you would buy a new car, trade it in after 9 months and it would be worth more than what you paid, giving you equity on a new car, lower your monthly payments.
I believe this scheme is still in place with Ford now, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will comment.
It's still a thing, but the discounts are way lower.I worked for Ford first, back in the late '90s, every employee was allowed three Privilege Club vouchers every 9 months, which were 22.5% discount on a brand new car and was allowed for family (including inlaws and step) and most people bought on what was called Ford Options, which was a conditional sale contract with a balloon payment (called an MGFV - minimum guaranteed future value).
The idea behind that was as an employee you would buy a new car, trade it in after 9 months and it would be worth more than what you paid, giving you equity on a new car, lower your monthly payments.
I believe this scheme is still in place with Ford now, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will comment.
I think you get more vouchers these days and people still do buy on Privilege, but only really works now if you're keeping the car for the whole 3 year finance term. With residual values seemingly rock bottom, you can't be confident of trading in at 9 months and getting into a new one - you're highly likely to need to settle finance too.
I have to admit I find this fascinating. Thanks all for the input
Wookie great to have an ‘expert’ on the forum! I do enjoy my shredded wheat in the morning - although I like the frosted version. Does the sponsorship cover that?
Is the BTCC unique in the way the drivers get drives? I’m guessing that it’s because BTCC isn’t bringing in enough revenue for the teams to be able to pay their drivers as apposed to (at the opposite end of the spectrum) F1? Or enough coverage for more big manufacturers to come back in? Ford I’m looking at you, Honda are here Bmw are here, Toyota are here. Where are you?!
Anyway, one more race weekend to go this year - good luck Wookie I’ll be cheering for you! (From the sofa now I have a 12 week old!) lol
Wookie great to have an ‘expert’ on the forum! I do enjoy my shredded wheat in the morning - although I like the frosted version. Does the sponsorship cover that?
Is the BTCC unique in the way the drivers get drives? I’m guessing that it’s because BTCC isn’t bringing in enough revenue for the teams to be able to pay their drivers as apposed to (at the opposite end of the spectrum) F1? Or enough coverage for more big manufacturers to come back in? Ford I’m looking at you, Honda are here Bmw are here, Toyota are here. Where are you?!
Anyway, one more race weekend to go this year - good luck Wookie I’ll be cheering for you! (From the sofa now I have a 12 week old!) lol
The Wookie said:
BMW are known to be pretty generous with their cars, I won’t name names but I know someone was getting a very cheap or free car from them years after they parted company just because they liked him! In fact I’m not sure if he doesn’t still get a car!
Tiff Needel mentioned on the Collecting Cars podcast that until very recently he received BMWs for use free of charge, in fact so many of them that he couldn't recall ever buying his own car.Jimny33 said:
Is the BTCC unique in the way the drivers get drives? I’m guessing that it’s because BTCC isn’t bringing in enough revenue for the teams to be able to pay their drivers as apposed to (at the opposite end of the spectrum) F1?
Not unique...most race series work on the same format....driver brings money in the form of sponsors to pay for the drive and hopefully earn a living.....even in f1 young drivers have to do itGt racing is different these days...one of the big successes of the Pro/am format is the Am (usually a rich businessman) can afford to, at least in part pay for the services of the Pro as a hired gun to drive their car....it’s giving a lot of racing drivers who didn’t make it to F1 a career they wouldn’t usually have
Jimny33 said:
Is the BTCC unique in the way the drivers get drives? I’m guessing that it’s because BTCC isn’t bringing in enough revenue for the teams to be able to pay their drivers as apposed to (at the opposite end of the spectrum) F1?
The number of drivers who actually get paid by the teams in motorsport is absolutely tiny. Most is sponsorship like the BTCC and some GT series are Pro-Am where the amateur driver, either by his own wealth or sponsorship, is paying the team to run the car and the wages of the pro driver.Jimny33 said:
I have to admit I find this fascinating. Thanks all for the input
Wookie great to have an ‘expert’ on the forum! I do enjoy my shredded wheat in the morning - although I like the frosted version. Does the sponsorship cover that?
Is the BTCC unique in the way the drivers get drives? I’m guessing that it’s because BTCC isn’t bringing in enough revenue for the teams to be able to pay their drivers as apposed to (at the opposite end of the spectrum) F1? Or enough coverage for more big manufacturers to come back in? Ford I’m looking at you, Honda are here Bmw are here, Toyota are here. Where are you?!
Anyway, one more race weekend to go this year - good luck Wookie I’ll be cheering for you! (From the sofa now I have a 12 week old!) lol
Expert is probably a bit strong but no worries Wookie great to have an ‘expert’ on the forum! I do enjoy my shredded wheat in the morning - although I like the frosted version. Does the sponsorship cover that?
Is the BTCC unique in the way the drivers get drives? I’m guessing that it’s because BTCC isn’t bringing in enough revenue for the teams to be able to pay their drivers as apposed to (at the opposite end of the spectrum) F1? Or enough coverage for more big manufacturers to come back in? Ford I’m looking at you, Honda are here Bmw are here, Toyota are here. Where are you?!
Anyway, one more race weekend to go this year - good luck Wookie I’ll be cheering for you! (From the sofa now I have a 12 week old!) lol
As for the Shredded Wheat unfortunately we’re running down our stocks now with the end of the deal!!As has been said it’s not unique, from what I hear it’s similar all the way up to F1, albeit with bigger budgets and a much larger proportion of the drivers being paid by the teams and a smaller proportion fully paying for their drives
As has also been said GT racing is the only form of the sport that’s different, factory drivers being paid a wage by the manufacturers and the rest of the pros being supported and paid by wealthy gent drivers.
Sometimes the factory teams paying their drivers are justified or actually wash their own face through the sale of GT3/GT4 cars, and the drivers get subbed out or charged out to their customer car owners.
Cheers
hopefully have a bit more luck this weekend, I’ve had a couple of good ones this year but the last few have been completely fortune free!Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff