Career advice, maybe.

MadCat360 · May 6th, 2008, 03:37 AM

Hey guys. I just started on the path to be a professional racing driver and I was wondering if anyone could help me out.

I just started my first season in karting (I'm 18) after racing school (Jim Russell) and since I'm starting late I need to know where to set my sights. I want to drive American Le Mans, but I have no clue how to get there. I know the path to F1, but for sportscars it's been tough finding info.

Basically what I'm looking for is a series where I can get some decent sponsorship (so no club racing), and preferably with sports cars but prototypes and open-wheel is okay as well.

I've looked at top-level Sports Car Club of America series' (MX-5 cup, F2000 etc), but to race in those I'd have to buy a car and grind through club racing to get the right license stamps (regional, national etc). And, since I don't have that kind of money (since sponsorship interest is almost nil and SCCA don't hold purses in Clubsport), that would prove a very tough road indeed.

So if y'all have any suggestion on where to start, I'm totally all ears and very thankful.

MadCow809 · May 6th, 2008, 06:09 AM

Wrong place.

Speak to an advisor at a race circuit who has some racing experience or something.

Soundsession · May 6th, 2008, 08:19 AM

I don't have much hope for you images/smilies/sad.gif

since I always thought, that you need a LOT of money to race. But anyways, there are some guys, who participate in races at the LFS-forum http://www.lfsforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20

One of them races mx5 in the ssca and an few race open wheelers.
Maybe ask them.
And if you're already there, download LFS, the best racing simulator in the world and show them, that you're good behind the wheel images/smilies/tongue.gif

Necx0 · May 6th, 2008, 09:20 AM

18 is starting late but not toooo late. You will need money mate, doesn't matter if you are the most talented guy in the world. No-one will sponsor you until you get results so you will have to be self funded for a while. So work your arse off and spend every dollar you can on going racing and practice whenever you can.

Vector · May 6th, 2008, 03:00 PM

What about starting at 24? images/smilies/biggrin.gif

anti-net · May 6th, 2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vector

What about starting at 24? images/smilies/biggrin.gif

You could properly get into sportscar racing if you've got money. But otherwise, your a bit late images/smilies/wink.gif

MadCat360 · May 6th, 2008, 07:19 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadCow809

Wrong place.

Yes, I know. But right now I'll talk to anyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundsession

I don't have much hope for you images/smilies/sad.gif

since I always thought, that you need a LOT of money to race.

One of them races mx5 in the ssca and an few race open wheelers.
Maybe ask them.

I hope to prove you wrong, then. It depends on what you race though in terms of money. If you want to join an F1 team (other than having to have the right quals for the FIA to issue you a license), you're going to need a few million dollars in sponsorship to get a ride.

Some series' don't require that much money. You can get a banged up Miata for around 3 grand and then just strip it, spec it and race in clubsport. A starting year's worth of racing plus tires and a trailer would only cost around 10-15k depending on what blows up.

You can also buy an older F2000 car for around 13-17 grand and race that in clubsport as well, and if I went the clubsport route I'd probably do that.

Losing money in clubsport isn't what I'm worried about. It's time. I'm just looking for options other than clubsport in America.

May 6th, 2008, 03:37 AM	#1
MadCat360 Joined: Apr 15th, 2008 Last Online: September 6th, 2008 Posts: 113 Rep Power: 2	Career advice, maybe. Hey guys. I just started on the path to be a professional racing driver and I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I just started my first season in karting (I'm 18) after racing school (Jim Russell) and since I'm starting late I need to know where to set my sights. I want to drive American Le Mans, but I have no clue how to get there. I know the path to F1, but for sportscars it's been tough finding info. Basically what I'm looking for is a series where I can get some decent sponsorship (so no club racing), and preferably with sports cars but prototypes and open-wheel is okay as well. I've looked at top-level Sports Car Club of America series' (MX-5 cup, F2000 etc), but to race in those I'd have to buy a car and grind through club racing to get the right license stamps (regional, national etc). And, since I don't have that kind of money (since sponsorship interest is almost nil and SCCA don't hold purses in Clubsport), that would prove a very tough road indeed. So if y'all have any suggestion on where to start, I'm totally all ears and very thankful.

May 6th, 2008, 06:09 AM	#2
MadCow809 Joined: Feb 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 02:10 PM Location: Durban, South Africa / Los Angeles, California Age: 23 Posts: 2,742 Car: 2007 E87 BMW 130i Rep Power: 25	Wrong place. Speak to an advisor at a race circuit who has some racing experience or something. __________________ Supporting : A.Priaulx, Kimi Räikkönen, J.Button, R.Kubica, P.Solberg, M.Hirvonen, J.Plato & M.Jackson FinalGear's Car/Bike Register 08 Currently looking for a car.... 08 Honda Civic Coupe 06 BMW 130i 05 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS 05 Ford Bantam 1.3i 95 Mercedes Benz E320 Sportline Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 @ 3Ghz (333 X 9 @ 1.44v ~ 35°c with ZEROtherm BTF90/92mm Cooler) \| DFI INFINITY P965-S \| Corsair XMS DDR II 800 6 Gb \| GeCube ATi HD3850 512mb @ 800/1000Mhz \| Seagate 160Gb + 500Gb + 500Gb + 750Gb \| LITE-ON 20X DVDRW \| XION 600W PSU \| Logitech Z-2300 \| Logitech MX1000 \| Logitech G25 \| Dual 22" LCD Display @ 3360 x 1050 \| CoolerMaster Centurion 590 \| Vista 64 Ultimate \|

May 6th, 2008, 08:19 AM	#3
Soundsession Joined: May 28th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: South Germany Posts: 87 LFS Status: Rep Power: 14	I don't have much hope for you since I always thought, that you need a LOT of money to race. But anyways, there are some guys, who participate in races at the LFS-forum http://www.lfsforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20 One of them races mx5 in the ssca and an few race open wheelers. Maybe ask them. And if you're already there, download LFS, the best racing simulator in the world and show them, that you're good behind the wheel

May 6th, 2008, 03:00 PM	#5
Vector Joined: Jan 20th, 2008 Last Online: 05:18 PM Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 344 Rep Power: 9	What about starting at 24? __________________

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May 6th, 2008, 09:20 AM	#4
Necx0 Joined: Jun 21st, 2007 Last Online: 12:56 PM Location: Hobart, Tasmania Posts: 1,569 Car: R31 Skyline Rep Power: 12	18 is starting late but not toooo late. You will need money mate, doesn't matter if you are the most talented guy in the world. No-one will sponsor you until you get results so you will have to be self funded for a while. So work your arse off and spend every dollar you can on going racing and practice whenever you can.

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