Motorsport is the definition of luxury. Fast cars, high-end drinks, and fancy locations. This is only one side of the coin, however. While the cost of motorsports can be extortionate, enthusiasts will tell you that it can be done on a budget. This is how the majority of us common folk enter the sport.
With the boom of Formula One and Drive to Survive in recent years, more and more people want to try the sport for themselves. But unlike football and rugby where you can go to a field and start kicking a ball, motorsports require serious equipment.
A lot of the initial cost people don’t really think about. Helmets, gloves, shoes, and race suits can be a big down payment. On average, entry-level race suits can cost between £300 and £500. This is non-negotiable, as a driver cannot risk their safety.
Speaking to Amy, Napier Motorsports’ only female driver, she said that she’s built her collection of equipment up throughout the years. “At Christmas and birthdays, I’ve asked for gear, like helmets, racing suits, shoes, stuff like that. It’s definitely helped”.
So – now you’ve acquired the kit, you have to get to a track.
“it’s about £75 to £80 for a race. And we do that, just to put it in perspective, every month of the university year. So, it does add up quite a bit”.
Britain has over 160 different racetracks, and yet Scotland only contributes a handful. Only Knockhill in Fife is certified by the FIA, the sport’s governing body. This means that Scottish drivers often have to travel to participate in events and competitions.
Josh, also from Napier Motorsports, noted how the price racks up.
“It is quite expensive, because a lot of the races are down in England, because we are quite far away, we have to travel down or stay the night.
“Even if we’re doing it here in Scotland, it’s about £75 to £80 for a race. And we do that, just to put it in perspective, every month of the university year. So, it does add up quite a bit”.
On the bright side, since the sport has gotten so popular, more and more companies believe it is viable to open new tracks and race centers in different areas.
Josh continues: “There are so many new places that are developing. There’s one in Glasgow. And they are building a few new ones up in Aberdeen, where I’m from. I think it definitely makes it easier because there’s more places to go.
“Ten years ago or so you would have had to go somewhere to England to compete, whereas now that’s not so much the case”.
So, you have the kit, you are at the track, and you have your first few races under your belt. How do you carry this on in the long term?
A competitive karting season can set a driver back by £10,000 at least. While organisations like Motorsports UK and the StreetCar programme have tried to open doors, drivers still need additional support.
Self-funded drivers often rely on sponsorships to pursue their passion. Josh is sponsored by a company called Demon Tweeks.
“What they do is they give these benefits to young drivers, which is money off race gear – which is good, obviously, because it helps you get started off. They offer advice, you can get training sessions, which is good. They will document your racing season over a year, and if you show them you are an aspiring driver, they’ll look at you for next year to put some funding towards that”.
Sponsors like this can massively impact a driver’s career, helping in the early stages of getting into competitions and going up through the ranks.
Even at the highest levels, sponsors are critical. Susie Wolff, a Scottish racing driver and entrepreneur, campaigned since 2016 to start the Formula One Academy through initiatives like ‘Dare to be Different’. This is a division solely dedicated to making motorsports more accessible to women and helping them pair up with sponsors. Formula One provides those in the Academy with up to €150,000 (£130,000) per car. However, the individual driver must match this contribution, which is where sponsors come in clutch, as the average person would not be able to afford this cost.
And switching lanes, what are the social costs of motorsports?
“You could be the most talented driver in your region, but without financial support, it’s difficult to climb”
Both Josh and Amy joined Napier Motorsports because they liked racing cars, but they stayed because of the community they found within the club.
Amy said: “We all get along so well. It’s more of a friendship thing, really sociable. That’s why I like the car community, because no one really judges you, and you definitely feel that within the club”.
However, she also worries about the lack of women around her: “I love the guys, but I think it’s really hard getting women into the club. We are open and honest about how it is expensive. It’s not just about racing, you still need people to help with social media, fundraising or marketing”.
It’s clear that motorsports has become so much more accessible in recent years, but there is still a long way to go. As the National Motorsports Academy said, “talent helps, but money matters”.
“You could be the most talented driver in your region, but without financial support, it’s difficult to climb”.
Even the greats of the sport struggled to afford to compete. Lewis Hamilton’s father worked multiple jobs to support his karting, and Esteban Ocon’s family lived in a caravan after selling their house to support the Haas driver.
Motorsports has always been the rich man’s (or, indeed, woman’s) game, but there are encouraging steps away from this stereotype, and those making the sport more accessible are on the front line. From sponsors to the increasing local opportunities, hopefully they’ll get you in the fast lane and racing some cars soon.
