Can you become a racing driver with no money?
We’re fortunate enough to talk motorsport with people from different backgrounds on a daily basis. People often tell us they’d love to pursue a career in motorsport but lack of funding to get started is the barrier that stops them dead in their tracks. For many, that means the dream is shattered before they’ve even made it into the driving seat.
The good news is that it’s possible to get started in motorsport on a budget — but you need to be realistic. Jumping straight into GT racing often isn’t feasible, so start small and build from there.
What's the reality?
Motor racing (especially in the UK) has a reputation for being elite. Many think it’s only accessible to drivers with money and connections — or parents with money and connections — but that’s not necessarily the case. Sure, prodigious talent gets noticed and money will take you far. But what about everyone else, is there a way?
Yes, there absolutely is. But look away now if consistent hard work or climbing the ladder slowly but surely is not for you.
Four budget-friendly ways to get started in motorsporT
One of the biggest questions we get asked is ‘how do I get started in racing?’. Honestly, the answer depends on the kind of thing you want to get into. Motorsport is more than NASCAR, BTCC, and Formula One. Here are some budget-friendly ways to get started.
Grassroots motorsport
Look to grassroots motorsport for inspiration when starting out. You might be able to jump straight into a little Mazda or Ford Fiesta to work your way up to sports cars or touring cars.
Learn more over on the Club Racing UK Facebook community
If that still seems like too much of a financial commitment as you start out, take a look at autocross. It’s a great low-budget option that allows competitors to compete in their regular road cars. With weekend races and Autocross clubs all over the UK, and day licences around the £30 mark, this is a great place to build your driving proficiency and mechanical skills.
Check out this Facebook Autocross group for more info
Arrive and drive karting
For the price of a night out, you can have a day at a kart track instead. Typically, your day will include the cost of hiring the kart, a race suit, and a helmet, the opportunity to compete in two or three on-track races, as well as safety instruction and mechanical assistance if needed. You can do this with your mates and it makes for a great birthday party too.
Once you start to get more serious, speak with your local track about regular events. Most have their own championships and weekly races. You can still compete even if you don’t own your own kart, which makes it a great way to start out as a racing driver and hone your race craft.
Start sim racing
With more sim racing leagues popping up all the time, and F1 drivers extolling the value of competing on the sim, now’s the time to make a name for yourself on some of the greatest (virtual) tracks in the world. A quick browse of Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree throws up second-hand sim rigs available from £200 onwards. While it’s rare to be noticed from your sim racing alone (although not impossible), this is a great way to get some seat time, hone your skills, and start to create some content to support your brand as a racing driver.
Track days
Just hitting the track in your own car can be a great way to get started. There are plenty of track day package options out there (they make great gifts too) and most of us have a local track within easy reach too.
Driving your own vehicle on track develops driving confidence and builds the track-specific skills required to progress into real-life racing scenarios. Many packages offer the option of 1-1 driving tuition with an ARDS-certified instructor too.
How to invest in your racing future
You will have to put your own money into racing. But there’s a lot you can do now to start investing in your future to both save money and start meeting the right people.
Start a side hustle or get a second job
We are all up against it financially right now, that's for sure. But there are still opportunities out there to make money. Working one or two weekends a month at a garage or in a restaurant, for instance, will leave you with two free weekends and the funds needed to compete in an autocross or karting event.
If you’ve got a talent or skill people are willing to pay for, such as car valeting or landscape gardening, setting up your own side hustle means there are no limits on what you could earn.
Get more side hustle inspiration here
If motorsport is important to you, it might be worth looking at ways you can make additional money to fund your racing career. You might even start to look for a promotion or a new career path to help you on your way. Look for a way to balance your current lifestyle with saving cash to go into the motorsport fund.
Volunteer at a race track
Making your own luck comes in many guises. The more you’re around racing, the easier it is to seize opportunities as they arise. It could mean joining the orange army at your local track, getting work experience with a team, or volunteering to help out another racer. Get known as a helpful person in the driving community, promote your own skills, and you’ll be well-placed to grab an opportunity when it comes knocking.
Networking
Attend as many track days and race weekends as you can. Have a plan in place to network with teams, trainers, coaches, drivers, and garage staff. You’ll not only have a great day out enjoying all of the racing action, but you can also make a lasting impression on the people already involved in the sport. We’ve seen potential drivers do this at tracks, and it works! Build your own network of motorsport people that know and like you, and you’re guaranteed to be on their radar when opportunities come up.
Most people are also more than happy to share their experiences about how they got into motorsport too. Networking and speaking to people at the track could give you some inspiration on how to carve your own path through the sport.
Our tip: Network with businesses in the paddock too. Any motorsport fan you meet could also be a potential sponsor or partner. By making a good impression and nurturing those connections, you’re setting yourself up for future success.
Start building your motorsport network online with the RM Motorsport Sponsorship Community.
Sponsorship is possible
Yes, getting ahead and climbing the motorsport ladder is going to cost more as you move up, but sponsorship can help you make that happen. Making a name for yourself will help in the early days, so try to develop a close relationship with the fans you pick up along the way. Then, when it's time to step up, you’ll have a strong foundation on which to build potential sponsor interest.
To attract sponsors, you’ll need to stand out from all the other drivers asking for money in return for hospitality, branding, and social media shoutouts. For most people, standing out comes down to a clear niche, and being able to offer something unique. Whether that means racing for animal welfare, being a STEM ambassador, or being a driver known for your huge TikTok following, having that extra element makes you stand out from the crowd.
Here are some Racing Mentor resources to get you started on defining your niche:
You don’t need to be rich to go racing
Don't believe us? Here are some examples of drivers who didn't come from wealthy backgrounds:
Toby Trice
You’ll no doubt know of Toby as the co-host of the Racing Mentor podcast. He started out karting then went to Ginettas. Now, he’s racing a Porsche. Here’s how he started out:
Estaban Ocon
While he may have had a nightmare start to his 2023 campaign, this 26-year-old Frenchman is still living out his racing dream as a driver for the BWT Alpine Formula One team. Check out this 2021 Guardian story on the humble beginnings of this young F1 driver, and the sacrifices he and his family made to get him into the ultimate formulae championship.
Lewis Hamilton
A beaten-up second-hand kart. Borrowed safety gear. A parent working three jobs to fund the dream. Lewis Hamilton may have won the Formula One championship seven times, but he (and his family) also fought hard from a young age. Hard work and never giving up are the foundations of success. The rest is up to you.
There’s no denying it, the dream doesn’t come for free. If you’re willing to make your start on the first few rungs of the motorsport ladder and develop your skills and talents along the way, then yes, you absolutely can be a racing driver.
The good news is we’re with you every step of the way. Sign up for the Racing Mentor newsletter below to receive more advice and encouragement straight to your inbox.