So you want to buy a ride in Sports Cars ?

Bob Baldwin · 6 May 2015, 03:28 (Ref:3534596)

We all know our love of Sports Cars does not come cheap .

Reading this forum and others along with various "Comments " makes me wonder both here in the USA and European Series . If you want to buy a ride then you either bring the sponsorship or Open up a fat wallet . Not looking for specific teams or drivers but What generally is the going rate for the various classes of Sports Cars ? I suppose if you have to ask you can't afford it anyways :rotate
In particular this for some reason seems to be a concern with the PC team owners in TUSC as was indicated in a closed door meeting with IMSA officials last week at Laguna . It appears that they have concerns about IMSA affecting their business ???:

ModelT · 6 May 2015, 04:44 (Ref:3534603)

I had read that an ELMS drive in an LMP2, was around 50k euros per race. But don't know if that was with a lower level or top team?

It does seem cheap to me, based on numbers I also have read, of 1 > 1.5 mil per season in ELMS in LMP2. Even with 3 drivers at 50k per race x 5 races = 750K, leaving 250K > 750K out of pocket?

Perhaps someone who actually knows can illuminate us all.

Samoan Attorney · 6 May 2015, 07:15 (Ref:3534625)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModelT

I had read that an ELMS drive in an LMP2, was around 50k euros per race. But don't know if that was with a lower level or top team?

It does seem cheap to me, based on numbers I also have read, of 1 > 1.5 mil per season in ELMS in LMP2. Even with 3 drivers at 50k per race x 5 races = 750K, leaving 250K > 750K out of pocket?

Perhaps someone who actually knows can illuminate us all.

A seat in an LM P2 car for ELMS (5 rounds) and Le Mans comes in at around £400-450,000 depending on testing and other factors. That is with a proper team who are competitive and capable of winning.

Coach Ep · 6 May 2015, 13:09 (Ref:3534717)

Not sure if you consider Trans-Am part of 'Sports Cars' but I would think their TA2 class is one of the 'best deals' available in the US. In Europe I would think VLN or VdeV are two of the more affordable choices.

Otherwise Club Racing probably gets your best value for money.

Bob Baldwin · 6 May 2015, 14:24 (Ref:3534751)

Coach Ep : Yes I do consider Trans-Am to be part of " Sports Cars " and Yes the TA class is a great deal for Drivers / Owners .
I have to admit I am not totally up to speed on all the various European Series that are available though my gut tells me that to a large extent you want to play you got to pay .Also guessing that the same is true in the Asian countries as well . Just the nature of the beast . !!
Unlike the rest of the world that pretty much is dictated by Road Racing , We here in the USA have Many different forms of racing NASCAR and its various levels along with the various Ladder levels leading to Indy Cars . To me the same parameters apply either bring a check or bring the sponsor . The $$$ amount dictates how far you can go .
"Funded " drivers are always welcome . In Sportscars the biggest example in the past few years to me would have to be Memo Rojas ? IF he had not brought the "Tel-Mex Sponsorship " do you think he would have gotten the ride with the Chipster ? Same in INDY car some 21 year old kid with Big $$$ gets a ride in the Indy 500 ? What is his past race experience ?
I refer back to the past week-end meeting with IMSA and the PC team owners . It just appears to me that Some of the owners have shown concern that IF the PC cars go away so does their Investment Income in those cars .as far as year end profit and loss goes .
Perhaps I am a little jealous !! Just wish I had the funds 45 years ago that I have today .
As for club racing I still try to get to 2-3 SCCA club races per year to go back to the roots of what we love seeing today .
Anybody out there want to take a chance with a " Funded Driver " ???

Coach Ep · 6 May 2015, 14:35 (Ref:3534755)

Bob, since you suggest you have a couple of bucks to spend on racing cars, do me a favor and get in contact with Glen Jung about his RX8 and talk about bringing his car back out for Trans-Am! (imo Trans-Am can be considered as a good cross-over between Nascar and sportscar racing).

I'm sure the series would love to have one of her fan favorites back with them!

(sorry for posting the same pic two times in a row but I just love that car!

)