Are V8Supercar Drivers Underpaid? (Telegraph Article)

[GTRMagic]

An interesting article in the Sunday Telegraph Here which suggests the salaries of the 'big names' in V8Supercars.....

The list displayed in the paper, if not in the article online...

#1 - Mr Lowndes $2.55m/yr
#2 - Mr Murphy $2.35m/yr
#3 - Mr Skaife $2.25m/yr
#4 - Mr Courtney $1.65m/yr
#5 - Mr Tander $1.45m/yr
#6 - Mr R.Kelly $1.3m/yr
#7 - Mr Ingall $0.95m/yr
#8 - Mr Bright $0.75m/yr
#9 - Mr Whincup $0.70m/yr
#10 - Mr S.Richards $0.70m/yr

It sort of looks like Antrodemus' fantasy championship doesnt it.

But more interestingly, some really quick guys, and race winners, like Mr Winterbottom and Mr Holdsworth are nowhere to be seen....

Assuming the numbers are right of course....

[1200Datto27]

It looks like 888 are getting value for money from one of their drivers, but I don't think that Tasman are doing the same.

[aussieracer]

whincup is a suprise

[kramer]

I blame Work Choices. Once they can get off their AWAs they'll be much better off.


Kramer

[RS500]

they are the highest paid taxi drivers i know

[Pro Racer]

i picked up my copy of the telecrap today and i think what they earn is deserved and most of their money comes from personal sponsers so i have no trouble with what they are paid, there should be another option added to the poll that i would vote "No - what they earn now is deserved but no more".

it was interesting that Murph has the lowest salary but his sponsers boost him way up the order, also got a shock about how little Jamie is on and i thought Tander would be on more especially with sponsers and getting him to Team Red, and there are a few notable names missing such as Frosty, Holdsworth, Toddler, Brighty and McConky.

and what a foot baller to get a comment from, that guy is a cock, stay away from V8's you would look terrible in 888 colours and would give a team with great driver who conduct themselves well (something he wouldn't know how to do if it hit him in the face) a bad name.

[Falcadore]

Do those wages include endorsements? Murphy does a lot of work away from the track. If you come across completely boring as a person then your not going to be as good value.

Winning races ain't they be-all and end-all. How long was Anna Kournikova the biggest name in womens tennis?

[aussieracer]

would be interesting to see the other extreme, how much have people paid for drives?????

[deeks6]

If they are being paid as entertainers, they are currently being grossly OVERpaid ...

[racer69]

Whincup's earn isn't a suprise, it was widely admitted by him that he signed what he called an 'apprenticeship' with 888 when he started with them in 2006.


How can you say they are under or over paid, they are just paid whatever the market deems necessary at the time.

[Muznik]

Im with Pro, I would vote no they are being paid OK.

As in the article it says most is made up from sponors & endorsements.

Obviously CL learnt a lot fron the great PB about keeping the sponsors happy and making yourself available. Good luck to him I say.

[db120176]

I'm figuring the option "No - Why should they earn millions of dollars and I dont" is with tongue firmly in cheek. The can get paid whatever the market will bear. There was quite a range between Lowndes and S.Richards, and it seems to reflect their results and their marketability.

How do these numbers compare to Dr Hewson's "Expenditure Cap"?

[cjent]

Now you know why Marcus Ambrose went to NASCAR.

[RotorFan]

Is Lowndes really worth 3-4 times as much as Whincup to the team? You really have to question those numbers. Imagine how much money 888 could spend on development if they got rid of Lowndes. Amazing that the top four highest paid are nowhere near that in the championship.

[Falcadore]

How much of Lowndes earner is paid for by the team? He's a contracted Ford driver, plus endorsements with Dexion, Autobarn, etc etc

Should Lowndes be criticised because he can make that extra money on the side?

[woodbine]

Originally Posted by RotorFan

Is Lowndes really worth 3-4 times as much as Whincup to the team? You really have to question those numbers. Imagine how much money 888 could spend on development if they got rid of Lowndes.

But most of that comes from his sponsors. The team are only paying him $800k, of which a fair amount would come from Ford so he is not that expensive.

[rich07]

In the article did anyone notice that Mark Skaife was listed twice with differing figures?

[Raglanparade]

I think you find that the bulk of Lowndes money comes from his $1 Mil a season contract with Ford, and his other sponsorships that Falcadore mentioned.

To be honest, I would be very suprised if an actual team paid more then $500,000 for any driver - I think the bulk of these earnings for all drivers are in personal sponsorships and contracts with the manufacturers .

[pplater]

I sat next to a 2008 round winner on the plane back from NZ and was shocked by how much time they spend on sponsor commitments etc.

They might look leisurely and relaxed, but the blokes work very very hard for their coin and it would be tricky do do it without family losing out.

[Aarrgh8]

Those figures are guesstimates at best and figments of someone's imagination at worst. Funny how so many drivers earn $150,000 p.a. via 'OTHER'.

[speedraced04]

a shock to see murphy so far up the list ... and to note that winterbottom isnt on there

[Denosaur]

I find it hard to comment as we don't know how much of salary's are made up of payments from the teams, manufactures, personal sponsors, merchandise cut's and so on, excluding prize money. A break down of the figure's would be nice if we could get some.

[Just Do It!]

This story has been heavily criticised by Greg Murphy and Rick Kelly in the media today.

[Gaz170]

Yes they are underpaid compared to NASCAR drivers

No they are overpaid compared to what I earn.

[GTRMagic]

Knickers, twist, sook Here