I worked for a couple of race teams in the BTCC, started with a small team going away at race weekends helping out, all unpaid but didnt mind,got myself noticed with bigger teams and ended up with a paid job, you are well looked after but its a life style not a job, even uk based racing, i was away sometimes 5-6 days a week, and as said above, long long hours, had a few 24 hour days. gave it all in once a decided to move in with my misses. its a great job for a single guy, yes hard work, but good times too.
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Do you work in F1/Motorsport?
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Posted 9 months ago #
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Im currently still working in motorsport. Been doing it for nearly 20 years and would love to get out of it. Started working for a supply company as UK agents for Penske Dampers and after 10 years left there to work for a team running Porsches in BGT. Did a few SPA 24hrs and also did Daytona 24hr in 2001. That was probably the best time Ive had racing, so much better working in the States. Then did FIA GT's for a couple of years. After that I fancied staying at home a bit more so went into BTCC for 2 years. Then I had my best year as an engineer when I ran Jonny Adam to the Cupra championship.
I think once you get your face known around the circuits then getting a job gets a whole lot easier but I would love to get out of it..
One thing you must consider if you want to get into the business is definitely the long hours and also a lot of teams only want you from February through to October so you have to find something to do for the rest of the year.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I appreciate all of the responses. I'm sensing that the vast majority of people who've worked in motor sport/F1 have either got out, or want out. Have to say that i'm a bit surprised as it at least on appearance seems like a good line of work, but guess it may not be suited to family life.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Anyone wanting to get a job in F1 should follow a similar career path to a driver. i.e start of in the lower formulae and graft your arse off and work your way up the career ladder. it takes a very long time and if like me you are massively fortunate you might just get there.
Yes, the hours can be long especially during the months of car build (dec to march) but the rewards and career satisfaction are immense.Posted 9 months ago # -
Posted 9 months ago #
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motorsport is a very competitive business and F1 is at the top of the list so unsurprisingly you end up with a lot of very competitive people running it, those people are very motivated and that is how they managed to get to those positions.
To stay at the top you need to work life balance that is pretty close to obsessive and would not be considered normal by most people this is where the problems start, as people mature their focus change from girls to cars then bikes and maybe fishing who knows but over time it changes if you have started a very demanding job it can then become a pain where it used to be the best thing ever.
I have worked in most forms of motosport over the last 30 years and struggle to go home at night sometimes as I get so wrapped up in my job, I dont believe many people are that lucky to be able to find that much motivation from work but then everyone is different.
As others have mentioned drop a line to the HR departments its all about having an open mind and being motivated and committed, it does not suit everyone but what does.Posted 9 months ago # -
There seems to be a consensus that if you work in F1 as an engineer your some kind of god.I work in F1 have done for many years and there are some right numptys in it that seem to think they made it somehow, unless you are in a position where you make decisions your pretty much still a nobody .Its very similar to the hype in the so called bike business world the press love the F1 tie in especially in the time trial world. I know two people who were designing bicycles a long time before certain journalists turned godlike bike designers, even then a lot of what I do read is marketing hyperbole and very little design . I would seek an alternate career you enjoy Le mans cars and rally cars are more exciting for instance and tend to be proper engineering
Posted 9 months ago # -
I've worked in two-wheeled motorsport for the past 13 years, but on the PR and Marketing side. Got into it by accident really, but what people have already mentioned about the long hours and time away from home applies just as much to the non-engineering side of the job.
I did ten years with a factory World Superbike/MotoGP Team (Kawasaki) and I was away from home for around 240 days a year. I spent so much time in Malaysia over the winter while we were testing each year, I probably qualify for dual citizenship.
I'm now freelance, working for teams that this year are racing on two wheels in Moto2 and the Endurance World Championship and on four wheels in the FIA GT1 World Championship, Blancpain Endurance Series (I've just survived my first 24-Hours of Spa), and Le Mans.
I'm 43 now, with two kids, but I wouldn't swap jobs for the world!
Posted 9 months ago #
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