How to Find Sponsorship Money for Race Car Drivers

Sponsorhip money helps offset the cost for vehicle maintenance.

Race car driving is an expensive career for team managers and drivers. Not only do drivers need to pay for maintenance and upkeep on their racing vehicle, but the cost to enter into races can add up fast if you plan to stay active. Depending on your level and achievements, the key to finding sponsorship is creating a beneficial relationship with your audience and your sponsors that will earn your sponsors business.

Things You'll Need

• Sponsorship proposal

Instructions

1. Assess your budget. Before you can begin seeking sponsorship, you need to know exactly how much money it will take to successfully run your driving career. Create a spreadsheet detailing your estimated budget and keep it on hand so you can refer to it when talking to potential sponsors.

2. Target small local businesses. The businesses in your community may have need for advertising outside traditional means, and might be interested in sponsoring you if you are able to reach a wide, local audience.

3. Write a sponsorship proposal letter with a clear business strategy. Create sections within the letter detailing your driving career to date, your driving goals, why you believe you would be beneficial to the company you're pitching the proposal to and an estimate of your yearly budget needs.

4. Present potential sponsors and advertisers with the benefits of sponsorship up front. For example, as a sponsor businesses can write their sponsorship off on their taxes and broaden their advertising campaigns.

5. Meet with potential sponsors in person. Arranging a face-to-face meeting to talk about your proposal gives business owners a chance to see firsthand how enthusiastic you are about racing, and your willingness to work with them to get the word out about their product and business.

6. Propose sponsorship to the company you work for if you are employed outside of racing. Your boss may be intrigued by the idea of sponsoring you outside the workplace, while also gaining further advertising potential.

Tips & Warnings

• Be prepared to meet with several potential sponsors before you actually find a business willing to sponsor you. Preparing yourself for rejection is important to helping you stay focused and keep trying.

• Make sure when talking to businesses you present your proposal to a major decision-maker within the company.

References

• Connecticut Post: Finding auto racing sponsors no easier than race itself; Michael Fornabaio; 2010
• Go Ahead Take the Wheel: How to Get Racing Sponsorship
• Motor Sport Ads: Car Racing: How do I Get Sponsorship