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Le Mans / ALMS
IN THE COCKPIT: Martin Plowman, VIR
Last weekend on the grid at VIR I made it known publicly that my position in the team was in doubt for the final race because of lack of funding...
Martin Plowman has not only had to fight on the race track, but fight to stay in the ALMS amid budget woes. (Photo: Dan Boyd/LAT)
Motorsport is a very expensive sport. Fact. It always has been and probably always will be. Last weekend on the grid at VIR I made it known publicly that my position in the team was in doubt for the final race because of lack of funding.
That is probably the first time many of you have heard this, but I have quietly been going about my business since Sebring, knowing that any race could be my last race. The fact that the team has managed to find funding to keep me in the car until the penultimate race of the season alone is quite remarkable. There are so many people to thank for that.
ESPN’s Jamie Howe asked me in an interview if my attitude or mindset would be different going into VIR knowing that it may be my last race of 2012, and the honest answer is no.
For the last several years, I have felt a deep appreciation for what I am allowed to do in a race car and how lucky I am to race and to call it my job! So every time I am in a car, I endeavor to enjoy it and leave the car knowing I gave it my all, as you never know when it may be your last time.
I'd be lying if I told you that what happened to Dan Wheldon didn't make me appreciate life and appreciate what I do even more.
Racing for Conquest Endurance this year has been a blessing in disguise and has certainly opened my eyes to the world of sports cars. Growing up in England, my focus was Formula 1, just like any up-and-coming karter in Europe. It was the encouragement of Dan Wheldon that brought me to the states to discover the world of IndyCar.
But it was fate that opened the door to ALMS. I've really enjoyed my time in this series. It is top-rate with some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters I have known.
It would be my hope that I am able to finish the season with Conquest and go out on a high note after a successful debut season for both of us. But if the stars don't align and the team is unable to find funding to keep me in the seat, I can at least be thankful for a great year we have had together where we managed to turn heads and fight wheel to wheel with one of the best teams in the business. You will never hear me bemoan my situation; it's not the first time my immediate future has been uncertain and it certainly won't be the last time either!
Finding sponsorship in racing is like finding a needle in a haystack. It takes an extremely large amount of work and research and connecting with the right people at the right time. The days of when a company would exchange cash for sticker space on a car are so long gone that they are reserved to the history books! It feels like 90% of today's partnerships are complicated, multi-faceted, highly customized business-to-business deals as well as turnkey solutions for any kind of company.
The TV marketing value of motorsport is not as strong as we know it can be at the moment, even though we are seeing growth across many forms of motorsport. That leaves teams and drivers like me with extra work to do in order to create real "value" for a sponsor.
As a driver you'd be surprised if I told you that the 'driving' aspect of my job only takes up about 10% of what I actually do! The other 90% of the time I am working diligently with my race team and their marketing staff to create proposals, present at meetings, and open new business opportunities for current and potential partners.
I wish I knew the magic formula of how to help my team, but unfortunately there is no magic formula. Not even success on the track can guarantee sponsorship, although it does help somewhat. What I do know is that effort, determination, sincerity and patience go a very long way.
I have met many influential people along my journey and many many people who have reached out to help me and people who appreciate the work I do for Snowball Express. I want to thank each and every one for helping me achieve my goals.
My hope is that sooner or later the hard work will pay off and I get to focus on racing and on giving back. I'll never take a day in a car for granted, that's for sure!
See you all at Petit Le Mans!
One of the UK's rising open-wheel stars, Martin Plowman has transitioned into sports car racing for 2012, joining Conquest Endurance in its American Le Mans Series campaign in the No. 37 Morgan-Nissan P2 car with David Heinemeier Hansson. For more information on Martin, visit http://www.plowey.com and follow him on Twitter @Plowey
That is probably the first time many of you have heard this, but I have quietly been going about my business since Sebring, knowing that any race could be my last race. The fact that the team has managed to find funding to keep me in the car until the penultimate race of the season alone is quite remarkable. There are so many people to thank for that.
ESPN’s Jamie Howe asked me in an interview if my attitude or mindset would be different going into VIR knowing that it may be my last race of 2012, and the honest answer is no.
For the last several years, I have felt a deep appreciation for what I am allowed to do in a race car and how lucky I am to race and to call it my job! So every time I am in a car, I endeavor to enjoy it and leave the car knowing I gave it my all, as you never know when it may be your last time.
I'd be lying if I told you that what happened to Dan Wheldon didn't make me appreciate life and appreciate what I do even more.
Racing for Conquest Endurance this year has been a blessing in disguise and has certainly opened my eyes to the world of sports cars. Growing up in England, my focus was Formula 1, just like any up-and-coming karter in Europe. It was the encouragement of Dan Wheldon that brought me to the states to discover the world of IndyCar.
But it was fate that opened the door to ALMS. I've really enjoyed my time in this series. It is top-rate with some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable supporters I have known.
It would be my hope that I am able to finish the season with Conquest and go out on a high note after a successful debut season for both of us. But if the stars don't align and the team is unable to find funding to keep me in the seat, I can at least be thankful for a great year we have had together where we managed to turn heads and fight wheel to wheel with one of the best teams in the business. You will never hear me bemoan my situation; it's not the first time my immediate future has been uncertain and it certainly won't be the last time either!
Finding sponsorship in racing is like finding a needle in a haystack. It takes an extremely large amount of work and research and connecting with the right people at the right time. The days of when a company would exchange cash for sticker space on a car are so long gone that they are reserved to the history books! It feels like 90% of today's partnerships are complicated, multi-faceted, highly customized business-to-business deals as well as turnkey solutions for any kind of company.
The TV marketing value of motorsport is not as strong as we know it can be at the moment, even though we are seeing growth across many forms of motorsport. That leaves teams and drivers like me with extra work to do in order to create real "value" for a sponsor.
As a driver you'd be surprised if I told you that the 'driving' aspect of my job only takes up about 10% of what I actually do! The other 90% of the time I am working diligently with my race team and their marketing staff to create proposals, present at meetings, and open new business opportunities for current and potential partners.
I wish I knew the magic formula of how to help my team, but unfortunately there is no magic formula. Not even success on the track can guarantee sponsorship, although it does help somewhat. What I do know is that effort, determination, sincerity and patience go a very long way.
I have met many influential people along my journey and many many people who have reached out to help me and people who appreciate the work I do for Snowball Express. I want to thank each and every one for helping me achieve my goals.
My hope is that sooner or later the hard work will pay off and I get to focus on racing and on giving back. I'll never take a day in a car for granted, that's for sure!
See you all at Petit Le Mans!
One of the UK's rising open-wheel stars, Martin Plowman has transitioned into sports car racing for 2012, joining Conquest Endurance in its American Le Mans Series campaign in the No. 37 Morgan-Nissan P2 car with David Heinemeier Hansson. For more information on Martin, visit http://www.plowey.com and follow him on Twitter @Plowey
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