How do professional F1, Rally racers get there?

[downwiz2]

I was wondering,

how do pro rally and F1 drivers actually get to where they are now?

meaning, what processes do you have to go in order to become a professional rally racer? what are chances of minorities in the pro racing scene? Do you have to come from a stinkin rich family to get into it?

it just struck me one day, if I wanted to become a rally driver, what process do i have to go through, and what are the chances of actually becoming professional.....i seriously thought about this and looked it up on google, and it just lists shitload of driving schools and liscences....but even if you go through obtaining the required liscence, how can you be certain that a driver will be accepted by a professional team? How long would it take?


or is this all simply comes down to money and luck?

 

[MRFreeze]

Most all successful "high level" professional drivers started when they were very young. Look at the current F1 world champ Fernando Alonso. He started out on go carts when he was four years old I think. Now he's the youngest F1 world champ ever. As I said, start young on carts. If you are good enough to get sponsorship, you could move up to a Barber Dodge and then to F3 or Formula Renault. Then if you really have talent, on to GP2 which is the "feeder series" for Formula 1.

Stinking rich? Would be very helpful unless you were uber talented. Even then, wouldn't hurt. Luck? Everyone needs a little some time or another.

Being a minority doesn't mean squat in racing unless maybe you are talking about Nascar. There's not a single American driver in Formula one right now. Scott Speed is still trying to break out. Hopefully he will soon.

For those of us that don't have Schumacher talent or have started this path a little late, a driving school would be a good start. Autocrossing is another good way to get into racing and is also pretty cheap. Work your way up, get your licenses, and if you're good enough, get recognized with sponsorship and a ride in someone else's car (or your own if you have the funds).

It mainly boils down to talent. If you have it, someone will pay you for it. But it will take a lot of experience (time, money, commitment) to be successful as a professional driver.

 

[ChopsJazz]

Schools like this one.

 

[White92]

Just about every driver I've ever heard of started out driving carts as a young kid. That included everything from Nascar to Indy drivers and everything in between.

 

[ncdogdoc]

Just about every driver I've ever heard of started out driving carts as a young kid. That included everything from Nascar to Indy drivers and everything in between.

Not really. Just like those that say they all started in autocross.

Money and luck has a lot to do with it. Family or close friends in the business (connections) has even more. Finally talent keeps you there, but is not the final determination. Just look at F1 this year - how many expected Schumacher to be that far out of the running

 

[Mike-san]

My friend and I used to follow F1 quite intensely. If I recall, many of the drivers came from wealthy families ( especially if they were from a developing nation -Brazil, Columbia ). Think about it : If they can afford an expensive hobby for junior such as racing carts, then they're probably well off. Also, I remember that one of the U.S. driving schools offered a season of driving F3 for its top student. If you're young enough, w/ your life ahead of you, start hanging out at the track, volunteering to do anything : you might meet people who will take you under their wing.

 

[downwiz2]

wow

back in korea, i wasn't in a league, but i did drive go-kart on small tracks when i was 8 or 9.

maybe i have potential! lol j/k

i did some more research and found out about Canadian Rally Championship, and to my surprise there were several mountain trials and forest stages in British columbia!!

and on top of that, the university im attending to actually has a rally race team!

oh god....i have to get a car and start right away.....

it sucks being a student. :frown: