Pay driver
Encyclopedia
A pay driver is a driver for a professional auto racing team who, instead of being paid by their car owner, drives for free and brings with him either personal sponsorship or personal or family funding to finance the team's operations. This may be done to gain on-track experience or to live the lifestyle of a driver in a particular series when one's talent or credentials do not merit a paying ride. It is sometimes called a "ride buyer" or in sports car series a "gentleman driver".
Pay drivers are common in many of the feeder series of motorsport, particularly in the GP2 Series
, Formula Three
the NASCAR
Nationwide Series, and the Firestone Indy Lights Series. However, there have been many pay drivers in Formula One
(particularly at Arrows
, Spyker F1
and until 2006, Minardi
), Champ Car
, and the Indy Car Series and although rare, there are some in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.
At one time F1 regulations regarding the changing of drivers during the course of a season were extremely liberal, which encouraged some teams to recruit a string of pay drivers to drive their cars, sometimes only for one or two races. Frank Williams Racing Cars
(the predecessor to Frank Williams and Patrick Head
's highly successful WilliamsF1
outfit) were particularly prolific with regard to the number of drivers they would use in a season - ten drivers drove for the team in both 1975 and 1976. Because of this the rules on driver changes were subsequently tightened.
Teams willing to accept pay drivers are often at the back of the grid and struggling financially. While a pay driver often brings an infusion of much needed funding, their terms often require share ownership and/or influence in the team's operations. This dependence can also be harmful, should a pay driver threaten to depart and pull funding after an acrimonious relationship. This could leave the team worse off than before, as previous poor results could make finding a sponsor difficult. This was the reason for the collapse of Arrows
.
Former Formula One drivers Ricardo Rosset
and Alex Yoong
were notorious for how much money their families spent to finance their F1 racing careers. They or other pay drivers like Giovanni Lavaggi
and Jean-Denis Délétraz
are usually associated with poorer performances compared to those with paid drives. Another notoriously family-backed driver was Pedro Diniz
, but throughout his career he managed to score some decent results compared to the other pay drivers of the age, scoring 10 championship points over six years, when many other pay drivers did not score any.
However, many successful drivers, such as multiple F1 world champions Michael Schumacher
and Fernando Alonso
, also started their careers as pay drivers but gradually worked their way up the racing ladder. It is to be noted that they were regarded as highly talented and promising drivers before their F1 careers commenced, and were funded by manufacturers rather than family money or companies with no racing interest. For example, winning lower-level series in the Indy Racing League's "Road to Indy" system will result in a pay driver situation for the winner, who will be offered a ride at the next tier, fully funded by Mazda. A driver who wins the IRL U.S. F2000 National Championship
will win $300,000 to be used for a "pay ride" in the Star Mazda series, and two sets of tires per race. A $150,000 and tires package is available to a Skip Barber Racing school champion for F2000, while the National Class champion of the F2000 will receive an engine at no charge for the overall class.
F1 Rejects is a site which showcases the careers of unsuccessful Formula One drivers. A majority of these are pay drivers.
Pay drivers are common in many of the feeder series of motorsport, particularly in the GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
, Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series, and the Firestone Indy Lights Series. However, there have been many pay drivers in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
(particularly at Arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
, Spyker F1
Spyker F1
Spyker F1 Team was a Formula One team that competed in the 2007 Formula One World Championship, and was created by Spyker Cars after their buyout of the short-lived Midland F1 team...
and until 2006, Minardi
Minardi
Minardi was an automobile racing team and constructor founded in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi. It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans...
), Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
, and the Indy Car Series and although rare, there are some in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.
At one time F1 regulations regarding the changing of drivers during the course of a season were extremely liberal, which encouraged some teams to recruit a string of pay drivers to drive their cars, sometimes only for one or two races. Frank Williams Racing Cars
Frank Williams Racing Cars
Frank Williams Racing Cars was a British Formula One team and constructor.-Early years:Frank Williams had been a motor-racing enthusiast since a young age, and after a career in saloon cars and Formula Three, backed by Williams' shrewd instincts as a dealer in racing cars and spares, he realised...
(the predecessor to Frank Williams and Patrick Head
Patrick Head
Patrick Head , is co-founder and Engineering Director of the Williams Formula One team.For 25 years from Head was technical director at Williams Grand Prix Engineering, and responsible for many innovations within Formula One. Head oversaw the design and construction of Williams cars until May 2004...
's highly successful WilliamsF1
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
outfit) were particularly prolific with regard to the number of drivers they would use in a season - ten drivers drove for the team in both 1975 and 1976. Because of this the rules on driver changes were subsequently tightened.
Teams willing to accept pay drivers are often at the back of the grid and struggling financially. While a pay driver often brings an infusion of much needed funding, their terms often require share ownership and/or influence in the team's operations. This dependence can also be harmful, should a pay driver threaten to depart and pull funding after an acrimonious relationship. This could leave the team worse off than before, as previous poor results could make finding a sponsor difficult. This was the reason for the collapse of Arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
.
Former Formula One drivers Ricardo Rosset
Ricardo Rosset
Ricardo Rosset is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 33 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 10, 1996...
and Alex Yoong
Alex Yoong
Alexander Charles Yoong Loong , is a Malaysian race car driver of European and Asian parentage. His mother, Joanna Bean, is from England. His father, Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah , a Malaysian Chinese, is a former racer and manager of the Shah Alam circuit between 1988 and 1998...
were notorious for how much money their families spent to finance their F1 racing careers. They or other pay drivers like Giovanni Lavaggi
Giovanni Lavaggi
Giovanni Lavaggi is a racing driver from Italy.A nobleman by background, Lavaggi raised the money to buy ten Formula One Grand Prix drives, for Pacific and Minardi, debuting on July 30, 1995. In 1995 he was the only driver not to finish any of the F1 races that they started...
and Jean-Denis Délétraz
Jean-Denis Deletraz
Jean-Denis Délétraz is a racing driver from Switzerland. He participated in three Formula One Grands Prix, debuting in the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, and scored no championship points during his career....
are usually associated with poorer performances compared to those with paid drives. Another notoriously family-backed driver was Pedro Diniz
Pedro Diniz
Pedro Paulo Diniz is a racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 99 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on March 26, 1995...
, but throughout his career he managed to score some decent results compared to the other pay drivers of the age, scoring 10 championship points over six years, when many other pay drivers did not score any.
However, many successful drivers, such as multiple F1 world champions Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
and Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion, who is currently racing for Ferrari....
, also started their careers as pay drivers but gradually worked their way up the racing ladder. It is to be noted that they were regarded as highly talented and promising drivers before their F1 careers commenced, and were funded by manufacturers rather than family money or companies with no racing interest. For example, winning lower-level series in the Indy Racing League's "Road to Indy" system will result in a pay driver situation for the winner, who will be offered a ride at the next tier, fully funded by Mazda. A driver who wins the IRL U.S. F2000 National Championship
U.S. F2000 National Championship
Cooper Tires presents the U.S. F2000 National Championship powered by Mazda is an American racing series using the American variation of the Formula Ford formula, "F2000", that resumed operation for the 2010 season...
will win $300,000 to be used for a "pay ride" in the Star Mazda series, and two sets of tires per race. A $150,000 and tires package is available to a Skip Barber Racing school champion for F2000, while the National Class champion of the F2000 will receive an engine at no charge for the overall class.
F1 Rejects is a site which showcases the careers of unsuccessful Formula One drivers. A majority of these are pay drivers.