With motorsport sponsorship taking a massive hit this season, many teams are closing their doors for 2009. Not British racing team YourRacingCar.com. Their innovative approach to funding has already secured their Ginetta G50 race car and entry into the Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup which features as part of the support package on the prestigious HiQ British Touring Car Championship tour.
YourRacingCar.com (YRC) established a motor racing enthusiasts club in early February offering fans a chance to see their name on a race car where those of big name brands and blue-chip companies have been before. In addition to this, each member is offered a wide range of discounts and free items supplied by commercial supporters of the YRC enterprise.
Speaking about how the club came about, YRC club manager Hannah James explained how she and young racing driver Fulvio Mussi persuaded so many companies to offer perks to YRC members “Most of the companies now involved had already expressed an interest in working with us for 2009 but simply didn’t have the cash budgets to put behind a race outfit. Offering them a chance to directly increase their sales through our members was an obvious way to continue involvement with us – everyone is benefiting from this. Members get a huge perks package and the YRC team gets a chance to take the Michelin Ginetta G50 title this year!”.
Racing budgets for the Ginetta G50 Cup realistically range from £100,000 to £150,000 so YRC are looking for 6000 enthusiasts to get behind their club this season. Marketing predominantly through word of mouth is tough but times are hard and the members appreciate that all the funds are going into the running of the team and not into expensive advertising campaigns.
Membership is open to all, until the full season’s budget is secured, and will continue to offer fans money saving perks and freebies. The team are now being approached by new partners and the perks will grow to reflect this.
Motorsport fans signing up to YourRacingCar.com before Wednesday 25th March will see their name or message and logo on the YRC Ginetta G50 for the first rounds of the British Touring Car Championship racing at Brands Hatch on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April.
