Estimated cost for season of Ferari Challenge

After spending a few days two weeks ago at Road Atlanta watching the Challenge guys tear up the track I started wondering how much it might cost to run a team for the season. Car, trailer, parts and whatever else may go along. I know there is no set price but does anyone have a guess?

 

If you have to ask, you can't afford it. Unless you have an extra 1 million dollars just lying around.

 

Been a while since I ran the numbers, but figure on 25K per weekend for support, disposables and pre- and post-inspection. Damage is extra. On top of that, factor in the cost of the car and FNA's entry fees. Travel, hotel and catering are in addition.

CW

 

Well I know I cant afford it (yet) but I would still be interested in a ballpark answer.

edit: Thanks CornersWell

 

More than welcome. One thing is certain: it ain't cheap!

CW

 

For some reason that I can't remember now I have a $1 million figure in my mind. That allows you to do the "gentleman racer" thing and just turn up at the appointed time.

BTW - You may want to ask this q in the "Challenge cars" forum.

Cheers,
Ian

 

$1MM is a commonly heard number. But, I think that you'll find the actual number isn't that high. That said, including the purchase of the car, it can easily be $500K for the first season. EASILY. And, that's just to show up.

If you want to be at (or near) the front of the pack, driver development and testing work is required.

CW

 

Yep 500k-1m is the right ball park including buying a car. 300K for a new one, probably c180-200 for a decent used one right now (although with the good work at the first two weekends at least 3 or 4 are seriously out of circulation right now!). Most of the guys have at least 2 cars since T-cars are now allowed again. A good hard crash is 50K plus, bumpers and splitters at several grand each are almost consumables, tires are 2.5K and will do 5 hot laps and then another 40-50 good laps and then they fall off dramatically (if you run track days you could run another 100 laps and not worry but if you are trying to go fast then 60 laps is the max). 2500 km brake life and 16K for the brakes the list goes on.

All that said, the prices are pretty comparable with grand-am GT racing in a 997GT porsche, everything on those is very expensive also. They are in a similar ball park performance wise. The P-car is probably 3-5 seconds quicker a lap and is a true race car and more difficult to drive, the Challenge car is remarkably close as a device to a full pro-GT car for a gentleman's race series. For example running a GT car in the 24 at Daytona is in the 2-300K range for arrive and drive depending on the team (ie 50-75K a guy for 4 guys), all in probably 100K a guy including testing days and damage

FC is run very professionally by Grand-Am and the guys at the front take it very seriously, the top 10-15 guys are all quite close and you need to run probably 10 test days to work on setup etc.

 

Dan360 is pretty much spot on. (Sounds like you've got some experience or been really close to it! ).
Rob is in a great series with NASA for shakedown and/or testing the waters to see if you want to step up and play bigger in FC. NASA is good racing and great people.

Should you choose to make a move into racing, give me a shout as I am happy to help in driver development, coaching, co-driving, etc.
I've got lots of experience in F-cars and coaching/driving cars of all types.

Also like to throw in a shout out for Peter (ProCoach) who's creating a great race coaching and development studio at VIR complete with simulators where we can work away from the track.

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

This has always been the deal killer for me when thinking about club racing. I remember being at TWS for a track day sponsered by Risi. One guy has just got his 360 CH out of the shop. He lost it in T2. Estimated damage -- $50k.

Dale

 

Cost to run a team -
Ferrari Dealership - 15-30 mil???
Transporter - 150 -200k
Asstd tools - 15k
Insurance - 10-20k??
Spare parts - 10-20k
Misc crew - 60-100k

Car Owner costs -
Car - 260k
wheels - 30k
weekend costs - 25-35k excluding damage
travel/hotel - @ 10k annual
spare car - 260k

somewhat rough estimates........

 

This is true for all meanings of the above sentence.

 

Tru dat. This guy ended up in the ditch outside T2. (Not that you have ever been there, but I'm sure you have seen other people there ) Wiped out the entire front clip, which had just been repaired by FOH. I believe this was in 2004, and he was still racing in the series.

Dale

 

Where do you start counting, where do you end?. And if you have a larger budget then you for sure will find a way to spend it.

 

There are a few who've posted who don't seem to think much of Challenge drivers. While there is a wide spread of talent on the grid, there are some who are seriously fast. To say there's no talent in the Challenge is flat out incorrect.

CW

 

I would not say that the Ferrari Challenge is a step down in Talent, if anything it on the same level as the SCCA & NASA. Many of the racers are extremely talented, and quite a few end up in rides in the 24 Hrs Rolex and Le mans 24. It is a no contact series. You just can't buy a challenge car and expect to go racing, you need to get a license and put your time in. It can be a challenging as the Porsche Super Cup cars.

 

Yup, you'd know it!

And the cost to run a competitive LeMons car? =)

 

You know with the budget cap next year in F1, its probably just as expensive to run an F1 then a challenge team

 

Am sure there are some very talented drivers in the CS, yet from talking with a few longtime race supporter staffers (not CS but vintage Fcars and other vintage race cars that have seen SC races) and they both laugh about the Ferrari CS. Good way for Fcar dealers to make long green, that is obvious. Odds are the very serious drivers stuck in America can be found at SCCA National or Pro levels either before going higher end full pro or between higher up 'jobs' (Rolex, LeMans, etc). Then again not eveyone is really seekin to be a real racer (per se).

Of course 'worth' and 'value' are very different things. If you have $650K or so burning a hole in your pocket and for some reason you want to race around other like-spec Ferrari cars the CS is one way to go about it. Smart CS guys would obviously get proper shock rebuilds and engine refreshening (plus other bits) after every race or so. Naturally the most tesing the more $$ you'll need, and real racers test and tune often.

Personally, if i had the money i'd go much faster and more capable open wheel for pretty much the same money as CS (or A HECK OF A LOT less depending on talent and your ambitions). Of course the CS series has that 'glamour' or 'romantic' thing i guess, so if you wanna do it go for it. Better to race than to never have raced. Just remember when you spin off the track to KEEP both feet in, don't let the now backwards car roll back out on the track in front of a lot of other cars. Thanks.

 

Tell all that to Cort Wagner, among others.

There are plenty of drivers who could step up, if they chose. They choose not to for whatever reasons. I wouldn't expect a young-up-and-comer to be in the Challenge. Ever, really. First, the costs are too high, and you have to own the car to drive it. So, honestly, not that many interested parties have $500K - $1MM to throw at having a good time. Second, who's watching?

I know of a number of Challenge drivers who've jumped into GrandAm. Are they the next F1 hot shoe? Nope. Unlikely that will ever be the case. However, these people are not intent on making their livings from racing. Rather, this is how they spend their money and enjoy the sport. But, don't be dismissive.

CW

 

Excellent drivers, all.

In contrast, let's not forget the FC "racers" who have been "racing" in FC for, what, the last FIFTEEN FREAKING YEARS with really accomplishing anything.

I'll give them one thing, though. They're one step above the dudes who do track days and tell their family and friends they were "racing".