Racer - Fall 2013

NORTH AMERICAN ROAD RACING

$1

$. 5

$1.5

$2

$2.5

$3

$3.5

$4

$4.5

$5

$5.5

$6

$6.5

$7

$7.5

$8

$8.5

$9

$9.5

$10

$10.5

20 1 3 B UD G E T R AN G E ( M IL L IO N D OL L A R S)

OPEN-WHEEL I NDYCA R S E R I ES

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20

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300

K R A N G E–

$225

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$4

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20

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M ED I A N B UD G E T –

$

700

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6

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-$

850

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$

40

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475

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AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES GRAND-AM ROAD RACING

$11

0

RACER ’s survey on the cost of fielding a single-car entry in a variety of professional road racing series works from an all-inclusive figure, i.e., what most teams quote to run one car for a full season. Shown for each series is a median budget, plus an upper and lower figure.

A 2014 median “guesstimate” is included if calendars were available. We thank all the teams who helped us in compiling our data.

DRIVERS, START YOUR BUDGETS
A
L
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P2

20

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$

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20

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$7

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$

1

. 7

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20

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. 4

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GT

20

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$4

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M A L M S GTC

20

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2

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.1

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M G R AN D-A M R OL E X GT

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GRAND-AM DAYTONA
PROTOTYPE

Operating a DP has proven to be rather economical. An average of

$2.6 million for a single car is well below ALMS P1 or P2, thanks to a minimum of prototype technology, and relatively simple, production-based engine architecture.

If there’s a somewhat hidden aspect of the cost associated with DPs, it’s the purchase price of a competitive car. A new, Gen 3 DP is almost $500,000 – similar to a cost-capped, all-inclusive P2 chassis – yet the DP still requires an engine lease. An annual engine lease for

2014 will set teams back $350,000

or so. Used Gen 3 DPs trade hands in the $400,000 range.

The current tire consumption
model for a DP season involves using

120 sets of Continentals at $2,600

per set, which multiplies to a budget line item of just over $300k. Tire costs are just part of the DP business model, and beyond replacing steel brake rotors and repairing the inevitable bodywork damage, the car isn’t a drain on financial resources.