Probably a Stupid Question

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CaptHamster
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Like the title says, this is probably a stupid question that I'm sure has been asked millions of times already, but here goes anyway. For the longest time I've wanted to be like your typical race car driver (JGTC specifically) Does anyone know what on Earth I should do to be able to live my dream? Stupid answers to stupid question welcome. :dopey:
 
This question has been asked a lot of times, and the answers are always the same.

To be a race driver like the Super GT guys, or any other professional race car driver, you need:

1) Lots of driving skill behind the wheel.
2) Be recognized doing so.
3) Have a lot of money because it's going to be very expensive your first years as a driver in any series.
 
Get into the best karting series your age can be fit into. Participate in national karting championships. Win everything to get recognized. Try to find a sponsor for your kart. Participate in international karting championship. Be champion in that series. Take a school for like Formula 1600. Try to get a sponsor for that. Win everything nationally in Formula 1600. Progress to next series if sponsor/funds allow it, and so on. Until you make it to something like Formula 3000 Japan or GP2 or something like that. There, if you are truly good, you may be able to branch out from there to a sports car career such as SuperGT, V8 Supercars, DTM, so on.
 
Would an S-license be required for saloon racing or sportscars?

Other than that, MustangSVT summarized the common and likely the safest path to the dream.
 
superberkut
Would an S-license be required for saloon racing or sportscars?

Other than that, MustangSVT summarized the common and likely the safest path to the dream.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about the whole starting career in sports cars thing. Not sure how that works. Your best bet is to still try to get to something like Formula 1600 or similar local championship, try to do really well, then hopefully find someone or know someone that can get you a ride in a national touring car series (i.e. the touring car GT that runs with Speed GT in states, or in europe, something like BTCC I guess, though those are very competitive).
 
If you're rich enough, and have some training, you can buy yourself a ride in some series like the ALMS, LMS, and the IRL.

That's probably the easiest way to get in

Some series like NASCAR and F1 pick a driver who shows alot of talent at a young age, they give them great equipment to win with and groom them until they reach the top level.

So it starts with money to start racing, then you have to be recognized by winning everything as someone said. Hopefully then a sponsor or a team from the top level notices you and brings you on up
 


#1 = go to Japan basically.

#2 = Become a lot better than the thousands (if not millions) of other car-enthusiasts that also want to become a Super GT driver.
 
Thanks for the replies, all. I had a feeling this question had been asked many times before, I just wasn't prepared to scroll through dozens of pages and topics looking for some good answers :D Anyway, I'm lucky because I do have at least some money to my name, which is good to start out with. I never thought of the karting thing, but if it'll really get me somewhere, I'll do it. Even if I don't get to JGTC or something of that level, just being able to be a professional driver is cool enough. Thanks again for the replies, but keep them coming! I want to see what others have to say and if anyone here has had any first-hand experience with this. :dopey:
 
Buy a used kart, compete in local karting championship, then if you do really well, maybe you've saved some more money, buy a brand new shifter kart, compete in american-wide series if budget allows (or if you find someone to pay for you), win there, then progress to entry-level open-wheelers and so on. For SuperGT, you'd want to do really in F3000 Japan to get noticed and display an interest yourself in SuperGT (assuming you're good enough to get noticed).

Obviously I'm simplyfying things a lot. I'm in the process of getting my own 1st kart. You need a shed/garage to put it in, a trailer, a car that can tow a trailer, tools to work on the kart, etc.
 
You also need to have a go-kart before you were born like most NASCAR drivers. I have seriously thought oftrying out a national karting series multiple time but the funds are nowhere to be found, heck there was a team interested in getting me in but they wanted me to get my own kart which my parents did not find as usefull as a book ಠ_ಠ.
 
Perfect Balance


#1 = go to Japan basically.

#2 = Become a lot better than the thousands (if not millions) of other car-enthusiasts that also want to become a Super GT driver.
Click to expand...
:D

1. Get a car, tune it and compete in a local drift championship.
2. Get noticed, win some events (attract some sponsors as well) and try to finish the championship in a high position
3. Go to Irwindale and compete in the D1 All Star drift event and try to impress everyone there.
4. If win the event, get to compete in the Japan D1GP and make a name for yourself there.
5. Prove you are the best, and do some sponsor events (specifically, time attack events) and get noticed by the famous tuner companies.
6. Get more sponsors and if performed very well, get called up to do some testing for Super GT.
7. If good enough, get called up to race for one of the teams.
8. Want to get noticed some more, perform well (and even win the championship) and the world would notice. Get a drive in Formula Nippon, 3000 or even other touring car championships or endurance racing..... who knows, you may even race in Le Mans. :dopey:
9. The skies the limit! :D

I'll probably will never get to do all those, but I'll try my best and do steps 1-3. :D:tup:

Or, the easiest step:
1. Join GT Academy
2. Try to beat the best racer in the game
3. Get a chance to have a professional learning course and even race in an actual race car. :D
4. If you did extremely well, you know the rest....... ;)
 
Kart, Definitely Kart. If you get good enough with a Kart, You can put yourself on the road to almost ANY racing series.

Why level your sights to Super GT? Why not aim for the stars? Formula 1?
 
You know the politics of the sport... But true. Even if he misses, he's bound to land somewhere in Super GT. Or, he can just go anywhere from F1.
 
You have 2 possible ways.
Get your A, B, IA, IB and S licence. Compete in the "Sunday Cup" Win and get a car. Sell the car and purchase mods for your car..... lol couldn't resist :p

You're from America..... Say you're famous fly to the U.K. and beat Simon Cowell's time for being a "star in a reasonably priced car" on Top Gear lol

Nah I'd say go karts is the best way, or even speedway if you have the money
 
I would agree with the above, specifically shifter karts. I've seen some around our local track, with 6 speed gearbox I believe, man those are *incredibly* fast, ultra grip too. If you can drive one of those really fast, then you'd probably do well in like Formula Renault or something like that as well.
 

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