Flexibility is Key

Lateral thinking is needed in hard times

Whilst motor-sport is afflicted, just like virtually everything else in life at the moment, with global political and economic turbulence, it has become essential for everyone involved to show patience, flexibility and fortitude – qualities that don’t always come naturally within our environment. I have often witnessed impatience and dangerous disinterest within the motor-racing community in life and world affairs beyond the sport.  This may be because success emanates from such palpable single-mindedness.  But these things can no longer be ignored.

With recent events in Bahrain, the FIA and the powers-that-be in Formula One were faced with a moral, social and political dilemma, which they didn’t seem to handle particularly well.  This was mainly because of the financial implications to CVC and FOM if anyone other that the Bahraini Authorities took the decision to cancel the race. As Formula One ventures into ever-increasing numbers of government-backed events in new locations, these issues might potentially become more prevalent, bringing greater uncertainty to the whole scene. The sport has almost entirely managed to avoid getting embroiled in the politics of nations during the 61 seasons of the post-war World Championship era.  But the question is, can that stability continue in some of the newer venues and, indeed, in times of huge social and economic upheavals alongside cripplingly high oil prices?

This makes it even more significant that Formula One is returning to the United States next year with the Grand Prix in Austin.   There is room for more races in the USA but at least this is a start in bringing the F1 World Championship back to a market which is important for so many of the sport’s participants and backers.  Steve Sexton is the newly-appointed President of the United States Grand Prix in Austin.  He comments: “This project represents a unique opportunity for the City of Austin and the State of Texas to be the focal point for a world-wide audience… to [build a] showcase that attracts diverse visitors from around the world and opens new education, innovation and research opportunities to benefit the global community”.

This is doubtless the hope and aspiration of every new Grand Prix promoter but an increasing number of far-flung races could surely diminish the local economic and trade impact of each individual event.  If you have an F1 event at home, why bother to travel to another country?

Flexibility of outlook is certainly now the key for motor-sport folk to find and secure employment.    The transferability of skills from motor-sport to related sectors and areas of activity is now the name of the game if people seek employment continuity – performance engineering in its widest sense, the aerospace, defence, environmental technology, marine and medical equipment sectors are all benefiting from people with high-tech skills honed in motor-sporting environments these days.  With jobs now diminishing within motor-sport itself, it is time for those who crave career continuity to spread their wings and explore just how their skills can be applied and developed elsewhere.  In recessionary times, recruiters seek individuals who can innovate, develop solutions and possess a wide-ranging confidence in their own career potential; the cream tends to float to the top.

As far as drivers are concerned, old-fashioned ‘sponsorship’ – where quite a lot has tended to be taken but very little has typically been given back – is no longer on the radar and those who need financial support in order to compete have to look to more sophisticated strategic partnerships.  It is necessary to understand what ‘added value’ might be brought through the support of a driver to a corporation, to a patron, to a community or to an educational institution.  There is money around but the process of securing it is sophisticated and needs a real understanding as to how businesses and entrepreneurs actually work and what they expect from a commercial partner.

The future lies in being inquisitive about the world, noting where the opportunities are and then going for them.

Published: “Racecar Engineering” Volume 21 Number 5 - May 2011