[Geneman]

Hello Peeps,

I have been meaning to ask for some direction on this topic for awhile. Rolex 24 jogged my aging mind again..so here it is.. ( back ground is that even though i have been an avid Motorsports fan for 45 years I know nothing about how it is run )

How do these teams ..for instance, the 4 driver teams for R24 get assembled, paid etc.? It seems that most of the drivers are not signed to these teams for the full grand am season correct.? this goes pretty much any of the classes setting GX aside which , i guess , is total amatuer racing ? ( even though Donohue is clearly not an amateur) .

So , do the drivers bring their own personal sponsorship to the teams, and thereby get a ride?

Does the team of drivers that is setup participate as a group to elicit sponsorship for the car or the one off D24 race?

Does a big name like gannassi simply hire the best he can get and pay them for the one off event?

Are the drivers hired that far in advance that they participate in the development of the car..or are they pretty much arrive and drive.. whether they are being paid, bringing sponsorship , or are rich and paying for the seat themselves..

It seems that those are the three scenarios for doing this...

1. Be a big name driver and get paid irrespective of whether you have individual sponsorship , (if that is the case, for instance was it arranged up front (even contractually ) that if Gannassi cars were in contention at the end, that JPM would get the final stint .. because he is the biggest fish?).

2. Bring your own sponsorship money hence get a ride

3. Pay for it yourself and buy the ride. or be a car owner and foot the bill yourself for the whole team )

If teams are paying for talent for the one off D24.. what do these drivers get paid? is it big bucks?

These Qs are particularly relevant when there is no factory involvement ..like Porsche this year. Every Pcar run was an independent correct? So no deep pocket factory to pay for the drivers correct? Is the drivers fee/expense, the biggest part of it or , small compared to the overall budget for the team?

Can a anyone point me to a book or writeup on the business of Motorsport .. how is a team run, sponsorship obtained , profit sharing (nascar style?) , series input to teams etc?

I assume this happens in F1 where some teams are supported by Series income correct? (Bernie dolling it out like scrooge to the best grovelers? or is there a strict formula for support?)

All a mystery to me

Thanks very much.

Frank