Young Drivers and Their Day Jobs

What is the life of a driver like? Fitness training, testing the car, jet setting around Australia for glamorous appearances and autograph sessions?

That’s far from reality for some of the young drivers in the V8 Supercars paddock. Most of the field’s rookies balance time away racing with full-time jobs.

Wilson Security DJR’s Tim Blanchard works for sponsor Cool Drive Distribution, heading up the marketing department. Whenever he isn’t at the race track, the job is a full-time gig and keeps the 26-year old busy.

“Monday mornings after the races I’m back at work,” Blanchard explained.

The Wilson Security DJR driver completed a university degree in accounting and marketing and while he had stints working with others, ended up at the family business as it was more flexible around his racing.

“I love it, it’s pretty challenging and different to racing. Having a normal office job is very different demands on yourself and your time.

“I enjoy the challenge and it’s good to use what I’ve learned.”

On the other hand, rookies Scott McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert are completing apprenticeships – McLaughlin with respective team Fujitsu GRM and Mostert three days a week with Ford Performance Racing – while Scott Pye helps out as an extra hand at Triple Eight Race Engineering.

Pye is managed by Triple Eight boss Roland Dane, who Pye says is keen to teach the young racer the value of a dollar.

“It’s the best thing for me,” Pye told v8supercars.com.au.

“I really appreciate it. I work full-time at Triple Eight – I’d like to say I’m pretty useful, but I think I’m more of a hindrance to some of the guys sometimes!

“It’s funny in the workshop, I do as much as I can. They’re all aces, so I just try and learn as much as I can, help a bit on bodywork and things like that.

“Last year I did a fair bit on my own car with some of the guidance of my number one and two mechanics.”

Pye earns a wage, and in addition to helping in the workshop manages his own sponsors.

“The job at Triple Eight is to keep me grounded and make me appreciate everything the guys do … it’s good to see just how hard they work.

“It doesn’t matter which team you’re in; all of the guys, you could never do it without them, so it’s nice seeing that and to be able to get in and help is satisfying.”

The 23-year old’s hours are flexible enough to train five days a week, and while he often has Monday after a meet as a travel day, on the Tuesday he is back at the workshop ready to go.

Everyone needs to start somewhere – and these young drivers show just how much they are dedicated to a career in motorsport, by taking on other jobs to bolster themselves.

Many of the PIRTEK Enduro Cup co-drivers also work day jobs while not competing.

At the Wilson Security Sandown 500, MTAA Super Pathways was unveiled, a program promoting the varied career paths available in the automotive industry.

Both Blanchard and Pye have achieved year best results at recent events; Blanchard having recorded ninth at Winton and Pye sixth at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. 

Can one of the young guns trump the masters this year at Phillip Island? The Sargent Security Phillip Island 360 is just around the corner, running from November 22-24. Tickets are available now.