Originally published November 10, 2022. Last updated January 29, 2025.

While HPDE is a hobby for most drivers, some want to go further. Pursuing a career in the racing industry and making it all the way to the starting line of the Rolex 24 at Daytona isn’t going to be easy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t advance beyond practicing on a skid pad.

Racing may seem mysterious, even when you know your way around the garage and the track. But getting more involved in motorsports doesn’t have to be intimidating. It turns out that there are lots of ways for racing fans to get more involved, and many don’t require the deep pocket resources or high stress of being a professional driver. In fact, you can find a lot of fulfillment in motorsports much closer to home than you think. Here’s what to know.

How Do You Get into Motorsports and Racing?

Just as there’s more than one way to get to the top of the racing industry, there’s more than one way to get started, too. HPDE is actually a great way to get started. You can learn the fundamentals of performance driving in a lower pressure, non-competitive environment. Plus, HPDE gives you the unique opportunity to explore the performance potential of your car on many of the famous racetracks you see the professionals compete at on TV.

While HPDE is many drivers’ pick for motorsports first-timers, it’s not the only option. For a person who is more competitive, but not quite ready to make the jump to wheel-to-wheel racing, Time Trial is a great option. At Time Trial events, you still get to drive on the same tracks as HPDE events, but now you are competing with others for the best lap time.

Another great option for getting started is autocross. This type of event is essentially a time trial competition for the best lap time that’s conducted on a large parking lot course outlined by pylon cones, instead of on a permanent road track. Autocross also tends to be less expensive than the other options, and it offers some unique characteristics that can help drivers develop their skills.

An autocross course will be different at each event, which helps you develop the skills to learn a new course or track quickly. The speeds at autocross are also lower, which can be less intimidating and help drivers feel more comfortable exploring the limits of their car. Autocross also helps drivers develop fast reflexes, since on a short, tight course, the turns come at you very quickly. Autocross drivers also learn how to pair fast moves with smooth driving.

How Do You Get into Competitive Racing?

Motorsports events like HPDE, Time Trial and autocross can be a great introduction to high-performance driving. However, the focus is on education—the E in HPDE—and not on wheel-to-wheel competitive racing. But the options for competitive drivers aren’t all that different.

In fact, there are different roads to this kind of competition. While some racers go straight from street driving to a racing school to earn their competition license, most will find that spending more time at some educational events to develop their driving skills helps them begin their racing career more successfully.

HPDE and autocross events are two great types of events to expose a new enthusiast to motorsports events and develop the skills that can put them on the right path for success in car racing.

What Is Competitive Racing Like?

There are almost as many different types of racing as there are cars, so you may find an opportunity to do not only IMSA racing, SRO racing or IndyCar racing, but also rally racing, drag racing, offroad racing, endurance racing and more.

In fact, racing expectations can vary greatly depending on the type of competition. For example, endurance races are typically longer than a traditional sprint race, which might last 20–40 minutes. Most endurance races also involve one or more pit stops to add fuel and may also include a driver change. That’s because endurance races can last anywhere from one hour to 25 hours.

Competitive racers soon discover that each type of racing has its own challenges and strategies. As most drivers know, it’s critical not to break the car or have contact with other cars. However, this is a bigger priority in endurance racing than some other forms of racing, since the potential for problems increases with the number of laps. To keep drivers fresh and ready for competition, endurance racing teams sometimes have as many as six drivers. Plus, the team may need to change tires, work on brakes, or service other items of the car during the race.

How Do You Attract Car Racing Sponsors?

Finding sponsors is one of the biggest challenges in all of motorsports. While everyone needs some form of support, sponsors usually aren’t attracted to a particular driver or race team. Instead, teams and drivers that are successful with gaining sponsors for their racing program are typically very pro-active, reaching out to businesses they believe would benefit from exposure to spectators or other competitors at racing events.

Drivers and teams will utilize different strategies to bring value to their sponsors. Graphics promoting the brand on the car and the driver’s race suit, special promotional events where the driver and/or car make an appearance at the sponsor’s company events, and hospitality events where the sponsor (and invited guests) are given the opportunity to spend time in the pit lane and garages during a race event are a few of the things different teams have tried. One way or another, race teams and drivers must find ways to bring value to companies to gain and retain sponsors that support their racing program.

How Do You Make It in the Racing Industry?

With the mystery surrounding it, the variety of paths drivers can take, and the trickiness of sponsorship support, making it in the racing industry looks tough — even before you consider the driving skill needed. But it’s all about how you look at it.

‘Making it’ in the racing industry will mean different things for different people. For most car enthusiasts, ‘making it’ can be as simple as having fun participating in a handful of events for autocross, HPDE, Time Trial, Club Racing or endurance racing each year.

For others, there’s more than one way to build a great life centered around motorsports. While many want the glory of making it as a professional racing driver, there are many other ways to build a career in the racing industry. You can be a part of a race team’s crew, be an event official, build or prepare cars for competition, handle marketing and PR for a race team, or drive a race team’s truck and trailer to and from events. Or, set out on your own path with a different idea.

Next Steps

If you’re still in the early stages in your motorsports adventure, it’s important to make sure your car is protected on the track. Most regular auto policies don’t cover your car while your participating in HPDE, Time Trial or autocross events. Luckily, there’s specialized coverage available that can help protect your daily driver or dedicated track car while you’re pursuing your motorsports dreams.

Lockton Motorsports offers affordable coverage options for HPDE, Time Trial and Autocross. Our online portal makes it quick and easy to get the protection you need so you can get back to focusing on the road ahead. Learn more about us and our coverage here.