What can a race team do in the off season?

Run simulator and winter karting programmes, offer driver development and fitness work, rebuild and prepare cars for customers and sign drivers and sponsors for next season with deposits.

How do motorsport businesses get through the winter?

By planning it with the season. A month by month cash forecast shows the gap and winter income such as rebuilds, events, coaching and early season sales narrows it.

When should a championship open registration?

Before the current season ends where possible, with a saving for early payment, so the promoter has cash in hand for circuit deposits over the winter.

Motorsport off season revenue ideas

Fixed costs carry on through the winter. Staff, rent, finance and insurance are paid every month whether or not there is racing. Off season income reduces the amount the summer has to earn to cover them and it keeps skilled staff busy in the months when they are easiest to lose.

This guide covers how to size the winter gap and practical ways to earn through it for workshops, circuits, teams, coaches and clubs.

Work out what the winter costs

Take last year's accounts month by month. For each winter month, compare income with fixed costs. The total shortfall is the amount the season has to earn in advance or the winter has to earn for itself.

Worked example

In this illustrative example a race preparation workshop has fixed costs of £22,000 a month. It earns £60,000 a month from March to October but £12,000 a month from November to February. The four winter months leave a gap of £40,000 that the season has to cover.

Selling 10 winter rebuild slots at £3,000 each with a 40% margin adds £12,000 towards that gap. Selling them in September with a deposit brings the cash in before the quiet months start.

Workshops & engine builders

Sell winter rebuild slots in advance with a deposit
Offer fixed price preparation packages for next season
Build and sell spares kits before the spring rush
Run winter servicing for road and track day cars

Circuits & venues

Run conferences, dinners & awards evenings in hospitality space
Sell gift vouchers ahead of Christmas with clear redemption dates
Host testing for teams & manufacturers when the weather allows

Teams, academies & coaches

Run simulator programmes & winter karting
Offer fitness & driver development programmes
Sign drivers & sponsors for next season with deposits

Clubs & championships

Open season registration early with a saving for prompt payment
Sell partner packages for next season
Hold awards events that cover their own cost

Sell next season before this one ends

The cheapest winter income is next season's revenue taken early. Open bookings for next year's seats, entries, track days and rebuild slots in late summer, take deposits and give a saving for paying in full before Christmas. The cash arrives when the business needs it most and the calendar for next year starts to fill.

Cut the costs that run all winter

Review utilities, subscriptions & insurance before the quiet months start
Plan staff rotas, holidays & training for the winter
Return hired vehicles & equipment you will not use until spring
Schedule maintenance for the weeks with the fewest bookings

Plan the winter with the season

Build a month by month forecast for the whole year with the race calendar and the winter plan side by side. It shows how much cash the business needs going into the winter and which off season work is worth doing. Our guide to why motorsport businesses run short of cash mid season explains how to build that forecast.

How motorsport businesses can make money in the off season