Surviving the ERC’s off-season. By Aleks Zawada

“Rallying is, as we all know, a year-round sport – with some of the most exciting rallies taking place on snow and ice. However, in recent years we have moved away from this type of event in the ERC as the snow has been unreliable, making organising these rallies difficult. This is actually quite a relief for drivers like myself, as it gives us some time between seasons to prepare adequately. The question a lot of people might ask is what does it mean to prepare for the next season?

“This is quite a good question, as many people might not realise that this period is actually full of work, even though there are no rallies to compete in. In an ideal world, a driver would focus solely on preparing physically and mentally for his upcoming season. He (or she) would have their plan for the year complete and know exactly what their objectives are. They would know which series they will compete in, with which team and what car will hopefully take them to victory. This, unfortunately, is rarely the case.

“These are the questions that most drivers themselves are trying to answer during the off-season. Hopefully they will have prepared somewhat during the previous year, but this tends to be difficult while you are still actively competing. The crux of it all, as often tends to be the case, is money. Rallying is an extremely exciting, adrenalin-filled sport, which touches the souls of millions of people around the world – but it is also hugely expensive, and the limiting factor for most drivers is what support they can find.

“This is why my preparation for 2017 has looked less like a Rocky Balboa-style compilation of training in the gym, driving the rally car every day and setting my sights on the ERC crown, and more like the life of a salesman – I prepare presentations, phone marketing reps and attend meetings.

“A key part of the job is creating a package that interests potential partners or sponsors, as any money spent on sports marketing needs to be an investment for a company. Put simply, I need to help my partners generate profit. To do so means developing partnerships with every form of media, negotiating the attendance of trade fairs and events, and trying to instil the passion that I have for the sport into anyone and everyone I meet.

“So, when you next attend a rally or watch one on Eurosport, have a look at the companies that are advertising, and support your favourite drivers by doing so. I wish you all a very successful 2017 and, if you are anything like me, then you’ll be counting down the days to the Azores Airlines Rallye in March. See you there!”

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