The newest racing Scot to join the British Formula Ford Championship, which produced Formula One legends Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher, has turned his winning talents into a new business.With an average of 30,000 spectators and a televised audience of 200,000 at each Formula Ford race meeting, 21-year-old racing driver Barry Sime and his new company, are ideal vehicles to promote businesses.

Paisley based Barry Sime Racing and Engineering offers companies sponsorship packages for one race meeting or a whole season. Sponsors get to display their branding on Barry’s racecar, his race suit and helmet, team outfits and track signage. This is coupled with press, radio and television coverage and VIP corporate hospitality for clients, who can experience a day amongst the next breed of Formula One racing drivers.

Getting to pole position is as vital for Barry, as it is for his targeted clients, the new wave of e-commerce entrepreneurs. Barry Sime Racing and Engineering offers a prime target audience for his sponsors as the average spectator of Formula Ford is aged 18 to 44, in full time employment and earning £25,000 per year.

Barry recently joined the Aztec International Racing Team, which has 10 drivers in the British Formula Ford line-up, two of them Scottish. Each driver pays towards his ride in the Aztec team and the non-profit, professional racing outfit prepares the single seater Formula Ford cars at their base in the UK, and transports them, a pit crew and a hospitality team to race events countrywide.

Motorsport became a passion and a potential career, when at age 14, Barry competed in his first go-kart race. Together with his father, a qualified mechanic and ex racing driver, Barry has spent the last six years preparing, maintaining and transporting racecars to meetings across the country.

Existing on a tight budget, the enterprising racing driver has competed in numerous formulas throughout Britain and at 18 won both the Scottish Super Series Karting Championship and the The Scottish Open Championship.

To help him turn professional and give him the right start, Barry approached First Business, the business start-up initiative of Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire and the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT). First Business assisted him with the compilation of a business plan and helped to research key target audiences through their Business Information shop, and gain exposure at networking events.

Commenting on his new business, Barry Sime, said, “Like any entrepreneur, I want to become the best I can be, hopefully getting selected for Formula One. My new business is the perfect marketing tool for budding entrepreneurs who need exposure. I have the determination and confidence to make 2001 my best year yet, and a responsibility to my sponsors to get a lot of wins.”

Andy Booth, First Business, said, “This is Barry’s chance to make his mark on the motorsport world, the next few years are crucial. He has the drive and determination to win, but needs backing. With his new business he is offering the right package at the right time and keeping himself in the game.”

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For further information please contact Juliette Cassidy or Neil Smith at David Budge Associates on Tel: 01698 540111, or Fax: 01698 540222.

Notes to Editors:

For further information about Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire, visit the website at: www.scottish-enterprise.com/renfrewshire .

Date: 20 July 2000

Author: david.cannon@scotent.co.uk