Privateer (motorsport) facts for kids
In auto racing, a privateer is usually a person or a race team that enters a race on their own. They are not directly supported by a car manufacturer. Privateer teams often build and take care of their own vehicles.
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What is a Privateer?
A privateer is like an independent racer. Unlike big factory teams, privateers don't get money, cars, or parts directly from a major car company. They often use their own money or find smaller sponsors to race. This means they have to manage everything themselves, from building the car to fixing it after a race.
Privateers in Early Formula One
In the early days of Formula One (F1), it was common for privateer teams to race. These teams would often buy a race car that another team or car builder had made. They would then enter it into races. Many privateer drivers raced simply because they loved the sport. They were not paid to be racing drivers like many professional racers today.
Privateers in Modern Formula One
Today, the rules in F1 are different. The Concorde Agreement, which is a special contract for F1 teams, now says that teams must build their own cars. This means you won't see a privateer team buying a car from another F1 constructor and racing it.
In modern F1, the term "privateer" is used in a slightly different way. It often refers to a team that is not at least partly owned by a very large car company or a big corporation. For example, teams like WilliamsF1 are sometimes called privateer teams because they are independent, even though they build their own cars and are professional racing teams. They don't have a giant car manufacturer owning a big part of their team.
Related pages
- Contrast: Factory-backed
