PAINT PERFECT MOTORSPORT LAUNCHES ‘CROWD FUNDING’ SHARE SCHEME TO PUT ROAD SERIES CHAMPION SPIRES BACK ON GRID
15th July 2015
Leading Michelin Clio Cup Road Series team Paint Perfect Motorsport has launched an exciting and unique ‘crowd funding’ initiative targeted at putting reigning champion Anton Spires (Milton Keynes) back on the racing grid – with a planned graduation into the sister Michelin-backed Race Series.
Lincoln-based Paint Perfect, which is headed-up by Road Series competitor John Creasey, has been an integral part of the category since the start of the 2014 season and enlisted Spires’ services as driver coach this year when the title winner was forced onto the sidelines through lack of budget.
After a stunning campaign in 2014 with Westbourne Motorsport, Spires’ first season back in saloon car racing after several years of part campaigns in single-seaters, the 22-year-old secured the inaugural Road Series crown with two rounds to spare, taking seven wins from 10 races contested.
When it became apparent he wouldn’t be able to make his desired graduation into the Race Series in a third generation thoroughbred Clio Cup race car, Spires was snapped-up by Paint Perfect as driver coach and after helping Creasey to hone his skills with key advice and input the team is determined for the talented youngster to lead its planned assault on the Race Series in 2016.
“It’s a real shame Anton has missed this season, he didn’t want to do the Road Series again as he’d gone as far as he could so stepping up to the Race Series was the aim – they just couldn’t raise the budget though”, explained Paint Perfect boss Creasey.
“So, we invited Anton into our team to tutor myself and be a key part of Paint Perfect Motorsport to help move the team forward as we have big plans. We desperately want to get him out in the Race Series next year as we want to be represented in both championships and he is a huge talent. So we’ve come up with this idea of a crowd funding project to buy the car.”
After launching the Paint Perfect Motorsport ‘Supporters Club’ at the Croft race meeting last weekend, Creasey says the funding to run Spires in the Race Series, the budget for potential damage and depreciation is already covered through key team sponsorship. This project, which is more of a share scheme, is to raise the capital required to purchase a third generation Clio Cup car.
Where the Paint Perfect initiative differs from similar crowd funding-style schemes is the way investors will get the cost of their initial share payment back when the car is sold. Shares are currently available at three price points, £50, £100 and £200, with each bringing an increased level of supporter benefits.
“We’ve got the funds to run Anton in the Race Series alongside what we’re doing already, we just need to secure the car now”, added Creasey, “So, we’re looking to build-up the capital outlay through crowd funding where people will buy shares in the vehicle. At the end of it, everyone will get their investment back so it’s a no-lose situation. Plus, we’ll cover any depreciation with the car.
“As well as running Anton in the Race Series, I want to move up into that next year as well if we can achieve it and then sell an ‘arrive and drive’ package for my current car in the Road Series. Ideally, we want a three car team covering both championships and create a platform to bring young drivers through. We’ve got big ideas and a great team, so we really want to make this happen.”
While Spires is hungry to return to competitive action sooner rather than later, he has thoroughly enjoyed his new role within Paint Perfect Motorsport and says there is actually the possibility of an appearance on the Race Series grid before the end of the current season.
“It’s frustrating in a way, having not been racing so far this year, but it’s been a new challenge for me being on the other side of the pit-wall and being part of John’s team”, he commented, “I’m really pleased to be part of Paint Perfect Motorsport, they want to be one of the biggest teams in Clios and there are big plans in place to grow the team for the future.
“The new initiative is a unique idea and more of a share scheme than traditional ‘crowd funding’. In return for buying a share in the car the investors will receive a package of benefits, including things like a trackday experience, so it’s a great idea. We’re still talking to corporate sponsors too and it’s not out of the question we could possibly make an appearance in the Race Series this year.”
Along with headline sponsors Michelin and Protyre, the Clio Cup Series is additionally supported by Ferodo and Safety Devices with further support for the Road Series from Monster Sport Europe.
Track Days / Test Days / MotorsportDays.com
