Return On Racing Powered by Vaucher Analytics
Return on Racing is the podcast where motorsport meets money. Hosted by motorsports business strategist David Vaucher, each episode breaks down how racing teams, sponsors, series, and sim racers can improve sponsorship ROI, manage rising costs, and build sustainable growth models in a rapidly changing industry.
The Financial Audit That Could Save Your LMGT3 Team Over 100,000 Euros
Direct link to the article on the Vaucher Analytics website.
In this episode of Return on Racing, we go beyond the standard LMGT3 cost breakdown and deliver a strategic audit designed to help teams save money, without compromising performance.
If you’re a team principal, operations manager, or racing finance lead in the WEC paddock, this episode is your blueprint.
We break down five key audit areas where real savings or revenue gains can be made:
Smarter logistics and freight decisionsOptimized personnel deploymentStrategic procurement of parts and consumablesA sharper approach to testing and...The True Cost of Racing: A Comprehensive Breakdown of a Hypothetical LMGT3 Seasonal Budget
Link to the full LMGT3 cost breakdown analysis on the Vaucher Analytics website.
How much does it really cost to run an LMGT3 team for a full season?
In this episode, we break down a hypothetical €5.2M seasonal budget line by line, covering everything from personnel to parts, logistics, testing, marketing, and more.
Whether you're building your first sponsorship pitch or auditing your current budget, this is the financial reality you need to understand, perfect for GT teams, drivers, and sponsors alike.
Contact the show: contact@vaucheranalytics.com
Brought to...
10 Truths About Motorsports Hiding In Plain Sight
Link to the full article on the Vaucher Analytics webpage.
In this episode of Return On Racing, we expose 10 truths hiding in plain sight that explain why so many motorsports teams struggle, why sponsors hesitate, and why certain series stall while others surge.
From cost control to sim racing ROI to why being a “media brand with cars” is the future, these insights aren’t just provocative, they’re essential.
Contact the show: contact@vaucheranalytics.com
Brought to you by the Motorsports Sponsorship Accelerator, the most cutting-edge resource to help you learn how...
Finding Motorsports Sponsorship to Go Racing Is About to Get A Lot More Difficult
Link to the full article on Vaucher Analytics' website with supporting links and information.
Costs are rising. Sponsor budgets are tightening. And the dream of going racing? It’s becoming harder to fund than ever.
In this episode, we break down why the economics of motorsports are shifting fast, from inflation and tariffs to crowded grids and fragile sponsor pipelines, and what drivers and teams can actually do about it.
You’ll learn:
The 3 types of cost inflation squeezing racing budgetsWhy securing sponsorships is getting tougher, and how sponsors are thinkingActionable marketing strateg...When Access Becomes Chaos: The Fan Safety Crisis Motorsport Is Not Seeing
Link to the full article with associated supporting information.
Motorsport has never been safer for drivers, but what about fans?
In this episode, I share my experience attending the 2025 6 Hours of Spa, where a crowded pit walk revealed an overlooked risk: the lack of structured crowd control at major racing events.
Based on a recent article from Vaucher Analytics, we explore:
How modern motorsport prioritizes driver safety, but may be neglecting growing fan attendanceWhy increased access can backfire without proper oversightWhat sponsors and organizers should consider as race-day crowds continue to grow<...Why Sim Racing Campaigns Are An Untapped Goldmine For Automotive and Motorsports Brands
The full script with associated material is linked here on the Vaucher Analytics website.
In this episode of Return on Racing, we explore why sim racing is one of the most powerful, yet very underused, marketing tools in the automotive world.
From mono-brand legacy titles like Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends to today's ultra-competitive sim platforms, we break down how brands can go beyond product placement and build emotional connections through campaign-based storytelling.
If you're a marketing exec, motorsport insider, or just a sim racing fanatic, this is a blueprint for turning pixels in...
The Porsche 963 RSP Is a Masterclass In Motorsports Marketing
The Porsche 963 RSP isn’t just a Hypercar, it’s a masterclass in motorsport marketing. In this episode, we break down why this limited-run showpiece isn’t really about lap times.
It’s about brand strategy.
From Le Mans timing to visual callbacks that tap into Porsche’s most iconic models, the RSP exemplifies what happens when a manufacturer understands that racing is a platform to build desire, not just trophies.
We explore why open-wheel cars fall short in this regard, how endurance prototypes hit the marketing sweet spot, and what lessons every manufacturer...
The $3,000 Helmet: An IndyCar Case Study in Compliance-Driven Cost Inflation
Full results for this analysis are available on the Vaucher Analytics Insights page.
In racing safety is mandatory, a moral imperative you could even say.
But at the financial level, meeting this moral imperative is costly for teams.
In this episode of Return On Racing, we rewind to the 1977 Indy 500 broadcast to extract a rare dataset: a full list of driver safety gear with prices. Then we bring those numbers forward to 2025 actual prices for IndyCar-approved equipment.
The results?
You'll have to tune in to find out!
Thi...
Return On Racing - Introduction
Welcome to the first episode of Return On Racing, the podcast that cuts through the noise and digs into the business of motorsport.
I’m your host, David Vaucher: consultant, strategist, and the mind behind Vaucher Analytics.
In this kickoff episode, I lay out what this show is really about:
Not lap times. Not driver drama. Not memes.
We’re here to talk about what keeps teams alive, sponsors invested, and manufacturers racing: money and strategy.
And more specifically: how motorsport programs can b...
