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David Richert is realizing his dream. The 26-year-old farmer and race-car driver from the Niverville area is one of 30 drivers who have been selected to compete in Volkswagen’s new Jetta TDI Cup Formula One racing series, which has prize money of $100,000.
Richert grew up on the family farm and still works there. (He also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba.) Being able to work on the farm, he notes, provides him with the flexibility to pursue his racing career.
He became interested in auto racing, he says, eight years ago, after having an opportunity to attend an American Grand Prix Formula One race at the Indianapolis Speedway. “I was standing at the top level at the speedway watching these cars going around at 330 miles per hour,” he recalls. “It occurred to me that it would be more fun driving the cars than watching them. I thought that I might want to pursue a career in auto racing.”
“One thing I learned is that you need a lot of money to be able to advance to the higher levels,” he says. “I was able to sign on with an experienced agent who taught me about the business and the importance of finding partners and sponsors and developing business relationships.”
One of the requirements for eligibility for the new Volkswagen racing series, for example, is payment by each driver of $35,000. That’s a good deal, Richert notes. In this case, $35,000 pays a driver’s entry in to all eight races. In other competitions, that amount of money covers the entry fee for one just race.
Richert is hopeful that the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series will be the break he is looking for. He found out about the competition on a Volkswagen website. To qualify for consideration, he says, he had to answer a lot of questions about his history and racing background and submit a two-minute video on his interest in motor sports.
“Atlanta will be huge,” Richert says. “We will be participating in Le Petit Le Monde. More than 100,000 spectators are expected.”
Richert says that so far he is running about the middle of the pack. “There is a fine line between driving and taking care of your car,” he says. “If it is damaged, the driver pays for the repairs.”
In addition to the prize for finishing first, the drivers are eligible for a second competition outside of the actual racing, Richert notes. Publicity is also important. The driver who can garner the most media attention for the series and the 2009 Jetta TDI will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe and a free race in Volkswagen’s Polo Cup competition in Germany.
“It would be a great opportunity to network with the right people,” Richert says.
