RustyOne

iTrader: (26)

I never realised RC was so big overseas especially with sponsorship,some earnings for professional drivers up to 12.3 million

We got a lot of catching up to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHpFPJrAL_0

Michael_T

iTrader: (52)

As far as I know, John Germanos is our highest paid driver, but only earning about half that figure. Being the typical arab he is, his tax return states he only earns about $30k a year.

bluechucky

iTrader: (4)

What would someone like Hara have earned... or Collari???

I might have to take the kids out to the track more often!

niznai

I don't think the value of a sponsorship contract reflects necessarily the skill albeit it rewards it. The Australian market has 20 million potential customers with an average expenditure anually say of 10$, this means a revenue of 200mil $. The profit of course is much smaller, I would guess at best half that or even less when all taxes are paid. Distribute that on the number of companies (manufacturers) in the bussiness (say 100) and the profit is less than 1 mil$/year per company. And this I think is a very generous estimate. Not sure we can support that kind of sponsorship then.

Overseas though, you have potential markets of 300mil customers in America, pretty much the same in Japan, and bigger than that in Europe. Not to mention Asia. Such markets of course are going to be able to offer bigger profits therefore companies are likely willing to throw in bigger sponsorship deals.

So you see, I am not sure what you mean that we are that far behind, but my guess is that if you land a sponsorship deal overseas you're quite likely to get those figures. Australian companies simply don't have the profit margin to offer such money, at least not before they have a serious chunk of those markets.

Team Orange SA

iTrader: (3)

That is career earnings including prize money ect.
Divide 12.3 million by 10+ years Drake has been racing.
It is not like he is earnig 12.3 million a year.

mrgsr

iTrader: (15)

Michael now you know why a set of tires, fresh gears and fresh belts for every final is peanuts to me

ZacR

Yep Drake is on a million a year racing RC

RustyOne

iTrader: (26)

Video clearly showed driver earnings to date not annually

COBRARACING

Hara is on about $8500 Us a month living in bangkok he be living the life of a king .Thats not including other perks and travel etc.

COBRARACING

Imagine what that money could do for up and coming rc guys .But i guess Drake has put in alot of work to get this far and he desreves the money and if losi and all his other sponsors agree to pay him that amount i say good luck to the guy .

lookieaefanboi

iTrader: (39)

I find it very hard to believe. Have seen interviews from mayfield/amezcua and co saying that they get 5k prizemoney for winning the roar nats and maybe 10k extra from sponsors. You would have to get that $ every week to get even close to what that say drake has earned. I am sure he gets a nice salary from losi and may even own part of the company but 12.3 mill in prizemoney is BS

ScottyP

iTrader: (11)

The Fez, career earnings $400! LOL

Out of all those guys I know who'd be more fun to hang with. Felles is piss funny.

Those numbers do seem over inflated to me.

Cheers,
Scott

CMB21

iTrader: (12)

You would have to find out how they worked out the so called "earnings" did they include all the gear that they get given, or is it purely the cash they get.

JoshT

iTrader: (6)

Drake also works for Losi in R&D, he would get part of the profit from his signature cars and also the trinity engines with his name on it.
So its not all from the 'racing' side of things

ringo

iTrader: (6)

I reckon someone's taking the piss.