Canadian race car drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Alex Tagliani Tuesday expressed their frustration and incomprehension in regards to the decision taken by the governments not to financially help the Montreal NASCAR Nationwide race.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Villeneuve during a teleconference sponsored by Dodge.
“It’s such as small amount of money (one million dollar) in comparison to the benefits they’d get. It’s not money they would spent, it’s money that they would invest in the local economy. We’ve lost a lot of American tourists this year, and the Montreal NASCAR race is like the jet-set race of the Nationwide season. I don’t understand why the governments gave money to the Trois-Rivieres race where the spectators are locals,” Villeneuve said.
“We have the tendency to lose major events because we don’t take care of them. We think about them when it’s too late. I don’t understand what’s happening. If we lose the Nationwide race, the local businesses will lose a great deal of money’ Alex Tagliani added.
The two drivers, who will be teammates at Penske Racing during the Napa Auto Parts 200 in Montreal in three weeks, are also worried about the lack of financial support provided to the young, up-and-coming Canadian drivers.
Both drivers significantly benefitted from the massive support of Player’s in their early careers to race in the Formula Atlantic series and in the CART series.
“90% of my time is spent looking for potential sponsors,” Tagliani admitted.
“It’s so hard these days to find sponsorship that I am losing my motivation. I am working very hard to enjoy just 10% of my time in the car. For the young drivers, it’s becoming way too difficult to find money. But they must hang on and do their best – that’s my advice,” Tagliani added.
“Not so long ago, everyone was counting on the support of Player’s,” Villeneuve continued.
“Then, Player’s was forced to put an end to their sponsorship activities. Everyone here (in Canada) likes racing. But the local companies don’t really enjoy putting their hand into their back pocket to sponsor a race car driver… They all enjoy the exposure but they are not willing to invest money. For the young drivers, it’s becoming pretty complicated I agree,” Villeneuve added.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Villeneuve during a teleconference sponsored by Dodge.
“It’s such as small amount of money (one million dollar) in comparison to the benefits they’d get. It’s not money they would spent, it’s money that they would invest in the local economy. We’ve lost a lot of American tourists this year, and the Montreal NASCAR race is like the jet-set race of the Nationwide season. I don’t understand why the governments gave money to the Trois-Rivieres race where the spectators are locals,” Villeneuve said.
“We have the tendency to lose major events because we don’t take care of them. We think about them when it’s too late. I don’t understand what’s happening. If we lose the Nationwide race, the local businesses will lose a great deal of money’ Alex Tagliani added.
The two drivers, who will be teammates at Penske Racing during the Napa Auto Parts 200 in Montreal in three weeks, are also worried about the lack of financial support provided to the young, up-and-coming Canadian drivers.
Both drivers significantly benefitted from the massive support of Player’s in their early careers to race in the Formula Atlantic series and in the CART series.
“90% of my time is spent looking for potential sponsors,” Tagliani admitted.
“It’s so hard these days to find sponsorship that I am losing my motivation. I am working very hard to enjoy just 10% of my time in the car. For the young drivers, it’s becoming way too difficult to find money. But they must hang on and do their best – that’s my advice,” Tagliani added.
“Not so long ago, everyone was counting on the support of Player’s,” Villeneuve continued.
“Then, Player’s was forced to put an end to their sponsorship activities. Everyone here (in Canada) likes racing. But the local companies don’t really enjoy putting their hand into their back pocket to sponsor a race car driver… They all enjoy the exposure but they are not willing to invest money. For the young drivers, it’s becoming pretty complicated I agree,” Villeneuve added.