Moving On Up: Collete Davis

Paddock magazine meets Collete Davis, a young, charming and powerful driver from the USA, currently pursuing the IndyCar series.

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What was your very first experience of motor racing?

It was an IndyCar race at Pikes Peak International Raceway when they still raced there; I was 11 years old and got a tour of Penske’s trailer and car, along with Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish’s autograph.

How did you finance your early years?

By hustling every day and treating my racing career as a company. I learned how to do everything from coding my website, editing videos and branding personal & social media channels, to creating sponsor decks, planning and executing promoting, reaching out to corporate decision-makers, learning the in’s and out’s of successful business partnerships and closing deals. I single-handedly pitched and signed my first racing business deal at 16 for over $25k. 

One of the biggest challenges for every driver is to attract sponsorship. What is your recipe of success?

Stay tenacious and focus on how you can help others accomplish their business objectives through a motorsport sponsorship.

How do you deal with the competition on the track?

By focusing on my individual performance, and learning from the mistakes and/or advances of others.

Stay tenacious and focus on how you can help others accomplish their business objectives through a motorsport sponsorship.

What are your career highlights?

I won my first championship in my first year of racing, I have multiple track records in the US, and amassed wins in multiple types of cars. I made my pro debut on the Mazda Road to Indy in 2012, and represented Team USA on a pre-F1 international racing platform in 2013.