ajcjr

Was a great series and a great full video


Was curious, does anyone know how this series works? Im not interested with how much money Michael has, but i am curious who pays the bills because if Porsche is footing the bill why wouldnt they do this with a young up and coming driver. If Michael paid did he also pay for all the crash damage?

ldamelio

I enjoyed it. Fassbender seemed like a little bit of a head case in the car. Pretty good when he was focused but often was all over the place mentally. I had no pre-existing bias as I'm not really a movie guy and had never heard of him before. I had to do the Googles once I figured out he was a celebrity Am driver.

The team seemed to be constantly handling and tolerating him and praying that he wouldn't bin it. Which he did.

I'm not saying that I would do any better, but he really came across as someone with megabucks living out his fantasies rather than a more skilled actor/driver like Newman or Dempsey. YMMV.

ajcjr

yes agree with his mental capacity, at one point you see the team manager stating everything you mentioned. I am not saying its easy but i think his mental game didnt help his driving at all.

MSR Racer

Porsche doesn’t pay the bills. Typically, in a pro-am program, the bronze driver pays all the bills including crash damage. Full season ELMS is probably 1.25-1.5 million dollars without the car. 24H Le Mans is 500-750k.

ajcjr

thanks, i was thinking he was paying the bills but wasnt sure.

ParadiseGT3

Enjoyed it, good marketing for Porsche as well.

He does seem problematically off the pace of teammates and the class, and more accident prone. Wouldn't help your psychology if you sensed you didn't belong.

But I'd drive a John Deere at Le Mans if given the opportunity, so can't blame the guy for going for it.

Nickshu

Just finished it. Watched all the prior seasons. Honestly I thought the final "film" had too much focus on interviews talking about feelings, and not enough showing actual racing or racing related activities, but still good and worth the watch.

brake dust

Have to believe that Porsche paid for some of the costs - they have had a lot of marketing around MF's 3 race seasons.

MSR Racer

I doubt it. That’s not how they work. This is customer racing for them.

RossP

Normally yes, but I would have to imagine there was some sort of agreement between them and MF. I doubt this was treated like any other civilian bronze driver in terms of cost.

ParadiseGT3

For sure Porsche subsidized this, constant product placements and glamour footage of various models.

uscarrera

Gotta admire a man chasing his passion and using his personal assets to fund that passion.
Rich

MSR Racer

for sure not!

I am just commenting here with some first hand knowledge because I have done this and spent a small fortune on racing in professional series including some time in Europe! I just want to put things in the corrective perspective.

The thing is that even when they ‘subsidize’, it’s a small fraction of the multi million dollar budget required for a campaign like Fassbenders. OEMs may chip in with parts discount etc. that hardly makes a dent. One way they really help is by providing a factory, gold rated driver “free”. Of course you still have to for air fare and accommodation etc.

ParadiseGT3

That's a hell of a lot of filming, Porsche marketing & promotion for a parts discount. Hard to believe that would have been the exchange, but I guess.

dan212

Isn't that what all of us - not members of the lucky sperm club do???
Until our assets or passion run out.