Pro-Am
Pro-Am is a motorsport racing format where professional drivers and amateur drivers compete together on the same team, combining expert skill with enthusiastic newcomers to create a unique competitive environment.
The term Pro-Am is short for "Professional-Amateur," and it describes how racing teams are structured in certain competitions. In a typical Pro-Am team, you'll find at least one professional driver paired with one or more amateur drivers. The professional is someone who races for a living or has extensive high-level experience, while the amateur is usually someone who races as a hobby or passion project rather than as their main career.
This format exists because racing is extremely expensive. Professional drivers have the talent and experience but may not have the money to fund an entire racing season. Amateur drivers, often successful business owners or executives, have the financial resources but lack the same level of racing experience. By teaming up, they create a partnership where the amateur provides funding and the professional brings expertise, making it possible for both to compete at high levels.
Racing organizations use driver rating systems to classify competitors. Professionals typically receive "Gold" or "Silver" ratings based on their achievements and skill level, while amateurs receive "Bronze" ratings. These ratings help ensure that Pro-Am teams are balanced and that one team doesn't have an unfair advantage by stacking multiple top-level professionals together.
The Pro-Am format benefits everyone involved. Amateur drivers get invaluable coaching and experience by driving alongside professionals who can teach them better techniques and racecraft. Professional drivers get to continue their careers and stay competitive even without personal sponsorship. Race series benefit because this format attracts more entries and creates closer, more exciting racing.
You'll find Pro-Am classes in many major racing series around the world. GT racing, which features modified versions of high-performance sports cars, frequently uses this format. Series like the GT World Challenge America, IMSA SportsCar Championship, and various endurance racing events all feature dedicated Pro-Am categories where these mixed teams compete for their own championships.
During a race, Pro-Am teams must carefully manage which driver is on track at which time. In longer endurance races, teams strategize about when to put their professional driver in the car for crucial stints, such as the start, finish, or during challenging weather conditions. The amateur drivers typically handle other portions of the race, gaining experience while the professional's expertise helps secure better overall results.
The term can also describe entire events where professionals and amateurs compete together, or sometimes refers to drivers who fall somewhere between fully amateur and fully professional status. This flexibility makes Pro-Am racing an accessible stepping stone for drivers working their way up the motorsport ladder while providing entertainment value for fans who enjoy seeing different skill levels work together toward a common goal.