Racing driver Abbie Eaton is the latest guest on series 10 of the award-winning podcast Fuelling Around.
Eaton has been racing professionally for more than two decades in competitions such as the British GT Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.
The 33-year-old sat down with hosts Jason Plato and Dave Vitty to discuss her career so far, what it takes to be a pro driver and the true cost of motorsport in 2025.
Abbie Eaton and Jason Plato bemoan the rising cost of karting for kids
During her chat with the boys, Eaton and Plato gave their views on the rising cost of entry into motorsport.
“It’s getting harder and harder and harder,” Eaton revealed.
“To do a European season in karting for like a 12-year-old, I could race in Porsche Carrera Cup for a season (for a similar price). It’s absolutely bonkers.
“We’re talking £200-300k being spent on go-karting. It’s just bonkers. And the problem is I don’t think it’s ever going to change now.
“I think it’s just on that (upwards) movement and it’s only gonna get worse. I think back in the day, motorsport always had to succeed as a business because ultimately people need wages and paying.
“But I think there was still quite a big element that it was still a sport. Whereas now it’s getting more and more that actually it is purely a business, an entertainment business, and the sport is just getting kind of less and less, which is a real shame.
“As I say it’s a runaway train now and it’s in that direction.”
Plato interjected and added: “I would agree, totally agree.
“It’s so expensive and it’s totally cost prohibitive for anything other than very, very wealthy families. Or families that have got great connections with business.
“In fact I would say it’s probably cost prohibitive for even the wealthy families because it’s just telephone numbers isn’t it?”
Plenty more episodes of Fuelling Around to enjoy
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