Popular Football Names in Motorsport Circles

Football stars are some of the top people who own luxury cars in the UK. Many acquire these fast cars for their status, sophistication, and speed. Others buy them simply because they can afford them. Some football stars are genuine petrol heads and big fans of motorsport.

Many football players are fans of different forms of motorsport. From Formula One down to NASCAR’s Ally 400 and other races, finding a footballer at these races is not rare, especially if the race coincides with an international football break.

Limitations of a football player’s busy career

A footballer’s active playing career is very busy. Finding the opportunity to take on extra activities proves difficult for most footballers because of their crazy schedules. Between playing for their clubs and representing their national teams, there is only a little time left to do anything else. 

Many footballers who are passionate about motorsport only live their dreams through the cars they drive. Motorsport sounds exciting, but many people cannot overcome the fears of driving at top speed, so they’d rather watch from afar.

Top Football Names Associated with Motorsport

• Jerzy Dudek

Dudek’s 2005 UEFA Champions League heroics in Istanbul cannot be forgotten quickly by Liverpool fans. The Polish goalkeeper picked on an active motorsport career after retiring from football in 2011. Dudek finished his first full season with the Volkswagen Castrol Cup in 2014 by competing with other drivers in races organized in several Eastern Europe circuits during the summer. Dudek had a passion for motor racing before pursuing a career in football as he used to race go-karts. The shot-stopper was an active motorsport player between 2013 to 2016.

• Fabien Barthez

The French world cup winning goalkeeper kick-started his motorsport career in 2008 by competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup and the THP Spider cup. Barthez won his first race at the second race of the FFSA Series in Spain at the Circuito de Navarra in 2012. A year later, Barthez became French GT Champion. Since 2014, Barthez has competed in the 2014, 2016, and 2017 editions of the 24 hours Le Man race.

Conclusion 

Many football stars look up to these names on their motorsport journey. The likes of Barthez and Dudek have shown that you can play football to the highest level and still have a fulfilling experience with motorsport. What is most important is having a passion for motorsport.