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April 30, 2025 12 mins

Elite sports are not a cheap field to enter. 

19-year-old Liam Sceats is on a journey to make it as a professional motorsport driver, aiming to achieve his dream of competing in IndyCar.  

He’s currently competition in Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports – and it’ll cost him $1.2 million USD to compete in all 12 rounds. 

Sceats currently has a three event deal, but will need to secure more funding to take it all the way to the end.  

However, obtaining funding is not as easy as simply doing well in the races. 

He told Mike Hosking that support certainly comes easier if you’re a winner, but for him it largely comes from hustling and doing the groundwork.  

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Great story for you from behind the scenes of trying
to crack it as a professional motorsport driver. Nineteen year
old Kiwi lilliam Skeets trying to make his dream come true.
He's aiming to be an indie car driver. He's currently
competing in Indy next with AHMD Motorsports. He needs to
raise one point two million I'll repeat that, one point
two million US to be able to compete in all

(00:20):
twelve rounds of the season. He's currently got a three
deal event or a three event deal. Needs to secure
more funding and sponsors, which obviously becomes easier the better
he does. Anyway, let's get the catch up here. Lilliam
Skeets is with us from Indianapolis. Morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good morning, Mike.

Speaker 1 (00:33):
Are you doing very well? Indeed, just bring us up
to speed on where you're at in this wonderful life
of yours. Saint Petersburg looked good, didn't end up particularly well.
So that's race one so far. You've got a couple
of events coming up. Have I got that about right?

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yes, I'm currently in Indianapolis over here in the States
and have a race in Alabama this weekend and Indianapolis
next weekend for a doubleheader Florida. Was not the result,
but very promising signs there, so looking to carry that forward.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
Indeed, so let's just go through Florida just briefly. You
qualified fifth, you ended up eighteenth. When you qualified fifth,
you were behind the wheel, you were, you know, following
living your dream. Did it feel good?

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yes, of course it felt good.

Speaker 3 (01:15):
Saint Peter's a street circuit, so to have a debut there,
you know, it was, to be honest, kind of sort
of daunting.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
But we were fast.

Speaker 3 (01:23):
And I managed to get to grips all it quickly.
And last year on my debut and Formula three, I
got on the podium there, so I knew I could
could be strong there. And yeah, we showed, we showed
our strong pace and qualifying with third and group fifth. Overall, yeah,
it's a shame with what happened happened in the race
on the opening lap. But you know that, you see that,

(01:43):
you say that all the time in modor sport.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
What's your assessment of your prospects for this weekend in Alabama.

Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm confident, as I said at Saint Petersburg, not only
that through the four tests we've had so far, this
year and their back into last year. I've been been far,
have been in the top six and as a Rockie,
one of the leading leading rookies.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
So I'm confident. Barber is a.

Speaker 3 (02:09):
High downforce, high risk slash reward track, which makes it
obviously tricky. And then the weather also looks a bit undecided.
So yeah, I'm really excited to get there and prove
what I've got.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
And then you get to Indianapolis. You've got a double
headed there and this is where your deal sort of
runs out. And this is sort of the point of
this interview. I guess how much pressure sits on your
shoulders knowing there's for now anyway a kind of an endpoint.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yes, it's there's a lot of pressure, but this is
not the first time and it won't be the last.
I think, well, last year my season race was raced
by race and turned up to the to the racetrack
after flying over from New Zealand, thinking it might be
my last time here, my last crack headed. So every
weekend for me is make or break and I realize this,

(02:59):
and I realized that I just need to jump on
the car and do the best I possibly can and
bring results. Really and perform in order to grant that
further support.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Is it that simple? If you do well, money will follow.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
It's not. It's certainly not.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
I wish it definitely does help when you're when you're
a winner, support.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Comes to you more easily.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
But yeah, for me, largely it comes from hustling and
doing the groundwork, which I've been doing over in New
Zealand soil for the last six months of my New
Zealand summer to have a crack in Indy next this
year on the doorstep of IndyCar By. Yeah, doing as

(03:42):
much as I can, talking to people and meeting with
people to rally more support.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
Is there good will around it? I mean when you
talk to people, do they want to help? In general?

Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yes, yes, there are so many generous people out there
in New Zealand and I have such great support currently
behind me and then Tony Quinn, Founday, James Koccatrick Group, JFC,
Omega Rental Cars, Go Media and so many more. So yeah,
these people really want to help and see I guess
the Kiwi of the next generation to be on the

(04:13):
world stage and follow the career of Scott Dixon. Really so,
I've been very lucky to this point in my career.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
I suppose, given you've been in it, since you're like
everybody in carts, you know how the system works. But
it is a funny sport, isn't it That In most sports,
talent will get you to a place. Motorsport's not like that.
Talent will only get you so far, and you need
help from then on, en, don't you.

Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, motorsport is very different in the sense as you
said that it doesn't only require talent and skill, but talent,
skill and finance funding behind you.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
So yeah, brings in a new dynamic where you know,
you not only have.

Speaker 3 (04:53):
To perform on track, but also off track with raising sponsorship,
investment and getting those people behind you so you can
and continue to fuel fuel your racing. And that's exactly
what I what I have to do. Coming from little
old New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
Listen, Greg Murphy said, I thought something really interesting the
other day. He said, with as regards Liam and ef one,
what Pastre has is Mark Webber. He's got somebody sitting
next to him who's got experience, had racecraft, all of
those sort of things, and that's the sort of help
Liam needs. Do you have around you people who are helping,
who can give you the advice you need.

Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yes, I'm very fortunate to have many people, as I
mentioned the partners earlier who surrounded me. Of course, my
family big supporters behind me and my management includes Steve Horn,
Mark Pilcher and Shane mcconnically and countless other mentors like
Greg Murphy himself and Paul Radisich Oh and Evans Staniel

(05:47):
Gallant who are all behind me and really backing me
on this journey.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
Liam. This cold calling is that true? You literally cold
call to raise money?

Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yes, it is.

Speaker 3 (05:57):
It's just something I have to do. It's part of
the job as a as a racing car driver. Yeah,
I mean to be honest with you, Mike, I love
the process of it.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
Now.

Speaker 3 (06:06):
I've had to learn to love it in order to
keep my bomb and the sea and behind the wheel.
I'm not sure if the people on the receiving end
always appreciate it and.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
Love it. But yeah, as I said, I just have to.
I have to do it. So yeah, it's kind of
a new new passion of mine.

Speaker 1 (06:22):
How do you sell yourself? You go, Hi, it's Liam.
Do you have to explain what you do? How you
do it? The importance of it where it could lead.
What do you do?

Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, I think the selling point I have is, yeah,
I want to be that next Kiwi of the next
generation to achieve what Scott Dixon has. Now He's a
prime example of someone who was just a young feller
in New Zealand with the talent and the potential to
make it big, and through rallying investors and sponsors behind him,

(06:52):
he managed to go to the US and the rest
is history. And now those people behind are really reaping
the benefit, you know, of of a journey they were
part of, and of course the payback through the investment scheme.
So I mean, I'm just using that as as a
prime example and trying to find my own people to
get behind me and enjoy a journey and be a
part of be a part of something special to be

(07:14):
I truly believe that I have what it takes and
can be that that next Kiwi achieving huge success in
the world stage.

Speaker 2 (07:22):
So yeah, that's that's that's the selling.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
Because of course you mentioned Dixon, there's McLaughlin and Armstrong
as well, and does that that that does help? I
take it because I mean in terms of pound for pound,
New Zealand boxes so far above its weight in the
sort of area, doesn't it.

Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yes, it's it's huge having Scott, Marcus and and Dixon
as well over there paving the way for a young Kiwi.
Not just me, There are so many of us who
you know, look up to those guys, are inspired by
them and aspire to be to be in their shoes
one day. Yes, Scott as I mentioned as a prime example, uh,

(07:57):
and point of inspiration for me as he you know,
he he's doing exactly what I'm having to do, hustle
to have the opportunity on track and then prove themselves.
So yeah, very lucky to have those guys look up
to over here.

Speaker 1 (08:08):
Is it an incentive for you? Because you're mixing in
a field of extremely wealthy, successful people, So in other words,
if you do well, you can have your own plane
and houses and all. Does that incentivize you or it's
not your thing?

Speaker 2 (08:24):
No, it doesn't incentivize me.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
I mean my goal is to just whin the Indy
five hundred, win an Indy car and the long term
potentially look at Formula One.

Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (08:37):
I'm a racing card over That's all I care about
is the racing and for the moment the short term,
I'm all focused on getting to Barber, getting to Indy
in a couple of weeks time, and doing enough to
keep in the car and keep having a crack.

Speaker 1 (08:52):
And having followed you and look, you know in eighty
six is and Formula forwards and you know obviously at
the start carts and stuff. What's the step up being
like into what you're driving now?

Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, it's been yeah, many steps along the way Saturday
go karts a six years old to Formula Forward, to
the Toyota Racing Series where I managed to win the
New Zealand Grand Prix, to racing and Formula three in
Japan in America. Yeah, I think the New Zealand Grand
Prix was the breakthrough for me, and that has gave

(09:24):
me the opportunity last year to step over here to
the US and have a crack on the road to
IndyCar scene. So yeah, I mean all of that racing
wouldn't have been possible without these people. But pick people
behind me. I think I've raised just over a million
dollars in sponsorship and investments since twenty twenty two, which
was when I hopped out of go karts at fifteen

(09:45):
years old.

Speaker 2 (09:46):
So yeah, a lot has gone into a boat on
and off track.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
That's not bad. Is it true you're sleeping on a couch.
That cannot be true.

Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yes, yes, it is true. I'm sleeping on the couch
too of Kiwi mates over here. Yeah, I'm as I said,
I'm raced by race. I fly in and out in
New Zealand for the test last week. I was severely
jet lad because I flew less than flew into America
less than twenty four hours before being out on track.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
But yeah, that's just the reality of my situation.

Speaker 3 (10:14):
I enjoy, I can find the fun in it. But yes,
that is true. I'm I'm sleeping on the couches preparation
for barber this weekend.

Speaker 1 (10:23):
Jeez, that's dedication. We'll go well this weekend in Alabama,
also in India in a couple of weeks. Time. Good
to catch up with you.

Speaker 2 (10:29):
Thank you very much, Mike.

Speaker 1 (10:30):
There we go. Nice guy, isn't he? Lilliam s keis Mike.
If I'm got a call from Liam, I donate. Keep
the hustle going, young men, your country is behind you.
Good on your mind for giving these young drivers like
Liam's more exposure your platform and audience is perfect. Thank
you from an old retired amateur racer. Reminds me of
an interview I saw once upon a time. Actually played
with Mark Brown. If you remember the name Mike Brown
and golf. He was one of those guys who sort

(10:53):
of battled on a circuit. At the time I played
with him, he was battling across Canada. And the thing
about it was, and I'll get back to Michael camp
in a moment, but the thing about Mark Browns there
was about four or five of them and they didn't
have enough money. So they pulled their money and they
rented a car together and they did the tour from
West Coast to East Coast, staying at the Motel six's.
Where they couldn't afford the motel, they'd stay in the car.

(11:15):
And so the idea was that they'd win enough money
to afford the rental car, to afford the Motel six
to maybe one day win something to get real money,
to find real planes to go to real places. And
when Michael Campbell won big, he said, the great revelation
for him was that the better you get, the easier
it becomes, because of course, suddenly you're not renting cars,

(11:35):
you're flying in planes, and then you're at the front
of the plane, and then you got your own plane,
and you're not at Motel six ye or at any
hotel you like, and then you're at an Airbnb, and
so it goes. So sleeping on a couch having flown
in from New Zealand being jet lagged, to then jump
in an indie car is quite the thing, isn't it.
You're going to be determined to succeed. For more from
the Mike Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks. It'd

(11:57):
be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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