The Race Media announces acquisition ahead of F1
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Last year's start of the F1 Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin. Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Motorsports content company The Race Media has been acquired by RAFA Media, the companies announced in Austin ahead of Formula One this week.
Why it matters: Company officials say the acquisition will take The Race's podcast and video production to the next level, allowing them to scale as F1 becomes more popular in the U.S.
Catch up quick: The Race Media, which launched in 2020, is the company behind The Race, WTF1 and Driver Database.
- The Race Media's WTF Talent launched in 2023, becoming the only influencer agency focused on motorsport. It now has a roster of over 50 influencers.
Zoom in: RAFA Media, founded by Rafael Martinez, is a collective of motorsports businesses, including Houston-based RAFA Racing Club, Grid Finder and Traxion.
- Martinez said the company's mission is to "democratize and grow motorspots" to make it accessible to everyone.
What they're saying: "This is a fantastic opportunity for us to grow together and push on to maximize our potential," Andrew van de Burgt, founder and CEO of The Race Media, said in a news release.
- "Formula 1 is in a tremendous growth period at the moment, in the US especially," Van de Burgt added. "Being a part of RAFA Media will allow us to ride this wave and expand into new territories."
Between the lines: Formula One has seen its popularity in America surge in recent years, largely due to the Netflix docuseries "Drive to Survive."
What's next: Austin will host its 12th U.S. Grand Prix this weekend.
Disclosure: Axios co-founder Roy Schwartz is an adviser to The Race Media.