Here's Why Car Throttle Has Acquired Social Motorsport Publisher WTF1

Today, Car Throttle announces the acquisition of social motorsport community WTF1. Here's why we decided to delve into the fast-paced world of motorsport...
Here's Why Car Throttle Has Acquired Social Motorsport Publisher WTF1

It’s amazing what can be built from a teeny, tiny, thirty square foot bedroom on your normal, everyday college campus. I want to tell you the stories of three people today - three simple, short stories – and announce Car Throttle’s exciting acquisition of WTF1.com with founder Tom Bellingham serving as Editor, and the hire of popular motorsport personality Matt Gallagher to launch its YouTube channel. But first…


Here's Why Car Throttle Has Acquired Social Motorsport Publisher WTF1

It’s 2009. I’m a fresh-faced, beardless, first year student in London, frustrated with the lack of car news and entertainment for young, online car enthusiasts. I decide to take matters into my own hands, registering a domain name complete with out-of-the-box Wordpress theme and a single, introductory blog post. The site is named Car Throttle.

Everyday after classes I sit down, log in, check traffic, write a little, supervise freelancers, tweak a few colours and send emails to advertisers, all in the hopes that someday Car Throttle can afford me a full-time job and land me drives in cars previously considered out of reach.

I graduate in 2011 and decide to follow the advice of a University professor: “Don’t follow the herd, let your passion guide you” – giving up corporate life in favour of the murky world of funemployment.

In 2017, there is a 2,500 square foot office in London, staff in New York, seven figure revenues and a mission to be the world’s largest brand for millennial car enthusiasts.


Here's Why Car Throttle Has Acquired Social Motorsport Publisher WTF1

It’s December 2012 and our website has gone down. A quick search in logs appears to show a vicious DDOS attack, but after further analysis, it turns out this huge volume of traffic is real, and the source of the mayhem is Facebook. A page with 100,000 fans called Car Memes has decided to link to one of our articles, sending our rickety shared hosting solution to its death.

After some investigative work by CT’s first employee, Alex Kersten, it turns out the page is being co-run by a Bristol University student, Gabor Szedlak.

Gabor is our target audience personified: young, bold, driven… and addicted to social media. He tells us via Facebook Messenger about how he creates relatable memes and then sells these memes on bumper stickers to his diehard fans. He is earning a real income alongside his Geography degree studies.

I decide to visit Gabor, driving an Alfa Romeo Giulietta press car three hours to Bristol. A short ride and chat later, and my hunch is confirmed – Gabor knows social media inside out, and is the perfect person to join us, defined by his University bedroom hustle. Car Memes becomes Car Throttle’s first acquisition.

In 2017, Gabor is Chief Operating Officer, managing the day-to-day running of the business, in charge of an audience of 13 million Car Throttle followers being served 170 million video views per month.


Here's Why Car Throttle Has Acquired Social Motorsport Publisher WTF1

It’s 2014 when I first come across a hilarious Twitter account; poking fun at Formula 1 drivers on race weekends and providing quirky write-ups on a Wordpress blog. I ask my team whether they’ve heard about WTF1 before and it becomes clear the brand has a hardcore, underground following of young, motorsport enthusiasts.

I track the page and its various social media profiles religiously over the next few months and organize a meeting with its founder, Tom Bellingham. Tommy, like Gabor, has a real passion for motorsport and evidently knows something we don’t – that motorsport is more popular than ever and that a new, younger audience is looking to engage via social media.

Tommy meets us on the roof of our first shared office space and we discuss the possibility of joining forces. However, it’s clear this isn’t the right time and we both agree to stay in touch.

A few years later and WTF1 continues to grow and we continue to chat – sometimes to discuss traffic strategies, sometimes to discuss on-site monetization. But this time the collaborative conversation is very different.

Today I’m pleased to announce that Car Throttle has acquired WTF1 with Tom Bellingham joining the company as its Editor.


Car Throttle’s aim is to become the largest company for millennial car enthusiasts. We want to help this audience discover, buy and share their four-wheeled enthusiasm. However, there are fifty different shades of car enthusiast; ranging from lifestyle lovers, motorsport enthusiasts and supercar spotters, to car culture obsessives and in-market car buyers. WTF1 allows us to reach a slightly different audience with the same core value.

Here's Why Car Throttle Has Acquired Social Motorsport Publisher WTF1

I’m also pleased to announce that Matt Gallagher, known by his handle xMattyG, has joined WTF1 as Presenter, to help launch its brand new YouTube channel. Matt grew his own channel to 50,000 subscribers in a short space of time and, in a niche where rights management presents a challenge, will be the face of WTF1 as we delve into original motorsport programming.

I encourage you all to subscribe to the YouTube channel, follow on Twitter, like on Facebook and Instagram, and bookmark the site as we start a new, exciting journey today. Please join me in welcoming Tom and Matt to the team.

Onwards, and upwards.

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Comments

lowie t

I have no idea what any of those are but more is better. Nice.

03/09/2017 - 14:28 |
8 | 8
datpolishtho

This is so, so good to see Adnan. I have been following CT for a little while and it’s great to see it grow exponentially. I’ve been checking out WTF1 as well on more or less daily basis - you can clearly see the correlations there. Thanks for sharing some of the insider knowledge with us. Best of luck, and will be looking forward to developments.

03/09/2017 - 14:30 |
196 | 0

Thanks, we’re very excited! Make sure you subscribe to all of WTF1’s social profiles.

03/09/2017 - 14:33 |
76 | 0

Thanks for the kind words. Great to be a part of CT! :)

03/09/2017 - 16:02 |
56 | 0
Collector

We need CarThrottle office in NYC. Would love to visit staff to discuss some topics I have in mind. I.E. Partnership, business relations, and just to learn more about the inside of CT, maybe it’ll change my view on it.

03/09/2017 - 14:32 |
16 | 0

We have an office in NYC! Launched in March last year - a very small team there in Manhattan but with plans to expand. If you ever have any questions though, feel free to email me :)

03/09/2017 - 14:42 |
8 | 0
Raprada

CALL ME NIGEL MANSELL AND TAKE ME OUT OF THE BAKERY

03/09/2017 - 14:33 |
2 | 2
LeloCro

Unbelievable scenes!

03/09/2017 - 14:37 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

So excited by this 😁

It was a great few months leading up to today, great to be able to talk about it finally!!

03/09/2017 - 14:38 |
38 | 0
Adnan Ebrahim

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

[DELETED]

03/09/2017 - 14:43 |
2 | 0
Adnan Ebrahim

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yay, I know, so good to finally get this live! Site is looking awesome too ;)

03/09/2017 - 14:44 |
22 | 0
Anonymous

You’re back Adnan! I missed you soooo much

03/09/2017 - 14:38 |
10 | 2
Adnan Ebrahim

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hehe, I never left!

03/09/2017 - 14:44 |
16 | 2
Anonymous

This is so cool! Congratulations Adnan! It fun to see how big CT grew over the past years. It’s certainly been a success.

But 2017 and Gabz still doesn’t have an S2000 :( Maybe he is eyeing on another project or maybe his lust for the S2K has faded…

03/09/2017 - 14:47 |
18 | 2
Gabz

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Soon!

03/09/2017 - 14:58 |
32 | 0
Adnan Ebrahim

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks dude. Gabz has been eyeing up my GT-R, so I guess we’ll see what happens. #RIPS2K #RIPPolo #RIPE46OilHousing

03/09/2017 - 15:07 |
22 | 0
Ali Mahfooz

Congratulations Adnan! :D You’ve really out done yourself. I remember the days when Car Throttle used to be just a little website with a few faces to see… now, there’s so much more entertainment, news coverage and other contents I’d didn’t even imagine. I’ve only been here since the end of 2012 and I’ve seen some big and small changes… this one certainly is the biggest one I’ve seen and it truly is fascinating. Don’t let down Adnan, we’ve seen your leadership and your courage to follow your passion and have an influence on a global level. I wish you the very best with this new change. :)

03/09/2017 - 14:51 |
30 | 0

Thanks Ali, I appreciate your support from the early days, certainly haven’t forgotten! Stay tuned, more exciting news this year soon come.

03/09/2017 - 15:07 |
14 | 0
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

Great to hear Adnan!

03/09/2017 - 14:57 |
16 | 0

Thanks Jens!

03/09/2017 - 15:07 |
8 | 0