When is the right time?
There's no magic age. We've seen drivers move up at 14 and thrive, and others who'd have been better off doing another season or two in karts. Before you look at championships, it's worth honestly answering a few questions as a family:
- Is your driver consistently running at the front, or still learning racecraft?
- Do they actually want to race cars, or is it the next thing because everyone else is doing it?
- Could you fund a full season, including testing and damage, without it breaking the household budget?
- Are they old enough for the championship you're interested in? (See below.)
Not sure where your driver sits in karting? See the karting classes and championships.
What's open at each age
Motorsport UK sets the broad age limits. Each championship then sets its own exact rules, so treat this as a guide rather than the final word.
| Age | Circuit racing | Other car disciplines |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Junior race championships such as Ginetta Junior, Junior Saloon Cars and Fiesta Junior | Sprint, hillclimb, junior autocross and rallycross, AutoSOLO and car trials |
| 15 | British F4 (single-seaters) | As above |
| 16 | Senior circuit racing opens up | As above |
Source: Motorsport UK, 14-16 year olds and Under-18s motorsport.
The steps, in order
Get some time in a car
Before spending serious money, get your driver in a car. Track days, test days and taster sessions run by championships or teams are the obvious starting point. Motorsport UK also suggests doing a track day at the circuit where you'll take your ARDS test.
Buy the Motorsport UK starter pack
The Race starter pack is the only way to get your first race licence. The fee for that first licence is already included in the pack. More on the starter pack
Pass the ARDS test
This is a written test on the regulations and flags, plus a track assessment with an examiner. It's run by approved ARDS race schools around the UK. What the test involves or find a school
Apply for your Race Club licence
Once the examiner has stamped your application form, you send it to Motorsport UK, along with any medical paperwork they need.
Choose a championship and team
This is the big decision, and the one where it pays to ask a lot of questions. See the championships
Test, then race
Most teams will want a pre-season test programme. Budget for it. It's where your driver learns the car, not on race day.
Don't overlook the other routes
Circuit racing isn't the only way into cars. From 14, drivers can compete in sprints, hillclimbs, autocross and rallycross. These can be a far cheaper way to get real competition seat time in a car, and they still count as proper motorsport experience.
Grassroots events like AutoSOLOs can be done on a free RS Clubman licence with club membership. It's a low-cost way to find out if your driver enjoys driving a car competitively.
Source: Motorsport UK, RS Clubman licence.