If you want to get racing yourself, the first thing you'll need is
a competition licence. The issue of these licences is controlled by
the sport's governing body - the Motor Sports Association Ltd, and without
one, you can't race anywhere.
The procedure for getting your hands on one of these licences is described
in the application forms and starter pack issued by the MSA. Part of
this involves completing a course run by a circuit racing school - just
like Grand Tourismo on your Playstation. For example, the official school
for the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) is the Ian Taylor Motor
Racing School at Thruxton.
Further details can be obtained from the MSA at ...
The Motor Sports Association Ltd
Motor Sports House
Riverside Park
Colnbrook
Slough
SL3 0HG
Tel : (01753) 681736
On your pre-licence course, you will be advised by instructors who
are usually professional racing drivers. They can pass on a great deal
of knowledge and will help you decide which type of car you are best
suited to, if you haven't decided already.
Getting Wheels
Once you have got your licence you are ready to register on a championship,
but first you'll need a car. With over 100 championship series to choose
from, there should be something to suit. Most of these will require
you to buy and prepare a car, unless you're a sparkling talent and can
get a contract to drive car for a professional team. These are more
likely to operate in single seater formulae and you'll have to be good.
Once you're sorted, get yourself a set of rules from the championship
organisersand these will tell you what you need to do to register, and
how to make sure your wheels are legal for their regulations. Most championships
have around 12 rounds and run between March and October.
Costs
The costs of doing this are going to be fairly high so you'll need
some spare cash if you just want to do this as a hobby. Your licence
and courses to get it will set you back around £300. Your helmet
and overalls will cost several hundred. Membership to a race organiser
such as the BARC or BRSCC will set you back around £140. Championship
registration can be free or up to hundreds of pounds depending on the
series. There will also be a race entry fee of upto £200 per race.
On top of this, you've got to get a car, get it prepared and get it
to all the races. You'll need accomodation or a caravan too. If you're
racing 2CV's this will be less of a struggle than a Ferrari 360 Challenge,
but that bit's up to you.
If you don't want the responsibility of preparing a car, many series
offer fully prepared cars. In these cases you pay your entry fee and
they keep the car tip-top and bring it to races for you. All you need
to do is drive. This can be expensive. The Formula Palmer Audi series
is around
£55,000+VAT for a season. The old Lamborghini Diablo trophy was
more than double that, and remember, at the end of the season, you
have
to give
it all back.
Information provided by the British Automobile Racing
Club
BARC, Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8PN
