An early start this morning and I headed down to Northampton
for an 8.30am registration for my ARDS licence test. There are a number
of driving schools which offer ARDS assessments, but I opted for the
Silverstone Academy at the famous GP circuit. All of these schools offer
a similar format test with the driven and written elements required
by the ARDS, but of my local circuits, I preferred the idea of getting
to grips with a nimble Exige on the wide Silverstone track, to threading
an Audi A3 / RS Focus round the hairpin and Devil's Elbow at Mallory
Park. Also, the Jedi I will be racing is mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive,
so the Exige layout is a better match than Mallory's front-drive cars.
Our test was booked through Daniel Whittemore, the Sales
Exec for the Academy, on 08704 588 212. He's more than happy to talk
you through the course options available at the circuit and explain
the finer points of the tests. We took the half-day standard ARDS Course,
but a full day version incorporating Caterham handling and Audi Skid
Car elements is also available. We recommend you get in touch for the
full lowdown, and tell him we sent you!
Sharing
my briefing were an assortment of drivers, with an assortment of racing
aims, from a 1920s Bentley owner with Hillclimb experience who was moving
to circuit racing, to another complete track-novice like myself. The
initial briefing was taken by British GT Porsche racer, Stephen Warburton,
covering the finer points of understeer, oversteer, and an outline of
what we were expected to achieve in the test. Stephen was glad to answer
our questions and ease our fears - no heel-and-toeing required for the
test. A viewing of the Go Racing video, as supplied in the Go Racing
pack, which contains all the answers for the written test, and it was
out onto track.
The track part of the assessment is driven in S2 Lotus
Exiges. The Toyota-sourced VVTLi engine produces 192bhp and with only
780kg to shift, performance is lively. The chassis is also extremely
communicative, so you always know where the weight is, and what the
wheels and tyres are up to.
With no other track activity, the ARDS testing was carried
out on the National Circuit,
the northernmost part of the GP circuit, with the famous Becketts and
Priory corners joined by the Club Straight. The school also uses the
Southern Circuit, but this is the circuit that the BTCC will use this
year, and the track that I will most likely drive in the Formula Jedi
Championship, so tuition here is a welcome bonus.
The instructor takes the wheel first and takes a slow,
guide lap of the circuit, pointing out each turn-in point, apex, and
exit and gradually increases speed over the following laps to give a
better idea of where the car should be in practice, and where to brake.
After a decent paced demo lap, it's into the pits and my turn to drive.
Again, the pace starts slow, building up gradually to
a respectable lapping speed, the instructor pointing out where I had
turned in too early, braked too much, or could adjust my position on
track for better effect. The tips grandually all come together and it's
rewarding when corners come together and the rhythm starts to build.
The pace for the test isn't all-out race pace, but fast enough for the
instructor to know that you have at least an idea of how to get the
car round safely. Their policy of telling you when you're going too
slow, but never telling you if you're going too fast, makes you less
inclined to try and find any limits - a loss of control or departure
from the black stuff in your assessment laps is an instant fail. And
the assessed laps come fairly quickly.
"We'll start your test laps now and I'll shut up
for a bit. Don't spin. Don't crash."
So, into a few more laps, pushing a fair pace and continuing
to focus on stringing together those corners in as smooth and clean
way as possible. Fast through Copse and a hard on the gas from the exit,
hugging Maggots before hard on the brakes and down two gears to the
tightest incarnation of Becketts. Flat out up the National Straight
before hard on the brakes again into the complex and a quick burst of
power towards Brooklands. Steady round the kerbs then back on the power
to Woodcote and up through the gears to the line and another lap.
The assessed laps continue for as long as the instructor
requires, but it begins to rain while we're out so we get in a good
few additional laps on a 'wet line', keeping well clear of kurbs and
taking a less aggressive path. All is well so it's back to the Drive
Silverstone HQ for the written component of the test.
The test is divided into two sections. Section A is the
'safety' part and all questions must be answered correctly, with scope
for up to three mistakes in section B. The questions cover flags, equipment,
race procedure and general driving attitude and take a multiple choice
format. The test takes around 15 minutes and most of the answers are
either common sense, or covered in the Go Racing video. With that out
of the way, the forms are taken to be marked and we wait around sheepishly
for our results.
It's a pass! The licence application form from the Go
Racing pack is returned with a course approval stamp and with that,
and the medical section filled, it's ready to send. Licence is in the
post.
