Is it easy to become a racing driver?

It’s something every petrolhead has dreamed of: taking to the grid at a storied circuit, in a race car, ready to do battle against your rivals – yet so very few, comparatively, ever turn this into a reality. So, how easy is it to become a racing driver?

The top-level answer is yes, it is rather straightforward to do. But, what you NEED to have is a licence, as without it you simply cannot go racing. From there, what you really could do with (and this is why not many of us go into racing) is money… lots of it. Racing is expensive, and there’s no way of getting away from it, but if you have an abundance of spare cash – or you’re a YOLO diehard – racing is worth considering with some seriousness!

Certainly (and speaking from experience) there is nothing quite like the buzz of going racing. It is the ultimate adrenaline rush, and very little else you’ll experience will provide the same thrill. Interested? Well here in a little more detail is how to become a racing driver...

As mentioned, getting a licence is the first step to becoming a racing driver – without it, you cannot participate in any competitive racing in the UK. To start you must purchase a ‘Go Racing’ starter pack from Motorsport UK, which costs around £120.

The pack contains lots of handy information on all the safety aspects of racing, which you will need to learn for the next step of your journey to becoming a racing driver: passing the Novice Driver’s Training Course. This course is offered all over the UK from an ARDS member school. Pass it, and you’ll have your race licence in the bag!

The course is split in two: a written exam, and a practical test. Both are done on a single visit to an ARDS member school base, which is usually a track. The written exam is approximately 45 minutes, and features  multiple choice questions on the likes of flags, and what they mean, alongside safety protocols. The point of the exam is not to catch you out, but for you to prove you are a safe driver in a racing environment. You must get all questions right relating to the flags, but the rest of the questions can be successfully answered with a degree of common sense.

For your practical test, you’ll be shown into a car and will undertake some passenger laps of the circuit alongside an instructor. You’ll then swap seats and take to the wheel for four laps, essentially copying the racing lines you’ve just been shown. You do not need to show you are fast, just that you can drive a car safely in a track environment around others.

You’ll then be told there and then the outcome of your course. Providing you pass both sections (and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t), that’s it! You are approved for a race licence and your application form (which came with your ‘Go Racing’ starter pack) will be stamped by an official. Lastly, you'll need to get an eye test and a passport-type photo taken, before sending your form off, and waiting for a shiny new racing licence to arrive in the post.

As we said, getting your licence is the easy bit. Going racing is far harder, due to the costs involved. For a start, you’re going to need a car suitable for racing, which will likely involve a lot of prep work: think roll cages, fire extinguishers, suitable tyres, a race seat and harness (which are 'in-date'), suspension upgrades and geometry, plus on-board lap time technology which is being mandated more and more. Much will depend on the regulations of your chosen race series, but either way, you’re not going to be able to just rock up in a road car! 

Once you’ve got a car that’s ready to race you’ll need to pay your race entry fees for your chosen championship, plus likely mechanical support, more tyres, fuel… and any repairs in the likely event you collect a ding or two along the way. Have we mentioned racing is expensive?!

If you wish to race a road car, then sprint racing, against the clock at an event such as the Brighton Speed Trials is a good place to start. 

Of course, there are different levels of racing. from a Porsche perspective (because we love Porsches!) you could try the Classic and Sports Car Club, which offers different classes all competing in one exciting field, or for something more bespoke you could try Porsche Club GB’s 986 Boxster Cup. There are plenty of one-make series including the MX-5 Cup or Clio Cup, you can enter a Mk1 Golf or Mk2 Golf in several 'retro car' championships, or jump into single-seater racing with Formula Vee. At the top of the pile is the UK’s premier one-make competition, the Carrera Cup, where new 911 GT3 Cup cars costing a healthy six figures compete as part of the UK Touring Car programme. 

There are cheaper ways to go racing, relatively speaking: for a 'few hundred quid' you can enter one race on an ‘Arrive & Drive’ service, whereby a team supplies all the above (car, team, tyres, support, fuel etc), meaning all you have to do is rock up, enjoy it, and go home buzzing. If it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to cherish, this really is your best bet.

However, we promise you that once you’ve done your first race, it very likely won’t be your last – ask anyone who’s raced previously and they will tell you the adrenaline buzz is unmatched. Until you’re charging into Brands Hatch's Paddock Hill, three abreast, it’s hard to explain the equal parts excitement and madness of it all. 

In conclusion: yes, racing can very well be expensive, but it’s also one of the very best things you can do. As the late, great Steve McQueen once said, “Racing is life, everything else is just waiting…”

If a full race licence is beyond reach at this stage, track days are a great step up from road driving and a good way to hone your skills without getting a speeding ticket. We covered the basics in this blog here. 

Lee Sibley

9Werks