What can you do with your Race Licence?

Your Race Licence, the golden ticket to competing in UK motorsport. With so many events taking place across the UK this National Motorsport Week, from Hill Climb at Shelsley Walsh to Drag at Santa Pod, there’s plenty of ways to get started with your first full season, here’s how…

Autocross

Autocross is an ideal discipline for novices looking to get their first taste of competitive motorsport. The aim is to tackle a temporary course, usually between 800 and 1200 metres long in a grass or stubble field, against the clock.

There are usually heats of three or four laps, a practice run and at least two timed runs, the best of which counts towards the results – with speed needed to take the trophy!

Circuit Racing

From British Touring Cars to Formula 1, circuit racing is one of the most-loved disciplines of motorsport.

The winner is the first competitor to reach the chequered flag, which falls once the designated number of race laps or a time limit has been completed. Most meetings comprise practise sessions, qualifying and at least one race.

Karting

Karting is often the starting point for most pro-drivers, with events taking place week-in, week-out around the UK.

The principle is the same as for circuit racing; karts go wheel-to-wheel and the winner is the first to reach the chequered flag, which falls after the designated number of laps is completed.

Rallycross

Rallycross is something of a marriage between Circuit and Rally, with up to eight cars at a time go wheel-to-wheel on a circuit that is part asphalt and part gravel/loose surface. The winner is the quickest person to complete the required number of laps.

The flagship series is the British Rallycross Championship but there are plenty of other events and series to get involved in, such as the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship, at venues across the country.

Sprint

Sprint is a high-speed discipline in which drivers take turns to set a time around a lap of a race circuit or a point-to-point course, with speed being the aim of the game.

Typically held on racing circuits, as well as disused airfields, there are venues spread right across the country. You will get two runs against the clock, with your best time counting in the final results.

A good starting point is the Hillclimb & Sprint Association to find out more.

Hill Climb

Hill climbing is a much-loved part of British motorsport, with a rich heritage and locations around the UK.

Cars tackle an uphill course one-by-one, with the quickest time dictating the winner. Competitors are given practice runs before the competition starts, before a minimum of two competitive runs, with the best time counting in the final results.

Drag racing

Drag racing is the fastest, loudest and perhaps most spectacular of motorsports, pitting drivers and their cars against one another in pairs from a standing start. The standard course is a straight quarter-mile – sometimes shorter, never longer – and the racing format is instant-knockout – meaning the stakes are high!

Get started now

The Motorsport UK Go Racing pack is your first step in obtaining a Motorsport UK Racing Licence (ARDS). You will need to separately book your Novice Driver Training Course (‘ARDS test’) practical advance driving skills session. There are 13 accredited member schools of the British Association of Racing Driver Schools (ARDS).

Get your Race Licence now