So I want to win.
Discussion
This is a passion that I'd had since I was 2 years old. I am currently 19 years old. Might be a little too late to start, but I need to give it a try. I own an MX-5 and have some knowledge of sporty driving, I drive on mountain roads and take occasional instructions. Nothing professional thus far. I want to go to a professional racing academy, something that'll help me get all the way up to F1's. I don't know whether I'm talented or not, but I MUST give it a try. I know such academies are expensive, luckily I do have the funds.
Where is the best place in the world to study and get an FIA license?
Where is the best place in the world to study and get an FIA license?
http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle.a...
Here you go. You take the National B licence, race a bit, and then you can upgrade to a National A licence, which allows you to do some bigger events. Do a few of them and you can upgrade to an International C Licence, and then you can race anywhere. Then you need to win a lot, upgrade through International B to International A, and drive 300km in an F1 car, before you can get a super licence. So basically like Gran Turismo.
Here you go. You take the National B licence, race a bit, and then you can upgrade to a National A licence, which allows you to do some bigger events. Do a few of them and you can upgrade to an International C Licence, and then you can race anywhere. Then you need to win a lot, upgrade through International B to International A, and drive 300km in an F1 car, before you can get a super licence. So basically like Gran Turismo.
notepad said:
I don't have a particular budget, although I am aware it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to start off. If I'll be good I'll find sponsers, if not - I'll find another career. In other words - I can afford to learn to drive, but not to sponser-self.
That's not the way it works. Think about it the other way around - if you can find sponsors, you'll be good.The Monoposto Racing Club is one of the cheapest ways of getting on track.
http://www.monoposto.co.uk/
But even there you'll need about £2500 for fees, roughly £4k to buy a car that probably won't be competitive, then you need a trailer and a car to tow it with, fuel to get to the races, a helmet, overalls, tyres, bacon sandwiches, the list goes on and on. For that first "cheap" season of club racing it'll be around £10k. Expect it to be much more expensive if you move up into a higher formula.
notepad said:
A little something I forgot to mention, I do not live in the UK. I actually live in Israel. And so I would have to travel to Europe. Therefore, anything that suits my situation?
Pretty much the same really - the UK is still the place that many people come from all over the world to learn their trade. You might also look at Germany too. It'll come down to what visa you can get, I guess. I'm sorry to be the one who has to say this but... 19 year old mx-5 driver who has never driven a race car to F1 driver with "tens of thousands of dollars"?
You're dreaming. Lower your sights. Go racing for the sake of enjoying racing and not with some misguided belief that you've a future career in F1.
You're dreaming. Lower your sights. Go racing for the sake of enjoying racing and not with some misguided belief that you've a future career in F1.
I'm fairly sure that the majority of current F1 drivers were racing (and winning) in karts before they had reached ten years old - quite simply, they have racing in their blood - by the time they are in F1, racing is all they've done for a decade or more.
During this time, they ( and often their families) have endured massive financial hardship and personal sacrifice.
For every driver in F1, there will be dozens, if not hundreds that have tried and failed.
Now, if you had said that you had driven your MX 5 in local sprints and hillclimbs and won your class against more powerful machinery, then there may be the faintest glimmer of further potential, but in all honesty, it's still probably too late.
Like most PHers, I think I'm a good driver. I've won various competitions, including Sprints, I've done trackdays and had very positive comments from race instructors. However, when I was taken round Rockingham in my own car by Matt Neal, it was immediately apparent that he was in a completely different league of talent. I could not believe that my car was capable of what it did in Matt's hands. However, I would imagine that even he would be made to look silly by the vast majority of F1 drivers - the step from tin-tops to aero-assisted single seaters is massive.
My recommendation would be to get into a very low formula to see if you have what it takes to be competitive - if you do, then look to spending more on something quicker, but I would suggest lowering your sights (or maybe hoping on a lottery win)
Good luck
During this time, they ( and often their families) have endured massive financial hardship and personal sacrifice.
For every driver in F1, there will be dozens, if not hundreds that have tried and failed.
Now, if you had said that you had driven your MX 5 in local sprints and hillclimbs and won your class against more powerful machinery, then there may be the faintest glimmer of further potential, but in all honesty, it's still probably too late.
Like most PHers, I think I'm a good driver. I've won various competitions, including Sprints, I've done trackdays and had very positive comments from race instructors. However, when I was taken round Rockingham in my own car by Matt Neal, it was immediately apparent that he was in a completely different league of talent. I could not believe that my car was capable of what it did in Matt's hands. However, I would imagine that even he would be made to look silly by the vast majority of F1 drivers - the step from tin-tops to aero-assisted single seaters is massive.
My recommendation would be to get into a very low formula to see if you have what it takes to be competitive - if you do, then look to spending more on something quicker, but I would suggest lowering your sights (or maybe hoping on a lottery win)
Good luck
Nigel_o, that was precisely what I meant. I may or may not be gifted, but I'll never know until I try. Maybe today's F1 drivers drove karts at the age of 6, but perhaps in 20 years they'd be the guys who won arcade games. Which is what I did as a little boy. I just need to find out if I'm capable of it before I rule it out.
So, is there some sort of an academy that does extensive 3-7 days courses in fast open wheelers that'll help me find out whether I'm talented or not, or at the very least - simply make me a much better driver?
So, is there some sort of an academy that does extensive 3-7 days courses in fast open wheelers that'll help me find out whether I'm talented or not, or at the very least - simply make me a much better driver?
notepad said:
Nigel_o, that was precisely what I meant. I may or may not be gifted, but I'll never know until I try. Maybe today's F1 drivers drove karts at the age of 6, but perhaps in 20 years they'd be the guys who won arcade games. Which is what I did as a little boy. I just need to find out if I'm capable of it before I rule it out.
So, is there some sort of an academy that does extensive 3-7 days courses in fast open wheelers that'll help me find out whether I'm talented or not, or at the very least - simply make me a much better driver?
As it turns out, the Wikipedia article I lifted the Damon Hill picture from offers a suggestion, albeit indirectly.So, is there some sort of an academy that does extensive 3-7 days courses in fast open wheelers that'll help me find out whether I'm talented or not, or at the very least - simply make me a much better driver?
http://www.autosportacademy.com/gb/training/to-bec...
55,000 Euros for the season.
notepad said:
This is a passion that I'd had since I was 2 years old. I am currently 19 years old. Might be a little too late to start, but I need to give it a try. I own an MX-5 and have some knowledge of sporty driving, I drive on mountain roads and take occasional instructions. Nothing professional thus far. I want to go to a professional racing academy, something that'll help me get all the way up to F1's. I don't know whether I'm talented or not, but I MUST give it a try. I know such academies are expensive, luckily I do have the funds.
Where is the best place in the world to study and get an FIA license?
You're 19 and use the phrase 'thus far' and 'I know such academies'?! Is one going to get daddy to pay?Where is the best place in the world to study and get an FIA license?
I'm only joking mate.
No idea outside of britland, but if you can travel to the UK, you have Caterham, Radical and I think Ginetta that have novice series of various budgets.
If you are good you will win, if not you will at least have a fantastic time!
I'd of course recommend the Radicals as they are a bit of a favourite of mine!!
Bert
If you are good you will win, if not you will at least have a fantastic time!
I'd of course recommend the Radicals as they are a bit of a favourite of mine!!
Bert
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