Entry Level Motorsport
Discussion
Hi All,
Not sure if this is best place to post, but we'll soon see if this gets moved to a different section or not lol
Looking to get into motorsport in the future and take things a little more seriously, is there anybody in here before that has taken part in something such as the Caterham Academy or an entry level Ginetta series? Are there any others that people would recommend as an entry series? I currently have zero competitive motorsport experience, but have done a fair few track days and absolutely love it. I would most likely be looking at 2025 entry (would be in my mid 20s at that time) as I have a fairly big Double Jaw surgery due in 2024, meaning it would disrupt a season if I was to enter with recovery downtime etc. I also probably wont be able to physically get a cash helmet on at that time either!
There seems to be a fair bit of detail about your initial season online such as support, getting your racing licence etc, but what what about when it ends? Assume you have the opportunity to re-enter once the series is over, or move onto a different one? Assume that you get to keep the car that you pay for, would it be eligible to re enter for the following season, providing that there isn't any massive rule changes. I would like to continue it on past just being a one season foray!
Has anybody got any experience with this and could provide me with further information? I don't personally know anyone from a motorsport background, so can only go off bits that I can find online.
Thanks
Not sure if this is best place to post, but we'll soon see if this gets moved to a different section or not lol
Looking to get into motorsport in the future and take things a little more seriously, is there anybody in here before that has taken part in something such as the Caterham Academy or an entry level Ginetta series? Are there any others that people would recommend as an entry series? I currently have zero competitive motorsport experience, but have done a fair few track days and absolutely love it. I would most likely be looking at 2025 entry (would be in my mid 20s at that time) as I have a fairly big Double Jaw surgery due in 2024, meaning it would disrupt a season if I was to enter with recovery downtime etc. I also probably wont be able to physically get a cash helmet on at that time either!
There seems to be a fair bit of detail about your initial season online such as support, getting your racing licence etc, but what what about when it ends? Assume you have the opportunity to re-enter once the series is over, or move onto a different one? Assume that you get to keep the car that you pay for, would it be eligible to re enter for the following season, providing that there isn't any massive rule changes. I would like to continue it on past just being a one season foray!
Has anybody got any experience with this and could provide me with further information? I don't personally know anyone from a motorsport background, so can only go off bits that I can find online.
Thanks
Hiya,
Fairly good guide here https://www.autosport.com/general/news/how-to-get-...
I can't speak much for the actual racing side (I don't race but I am surrounded by it most weekends!) I would look into doing a couple of arrive and drives first? Lots of teams in stuff like MX5 cup racing and whatnot where you can decide if it's something you really want to get into before you sink loads of money into your own car it and then it transpires you're not that much of a fan!
Example of Arrive and Drive - https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/80197/br...
Fairly good guide here https://www.autosport.com/general/news/how-to-get-...
I can't speak much for the actual racing side (I don't race but I am surrounded by it most weekends!) I would look into doing a couple of arrive and drives first? Lots of teams in stuff like MX5 cup racing and whatnot where you can decide if it's something you really want to get into before you sink loads of money into your own car it and then it transpires you're not that much of a fan!
Example of Arrive and Drive - https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/80197/br...
A lot will depend on your budget! When I first started looking into getting circuit racing 21 years ago I looked at the Caterham Adademy as it seemed cheap, but while the car and fees seemed reasonable, there would be a lot of testing/setup work just not to be last in the pack. Fortunately I then discovered cheaper club racing and getting the car prep/engineering bug in the form of a knackered Fiesta which was more fun IMHO as was not in interested in a 'career' in motorsport, just an (expensive) hobby.
If you're not interesting in spannering, then you would need to go down the arrive and drive route by renting the car for the race weekend, but even that can be done at club level.
If you're not interesting in spannering, then you would need to go down the arrive and drive route by renting the car for the race weekend, but even that can be done at club level.
It’s a cliche but sprints and hillclimbs are really worth looking at. You get a nice atmosphere, a competitive angle and reduced risk of an accident.
Last time I did the maths, “entry level racing”, from scratch, was going to cost about £12k to get on the grid. That package included the purchase of a race prepd Clio 182, trailer, tow hitch for current road car, helmet and race gear, ARDS test, championship registration and first race fee….
£40k for a season in a Caterham is madness imho, even if you do have a £25k Caterham at the end of it.
Most arrive and drive saloon and sports cars will be £1k per weekend.
Last time I did the maths, “entry level racing”, from scratch, was going to cost about £12k to get on the grid. That package included the purchase of a race prepd Clio 182, trailer, tow hitch for current road car, helmet and race gear, ARDS test, championship registration and first race fee….
£40k for a season in a Caterham is madness imho, even if you do have a £25k Caterham at the end of it.
Most arrive and drive saloon and sports cars will be £1k per weekend.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 11th July 13:54
Joeywinkle said:
I would look into doing a couple of arrive and drives first? Lots of teams in stuff like MX5 cup racing and whatnot where you can decide if it's something you really want to get into before you sink loads of money into your own car it and then it transpires you're not that much of a fan!
I am not sure that you can enter the Caterham Academy if you have held a race licence before, so you couldn’t enter the Academy once you have done some arrive and drives.Don’t know about the Ginetta equivelant.
F12DDE said:
Hi All,
Not sure if this is best place to post, but we'll soon see if this gets moved to a different section or not lol
Looking to get into motorsport in the future and take things a little more seriously, is there anybody in here before that has taken part in something such as the Caterham Academy or an entry level Ginetta series? Are there any others that people would recommend as an entry series? I currently have zero competitive motorsport experience, but have done a fair few track days and absolutely love it. I would most likely be looking at 2025 entry (would be in my mid 20s at that time) as I have a fairly big Double Jaw surgery due in 2024, meaning it would disrupt a season if I was to enter with recovery downtime etc. I also probably wont be able to physically get a cash helmet on at that time either!
There seems to be a fair bit of detail about your initial season online such as support, getting your racing licence etc, but what what about when it ends? Assume you have the opportunity to re-enter once the series is over, or move onto a different one? Assume that you get to keep the car that you pay for, would it be eligible to re enter for the following season, providing that there isn't any massive rule changes. I would like to continue it on past just being a one season foray!
Has anybody got any experience with this and could provide me with further information? I don't personally know anyone from a motorsport background, so can only go off bits that I can find online.
Thanks
Don’t think you can re-enter the Caterham Academy after you have done a season in it. Don’t know about the Ginetta equivalent.Not sure if this is best place to post, but we'll soon see if this gets moved to a different section or not lol
Looking to get into motorsport in the future and take things a little more seriously, is there anybody in here before that has taken part in something such as the Caterham Academy or an entry level Ginetta series? Are there any others that people would recommend as an entry series? I currently have zero competitive motorsport experience, but have done a fair few track days and absolutely love it. I would most likely be looking at 2025 entry (would be in my mid 20s at that time) as I have a fairly big Double Jaw surgery due in 2024, meaning it would disrupt a season if I was to enter with recovery downtime etc. I also probably wont be able to physically get a cash helmet on at that time either!
There seems to be a fair bit of detail about your initial season online such as support, getting your racing licence etc, but what what about when it ends? Assume you have the opportunity to re-enter once the series is over, or move onto a different one? Assume that you get to keep the car that you pay for, would it be eligible to re enter for the following season, providing that there isn't any massive rule changes. I would like to continue it on past just being a one season foray!
Has anybody got any experience with this and could provide me with further information? I don't personally know anyone from a motorsport background, so can only go off bits that I can find online.
Thanks
In the Caterham, yes, you get to keep the car and can race that with the Caterham Graduates Racing Club. (CGRC) or modify the car to move up in to other official Caterham championships, or you could enter it in something like CSCC Magnificent 7s club series.
Ginettas can be raced in official Ginetta series and there are also loads of other places to race them, depending on the model, from Britcar to MSV Track Day Trophy, to CSCC New Millenium, to CNC Heads NW Saloons and Sports etc etc etc.
Thought about autograss?
Meetings throughout the year from March to November.
You can ick up a class one ready to race for around £1000
Licence is about £90 for the year and £20 entry and signing on fee.
www.national-autograss.com
Been involved in it since i was 6!! 41 years ago......
Tom
Meetings throughout the year from March to November.
You can ick up a class one ready to race for around £1000
Licence is about £90 for the year and £20 entry and signing on fee.
www.national-autograss.com
Been involved in it since i was 6!! 41 years ago......
Tom
Thanks for all of your suggestions, much appreciated
I hadn't though of hill climbs or autocross etc, was mainly looking at circuit racing so that was a good insight, thank you for that.
The arrive and drive suggestions look ideal to gain some experience to be fair, but then I believe this would prevent me from entering any novice series where you are not allowed to have raced before. I'd also be the first to admit that I'm not very mechanically inclined, so someone that knows what they are doing can look after the car for me
Anyone know if doing some competitive Karting would prevent me from entering a novice competitive racing series.
Does karting count as competitive car driving??
I hadn't though of hill climbs or autocross etc, was mainly looking at circuit racing so that was a good insight, thank you for that.
The arrive and drive suggestions look ideal to gain some experience to be fair, but then I believe this would prevent me from entering any novice series where you are not allowed to have raced before. I'd also be the first to admit that I'm not very mechanically inclined, so someone that knows what they are doing can look after the car for me
Anyone know if doing some competitive Karting would prevent me from entering a novice competitive racing series.
Does karting count as competitive car driving??
F12DDE said:
....
Does karting count as competitive car driving??
You'd still have to do an ARDS test even if you were karting world champion. Does karting count as competitive car driving??
Also, where would they draw the line if karting experience counted: winning a race against your fat mate, doing some local rental kart races, doing Club100, doing the proper FIA karting championship?
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff