Question Hey I live in the U.S and I too are a huge fan of formula one. I recently graduated from high school and decided what it is that I would want to do with my life. The only thing I ever thought about doing was racing, so I figured that I needed to find a good school. Though most of the formula racing schools are so much money in the U.S because here they are huge on NASCAR. I was wondering if You would have any idea of a school i could attend to start off racing. I have no problem moving to England since some of my family lives there.
AnswerHello Daniel, here are a few ponters for you (based on advice I recently gave to a similar question).
I agree that as a recommendation you can start with one of the racing schools and attend their course. This will take several months and teach you about driving and racing a single seater formula racing car. In the UK this also enables you to get your racing licence, which you'll need before you can compete. The season gere is just finishing so realistically you should be tageting the '07 season, which starts in March.
If you do very well at a Racing School you can sometimes win a drive for the following season in a competitive car (although only a few of the schools in the UK offer this scholarship - Silverstone don't).
If you are able to secure a budget, then approaching a good team in the first instance might be a way forward but not many will want to take on a novice. They will certainly I am sure help you go testing to see how you get on and can give you some good advice, and of course, if you are both impressed, could run you in some races or enter you in a (2007)championship.
Having spoken to some reputable team's managers (Alan Docking Racing and Woodcote Racing) to ask them about how a novice should ideally begin, they both told me that starting with the racing school is best. One also mentioned that a parallel programme of karting would be very advisable, suggesting that ideally you should be karting 2-3 times/week and then also doing the single seater racing school at the same time. One of the team managers said that after the racing school course is finished, he could provide a car and the back-up to test with, and can also coach a young driver with a view to preparing them for entering a championship, depending on talent too of course!
I have spoken with the Silverstone Racing School's top man Ken Bowes. SRS say they would start a novice off with an intensive 5 day course where they will receive full training/coaching and they will supply the necessary kit and racing licence application etc. The 5 day course culminates in a race against the other students. The cost is £3100 (pounds) and they are available at fairly regular intervals through the year.
SRS recommend that, depending on how a driver gets on in the 5 day course, they next offer a programme of races to help the drivers apply the skills and continue their learning. The costs will be around £7-8000 (pounds) and involve about 6 races.
If you are interested in UK alternatives, Jonathan Palmer has a facility in Bedfordshire, there is also the Aintree Racing School(Liverpool), Brands Hatch (Kent), Snetterton (Norforlk), Cadwell (Lincs), Donington (Derbs) and Oulton (Cheshire). All tracks' contact details should be available on teh web but I can help you if you want.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Adam
