Auto Racing: race car driver, apprentice mechanic, race car driver

Question
hello Adam

Im a 17 year old apprentice mechanic, and my biggest interest has always been racing. I woundering there is any way i can start learnin about becoming a F1 driver before 18?

Answer
Thank you Szalai,

The answer to your question rather depends on which country you are in. The following answer assumes you are in the UK. If not, then my advice would be different as teh opportunities differ a little by country.

My recommendation is that you start with one of the racing schools and attend their course (I presume there are some where you are not in the UK). 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, though this may be different elsewhere.
If you were to go down this route you may be in shape to drive a few races towards the end of the current racing season.

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
(2006)championship.

Having spoken to some reputable team's managers in the past (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 UK 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 UK pounds and
involves about 6 races.

If you are interested in UK alternatives, Jonathan Palmer has a facility in Bedfordhire, there is also the Aintree Racing School(Liverpool), the formally) Brands Hatch circuits of Brands Hatch (Kent), Snetterton Norforlk), Cadwell (Lincs), Donington (Derbs) and Oulton (Cheshire).

I hope this is OK for you, good luck with your racing aspirations!

Adam