- Start Racing
- - How To
Introduction & Race Licence
Looking to take your first steps into circuit racing? Starting out and getting on the grid is generally easier and more straightforward than most people think, and 750MC are here to help throughout the process.
The first step is to read through this page, then either call us on 01332 814548 or email and we can answer questions and guide you through every step of the way. from start to finish.
Step 1) Application: Buy a Go Racing Pack from Motorsport UK (currently £115): This will include a Race Licence Application Form, a Medical Form (if you are 60 or over) and a video outlining some of the things you will come across in your ARDS course. The cost of your first race licence is included in the pack.
Step 2) Sight Test or Medical: Only a vision test is currently required to race in the UK if you are aged between 14 and 59 and have no pre-existing conditions, or a basic medical is required if not from a provider such as D4Drivers
Step 3) ARDS course (Typically £250-£400): Most of the race circuits in the UK run one-day courses. This includes a multiple choice theory test of your basic knowledge of motor sport (flag signals for example) and a practical ‘test’ of your ability to drive safely around a circuit. The questions covered in the theory are all covered in the Go Racing Pack video, and the practical is a test of competency and safety not competitive pace – a straightforward affair for anyone who has done even a very small amount of karting, trackdays, or a pre-test tuition session.
Motorsports School at Mallory Park (Midlands) | Anglesey Circuit (North Wales) | Thruxton (South West) | Croft (North East) | Silverstone (Midlands)
Step 4) Apply for ‘Race Club’ Licence: On the assumption that you pass your ARDS course and there are no issues with the eyesight test or medical (if required), you then send the completed Application Form off to Motorsport UK to apply for your licence. The cost of first issue of this is included with the ‘Go Racing Pack’, and there is a renewal cost for future seasons (currently £104).
Step 5) Visit a 750MC race weekend: Whilst not essential, coming along to a race day in advance is a great way to see how the format works, meet drivers, 750MC and formula representatives – not to mention watching a day of great racing. Check out the full 750MC season calendar here.
The paddock is freely accessible at 750MC events and drivers are always happy to talk about their car and racing. Contact us in advance and let us know if you are planning to come along. We can also arrange for a scrutineer to give your car a pre-meeting check-over if it helps for peace of mind in advance of your first meeting.
Join the 750 Motor Club
All competitors must be a member of the 750 Motor Club.
Racing Membership costs £95 for 12 months from date of joining (or £30 for Birkett/Plum Pudding only) and allows access to a wide range of discounts from motorsport parts companies.
‘Club Membership’ is separate to ‘Series/Championship Registration’ as it allows 750MC to operate as a sporting club.
registration
750 Motor Club currently manages more than 25 formulae, from single-seaters to hot hatchbacks, so there is something to suit all preferences and budgets. We also offer endurance formulae that allow drivers to share races and split the budget: Roadsports, Club Enduro and 116 Trophy. whilst others such as Locost, Ma7da and Swift Sport Challenge allow drivers to alternate race events with the same car.
Each formula page has respective links to results, photos, videos, registration and formula-specific regulations.
A ‘Series’ is ‘a series of unconnected races’ throughout the year, whereas a ‘Championship’ accrues points for each round, with an overall champion at the end of the year. Other than a slight difference in registration fee (typically £100 for a Series and £150 for a Championship), there are few other differences and there is no obligation to do a certain number of rounds – whether you do one or seven events a year is up to you and what your budget or time will allow.
A Single Event Registrationis permitted (typically £35) for a trial or if you just plan to do one race in a season.
Extras
You will be required to have the correct safety clothing (overalls, gloves, frontal head restraint/HANS, helmet), and bear in mind that the standards for these are reviewed regularly. It’s probably advisable to wait until you have your copy of the current ‘NCRs’ (National Competition Rules, formerly known as the Blue Book) before committing to the expense; it also ensures that you are not sold something which is not eligible in car racing – helmets are a prime example.
Consult the NCRs and your chosen formula regulations for more information (or Contact 750MC), but car safety equipment will include an electrical cut-off switch, plumbed-in fire extinguisher (with up-to-date service stamp), roll cage (unless integral), tow straps/eyes, a race harness (in date) and race seat (does NOT need to be in date for UK circuit racing). You will need a race transponder fitted to your car – more details can be found in the ‘Guidelines’ section below.
If working on cars isn’t your cup of tea then there are various teams in the 750MC paddock who will be able to provide support – from help on race weekends to complete ‘Arrive & Drive’ packages. Contact 750MC to find out more.
Guideline costs
One-Off:
Motorsport UK ‘Go Racing’ Pack – Currently £115
ARDS course – From £250
Race Kit – From £950
Racecar – From £4000 secondhand ready to race
Trailer – From £1000 secondhand in Classifieds
Transponder – Hire for £30 per event, or buy from £140 (more info below)
Ongoing, annual:
Motorsport UK ‘Club’ Race Licence – Currently £104
750 Motor Club Membership – £95
Formula Registration – Typically £100 (Series) or £150 (Championship)
Race Entry Fees – £360-£450 approx (per double-header race weekend)
Your Car
Competition cars can either be built from converted road cars or upgraded trackday cars (such as Roadsports or our Clio Sport Championship) or scratch-built (as per longstanding championships such as 750 Formula) or kit cars in the likes of Sport Specials).
Alternatively, there are always plenty of race cars available for sale secondhand, and 750 Motor Club has a formula to accommodate just about everything. The first port of call is the our own website classifieds, with other external options including Race Cars Direct, and even eBay.co.uk.
If building or converting a saloon/hatchback (usually known as a ‘tin-top’) yourself, mandatory upgrades required for safety typically include: Roll cage (approved bolt-in or weld-in to NCR specifications) (from £650), bucket seat (not required to be in-date in UK) (from £100), harness (must be be in-date) (from £150), electrical cut-off switch (from £30), plumbed-in fire extinguisher (from £190), high intensity rain light (from £40).
You will also likely need race-spec brake pads (from £120), a set of upgraded suspension (from £700), and a set of race tyres (from £400 new) but most modifications beyond that are often not essential to get you on the grid.
If you are in any doubt as to what is required, then don’t hesitate to call the 750MC team on 01332 814548 for friendly advice. Remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question – we’re here to help.
Don’t forget that race cars don’t tend to make very good road cars, so you will need to budget for a trailer and make sure that you have a suitable car/motorhome/van with which to tow it. All of the above motorsport classifieds sites are a good source of secondhand equipment.
Transponder Guidelines
It is the competitor’s responsibility to fit a working transponder. This must be installed vertically, no more than 60cm above the track; in a front wheel well or chassis leg/inner wing (note a max temperature of 50°С) and with a clear line of sight to the ground (no metal/plastic in-between). There are a few options:
- AMB TranX 260, a unit available either hard-wired or rechargeable, known as the ‘old red type transponders’. These are no longer available new and normally cost around £400-£500 secondhand.
- The 260 has been superseded by the MyLaps X2 and more straightforward TR2. The cheaper versions of these are subscription-based however they all need to be activated and periodically updated for firmware – buy from Racetransponders.co.uk with a 5% discount as a 750MC member.
- 750MC hires transponders at a charge of £30 per event – book here.
Race Weekend Procedure
Your first event might seem like a daunting affair, but 750MC is here to help. As a general guide, the following will apply to all of our meetings:
– Around one week before each event, ‘Final Instructions’ (universally referred to as ‘finals’) will be posted on an Event Page, which you can find via the Race Calendar. There will also be a separate Paddock Plan, Timetable, Paddock & Garage Plan. These detail all arrangements for the weekend, scrutineering, and details on mandatory briefings required.
– The circuits control the quantity of tickets allocated, but this is usually four per competitor. Nearly all circuits now use e-tickets, which will be sent around one week before each event. You may also receive a paddock pass for a support vehicle/tow car at some circuits. Extra tickets for spectators can be purchased on the gate, or often in advance via the respective circuit.
– As a general rule, access to a circuit is allowed from the early evening of the night before your race. Entry on a Friday night for a Sunday race is usually permitted with tickets, however it may be that your paddock formula space is reserved for another formula on the Saturday, so you may need to temporarily stay in an outer paddock ‘Overflow’ area until it is available on Saturday evening.
– There are usually few limitations on camping in paddocks, as long as the circuit’s own rules are adhered to, with toilet/washroom facilities open throughout. Most 750MC competitors stay on site, and you won’t have to look far to find a barbeque or a pair of helping hands for any last minute car issues.
– It is usually the case that testing is available on the Friday before race meetings. Testing is booked directly with the circuit (with the exception of Croft, which is via 750MC), and it is common for competitors to arrive on the Thursday night before testing and stay right through until Sunday for a double-header race weekend.
– Signing On is carried out in advance through the Booking Portal. This opens seven days before each race meeting and must be done ahead of the event.
– Pre-race scrutineering may be for all drivers or just a selection – ensure you read emails and Final Instructions.
– Event Pages may also show written Bulletins for certain formulae (normally those with pit stops). This page must be checked on the run up to each event, and when on site for updates.
– Saloons/tin-tops generally run dayglo yellow numbers in the rear side windows (large) and in the top left hand corner of the windscreen (small), whilst open/single seaters run black numbers on white backgrounds. All the above are the competitor’s responsibility, however they are always available to buy from 750MC on site at events if required (£1.50 apiece). Novice cross decals are also available and should be displayed until you have completed six successful races.
– Formula sponsor stickers will also be available on site at 750MC Race Admin at any time – these are free and mandatory, and there will be a diagram on all Event Pages to show where they should be positioned.
– If you are hiring a 750MC transponder, these must be booked no later than the Thursday before each event. These must be collected at Race Admin before you head out for qualifying, and returned at the end of the event.
– Race licence upgrade cards can be left at Race Admin and collected at the end of the event. Please ensure you have affixed a photo.
– All formulae will have a prizegiving, usually around 45 minutes after the last race of the event but check Final Instructions or ask at Race Admin. We encourage every competitor to attend regardless of results; not only for the social aspect but also as many formulae have Driver Of The Day Awards, so you never know if there is a prize with your name on it.
– 750MC or Motorsport UK Clerks may contact you by mobile phone during an event. This may be to alert you to a formula issue, remind you of a prizegiving about to take place, or something else. Phones are not permitted to be carried in a car during competition so leave with a family or friend if possible for notifications.
– Read this document covering the Safety basics before your first time out on track.
– If you have any other questions about what to do over the duration of a race weekend, or have an issue that we may be able to help with, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with 750MC for assistance. Call during office hours on 01332 814548, and our Event Mobile at race meetings is 07753 446592 (this is only in use during events).
Glossary
Formal definitions are listed for many aspects of circuit racing in the Motorsport UK NCRs, but some of the more useful general terms to understand are as follows:
Series: An unconnected series of race events in a season, with no points awarded.
Championship: A set of races each season, with points awarded depending on results. At the end of the season, the driver/team with the highest score is the champion.
Membership: 750MC operates as a non-for-profit sporting club, therefore every competitor must be a club member. This lasts for 12 months, rather than ‘per season’.
Registration: Registration takes place each season for your chosen series or championship, or more than one if required.
Race Entry: Once a driver has club membership and registration in place, they may enter a race.
Sign On: Often confused for registration or race entry, this signatory agreement process is now done online in the seven days leading up to each event. Drivers are not permitted on circuit until this has been carried out.
Final Instructions: Typically published one week before each event, these are the crucial details for each race event that must be read in full.
Scrutineering: The process of inspecting a competition car, both pre-race (normally safety aspects, including driver race kit) and post-race (normally eligibility aspects).
- NCRs: National Competition Rules. Formerly know as the ‘Blue Book’, these are the general circuit racing regulations that are enforced alongside series or championship-specific regulations. NCRs are regularly updated; you can find the most up to date version in the Motorsport UK Resource Centre.
season timeline
January: Registration opens for series and championships. The specific date will be promoted in advance via our Newsletter and News page.
January: The race numbers used by competitors in the previous season are reserved for the first week of registration being open, plus the #1 is reserved for the winning driver in a championship if required.
February: Race Entry opens – normally two weeks after Registration. We encourage all drivers to enter all races they plan to contest at this point to help with event planning, and this forms the entry list order. There is no requirement to pay until 21 days before each event, nor does it affect the entry list order until the 21 day payment deadline.
February: Annual Awards Night from previous season. Tickets usually go on sale from the previous November onwards.
March: Typically 750MC has one pre-season trackday each year in March. This is a great event to meet drivers from your formula if you are a newcomer, get to see how it all works, meet staff and have car or kit inspected by scrutineers if required. Since it is a trackday rather than test day, passengers are permitted so ideal for sponsors, family/friends or for an instructor to sit alongside (always recommended at all levels/abilities, and available on the day).
April to October: Race season; most formulae have six to seven events with as close to a month spacing in between as possible.
October: The Birkett Six-Hour Relay – the famous end to the UK’s club racing season. This typically takes place on the last Saturday in October on the full Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.
October: Entry typically opens for the Plum Pudding on Boxing Day (see below).
November: The Race Calendar is typically released for the following season, along with the advertising the dates for when Registration & Race Entry go on sale (see above).
December: Draft regulations are typically available for the following year’s series and championships.
December: The 750MC run Mallory Park’s Plum Pudding races on Boxing Day. Race entry typically opens in October, and the order of entries forms the grid order for the first race.
