Beginner guides
How to get into
motorsport
Every discipline, from the first taster to your first race: the licence, the minimum age, the kit and where to enter, checked against the governing bodies' own pages.
Answers
How to watchFree motorsport on UK TVWhich F1, MotoGP, BTCC, BSB, WorldSBK, Formula E and WRC coverage is free to watch in the UK, on which channel, and which series have no free option. With sources.Getting startedThe cheapest ways into motorsportLicence, entry and first-event costs for karting, road rallying, car trials, drag racing, autograss, motocross and more, from the governing bodies' and organisers' own published figures.Getting startedHow young can you start?The minimum age to compete in UK karting, motocross, trials, rallying, circuit racing, drag racing and more, with the licence you need and the official source for each.Live timingHow to follow a race liveWhat a live timing board shows, where the data comes from, and how to follow UK club racing, karting and bike meetings live from the grandstand or your sofa, free.Going racingYour first race meetingBuying tickets, children's prices, parking, food, the paddock and what's allowed at a UK circuit, from Brands Hatch's own visitor rules, plus this weekend's meetings.Getting startedWhich licence do you need?Motorsport UK, ACU, AMCA, NASA and promoter licences for karting, circuit racing, rallying, bikes, motocross, oval racing and more: what each covers, what it costs and how to get it.Getting startedThe kit you needThe safety kit each UK motorsport discipline requires, from karting rib protectors to FHRs and fireproof overalls for circuit racing, from the governing bodies' own lists.Getting startedHow to become a racing driverFrom a track day or karting to your first club race: the ARDS test, the Race Club licence, choosing a championship and what a first season costs, from Motorsport UK and the 750 Motor Club.What's onMotorsport in winterKarting, trials and more keep going through the UK winter. What's on from November to February, by discipline, from the AllRace calendar.Getting involvedHow to become a marshalMarshalling puts you at the heart of UK motorsport without racing, with the best view at the circuit. How to start with a club taster day, do Motorsport UK's online accreditation and register.ExplainedEvery type of motorsportThe fourteen kinds of UK motorsport, from circuit racing and karting to rallying, hillclimbs, drag racing, drifting, trials and autograss: what each is, who runs it and how young you can start.ExplainedRacing flags explainedYellow, double yellow, red, blue, white, black, the orange disc, Code 60 and the chequered flag: what each means, straight from Motorsport UK's circuit racing regulations.Getting involvedHow to join a motor clubMotor clubs run most of the UK's 5,000 motorsport events a year. How to find one near you, what membership leads to, and the club events you can enter in a standard road car.How to watchHow to watch Le MansWhere the Le Mans 24 Hours and the rest of the World Endurance Championship are shown in the UK, whether there is a free option, and the race times in UK time.ExplainedMotorsport terms explainedPole, gap, interval, fastest lap, DNF, grid penalty, formation lap, safety car, Code 60 and more: the words you'll see on a timing board, in plain English.
Beginner guides by discipline
How to get into kartingThe cheapest first step is an arrive-and-drive session at a local kart track, with no need to own a kart or kit. To race your own kart at Motorsport UK club meetings you buy the first kart licence pack, pass the ARKS test and race with novice plates for your first events.From age 6Kart Inter ClubMotorsport UKHow to get into motor racingThe cheapest first step is a track day in your own road car, which needs a full driving licence and a helmet but no race licence. To race you buy Motorsport UK's first race licence pack, pass the ARDS Novice Driver Training Course, and enter a club championship such as those run by the 750 Motor Club.From age 14Race ClubMotorsport UKHow to get into rallyingThe cheapest way in is road rallying or navigating in an ordinary road car on a free Motorsport UK RS Clubman licence, with entry fees starting at about £30. To drive on special stages you buy the first stage rally licence pack and pass the BARS test, while co-driving on single-venue stage rallies needs only an RS Inter Club licence.From age 12RS Clubman (road) · RS Inter Club (stage)Motorsport UKHow to get into hillclimbs and sprintsThe cheapest start is a road-car class at a local club event on an RS Inter Club licence, which needs no test and is applied for online. At Harewood you can try the hill first in your own road car at a Driving Academy day with no competition licence.From age 14RS Inter ClubMotorsport UKHow to get into historic racingHistoric racing uses the same Motorsport UK race licence route as modern circuit racing: starter pack, ARDS test, then the Race Club licence. The main extra step is getting the car the right eligibility papers for your chosen club, such as the HSCC Vehicle Identification Form or the VSCC Buff Form.From age 14Race ClubMotorsport UKHow to get into driftingThe cheapest realistic start is a beginner training session in a venue's own car, or an open practice day in your own car if it meets the venue's safety rules. Practice days need a full driving licence rather than a competition licence.From age 16Driving licence for practice daysMotorsport UKHow to get into drag racingThe cheapest first step is a Run What Ya Brung day at Santa Pod Raceway, where you drive your own road car down the quarter mile with a full driving licence and a helmet, no race licence needed. To race at permitted events you then need a Motorsport UK (cars) or ACU (bikes) licence, Santa Pod Racers Club membership and a set of observed runs.From age 18None for Run What Ya BrungMotorsport UKHow to get into motorcycle racingThe standard route into UK motorcycle road racing is an ACU Road Race Competition Licence: join an ACU-affiliated club, complete the online Competitor Training Course (CTC) and the on-track Basic Rider Assessment (BRA), then apply for a Novice licence and race at club meetings in an orange vest. The cheapest realistic first step is a combined CTC/BRA course; PDMCC lists £155 all-in for 2026, and you pay the ACU licence fee (£98 for 2026) separately.From age 13ACU Novice licenceACU / MCRCBHow to get into motocrossMost UK riders start motocross by joining a club and taking out a licence with either the ACU or the AMCA, then entering club meetings in the beginner or Junior class. Get some track time first: the AMCA advises riders to have track experience before joining, and points complete beginners aged 15 and over to Yamaha motocross experiences.From age 5ACU or AMCA licenceACU / AMCAHow to get into enduroHare and hounds events are the usual way into enduro: short-course races where you complete as many laps as possible in a set time, often with a novice or sportsman course and an ACU one-day licence available with the entry. Time card enduros that use public roads have a minimum age of 16 under the ACU and need a road-legal, insured bike on road-tyres.From age 11ACU licence or one-event licenceACUHow to get into trialsMotorcycle trials is one of the easiest ways into off-road motorsport: join an ACU or AMCA club, take out a club trials registration (£35 for 2026 with the ACU) and ride the novice route at a Sunday club trial. Car trials run under Motorsport UK need only a free RS Clubman licence and can be done in an ordinary two-wheel-drive road car with a passenger.From age 4ACU Trials RegistrationMotorsport UK / ACUHow to get into stock car racing and speedwayFor bangers and stock cars, the cheapest realistic start is an entry-level formula at an ORCi-sanctioned promoter, such as Spedeworth's 'Back To Basics' Bangers, which is aimed at novices and accepts drivers on a £32-per-meeting day licence. For motorcycle speedway, start at a training school or experience day where hire bikes and kit are available; at Scunthorpe no licence is needed at first thanks to three free day permits.From age 11Promoter licence or day licenceORCi / SCBHow to get into autograssAutograss is run by NASA through affiliated clubs: join your local club as a racing member, take out a NASA licence through the club, and you can race at any NASA meeting in a car built to the National Construction Rules. Class 1 (near-standard small saloons such as 1000cc Minis) is the usual entry point; one club says the basic classes can be started for under £500.From age 10NASA Competition LicenceNASAHow to get into rallycrossRallycross needs a Motorsport UK RS Inter Club licence (no test required, listed at £85, from age 14), and most newcomers start at club level with the BTRDA Rallycross Championship or Lydden Hill Motorsport Club events. To try it before buying a car, book a Swift rallycross tuition or test day at Lydden Hill, or rent an arrive-and-drive car in the Swift series.From age 14RS Inter ClubMotorsport UK