Racing can seem an unachievable dream, but it really isn’t that scary to get started. The MINI Challenge prides itself on bring new drivers to racing, from all walks of life. Be it the track day hound who needs the next challenge, the road car enthusiast, corporate karter, or aspiring 16 year old young gun the MINI Challenge has the infra structure to guide, look after and nurture new race drivers.

Let’s assume you’ve got the MINI Challenge itch and it needs scratching, how do you get to go racing. Try this, we think it works.

• Contact the MINI Challenge office, have a chat about what you want from racing and how best to achieve that. 01273 446666
• We will encourage you to have a ‘try out’ in a race car with a race team. This will be an informal day with instruction available and give you an insight into all the behind scenes workings of a team. You can always share the day with a like minded friend.
• After a ‘try out’ you will know if racing is for you, the majority of people already know but should you not be comfortable then you’ve just had a good day out in a race car on circuit and no harm done.
• The next stage for the budding driver is to sit down and think through how best to go racing and how to pay for it. We can’t help pay for it but here are some options on how to go about it.
• ‘Arrive & Drive’ The top service, you just drive. A team will own the car, prepare it, transports it, engineering it at the event, repair it if required, supply tyres, fuel and consumables. If this is where you want to be contact the challenge office for contact details of teams supplying this service.
• You buy a race car, but have it looked after by a race team. This can be on the basis of leaving the car with them all season or you transport your car along to each event leaving you free to test independently between events if you wish.
• Buy a car and run it yourself. You would need some help with you at the events, but how you decide to go racing should not affect your car’s performance. The MINI Challenge has been won in the past by a ‘man and a van’ set up, obviously the car needs to be engineered properly, but it’s on the circuit that counts.
• Having understood and planned the practical side of going racing you now need to obtain a race license. The Motor Sports Association (MSA) run our sport and deal with all licensing. Click here and purchase a ‘Go racing’ pack, this will explain the process of obtaining a race license. You will need to attend an ARDS course, which consists of a theory test and practical test on circuit. You will need a medical as well. Click here for for course dates and costs.

Once you have obtained your race license from the MSA you can legally go racing. You can also participate in circuit test days, these are run under race rules as opposed to track day rules, so you can truly measure your pace with proper timing equipment. These are only available to race license holders.

Having just reread this, it still seems rather daunting. However, do not despair, we are here in the MINI Challenge office to help you through the process. It’s all part of the service, contact us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Happy racing!