Motorsport is unique in that it allows young people to get behind the wheel years before they are able to drive on the roads.
  • With opportunities to drive on offroad events at 13, to karting at six, there is something for everyone!
  • There a multitude of events out there for those wishing to navigate or passenger on events.
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Reasons to get your youngsters involved!

1

Competing in motorsport from a young age can teach basic car control skills and enable young drivers to be safer when they do learn to drive.

2

Navigation events are a great way to learn map reading skills

3

Motorsport is a great way to develop commitment and discipline

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6 - 12 Years Old

Passenger

From two-years-old children can sit as a rear passenger on Road and Navigational Rallies, Car Trials, Classic Trials, and Cross Country Tyro events. At 12-years-old, one can sit as front passenger on a Car Trial or Production Car Autotest.

Karting

The Bambino karting class is specifically designed for 6–8-year-olds to get their first experience of karting. The class uses a kart that is the correct size and not to heavy for young drivers. At eight years old, children can move into the Cadet karting class.

Once a child is eight-years-old there are many different karting championships available to them, such as the cadet karting class in the British Indoor Karting Championship, and British Karting Championships.

Junior Dragsters

The Junior Dragsters class invites children from eight-years-old to take on the quarter-mile strip in miniature versions of top-fuel cars.

Navigate on Road Rallies

For Road Rallies on the public highway the emphasis is as much on navigation as driving skill. The navigator, who can be as young as 12, uses Ordnance Survey maps to direct the driver around the route.

Cross Country Tyro

A child may passenger on a Tyro Trial from the age of 12.

13 - 15 Years Old

AutoSOLO/Production Car Autotest

AutoSOLOs and Autotests are a great way to experience competitive motorsport on a budget. Drivers memorise and complete a course laid out in cones against the clock. Drivers can be as young as 14 and can compete in a standard road car.

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Car Trial

Trialling is all about how far you go rather than how fast you get there. At 14-years-old a child can get behind the wheel and take to the hills.

Cross Country Tyro

From the age of 13, a child can drive on a Tyro Trial. Tyro events are aimed at young drivers, with gentle off-road sections that are taxing enough to get to grips with the car without inflicting damage (reckless driving aside).

Junior Autocross & Rallycross

Autocross involves tackling a temporary course, usually between 800 and 1200 metres long in a grass or stubble field, against the clock.

Rallycross is a combination of circuit racing and rallying. Up to eight cars go wheel-to-wheel around a circuit that combines both tarmac and gravel.

Find out more 

Junior Hill Climb & Sprint

Hill Climb and Sprinting are popular disciplines that see competitors complete a course against the clock. Children can get behind the wheel from 14-years-old at junior events.

Passenger

At 14-years-old a child can passenger on classic, cross country, and sporting trials.

Race

From 14-years-old a child can compete in junior race championships, such as Junior Saloon Cars, Fiesta Junior, and from 15-years-old a child can compete in British F4.

Stage Rallying

The Formula 1000 Junior Rally Championship and the Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge allow those aged 14-17 to compete as a driver on stage rally events in cars up to one litre in capacity. From 14 children can also navigate on single-venue rallies.

16 - 18 Years Old

Autotest

Autotests are an advanced version of AutoSOLOs. Young people can compete from 16-years-old.

Cross Country

At 17-years-old a young person can drive on off-road Safaris and Hill Rally events. They must also hold a driving licence.

Racing

From 16-years-old a teenager can compete in senior circuit racing events, from club level to national championships and beyond.

Rally

The Formula 1000 Junior Rally Championship and the Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge allow those aged 14-17 to compete as a driver on stage rally events in cars up to one litre in capacity. At 16, they can co-drive on a stage rally. They can continue to compete as a driver in these Junior Stage Rallies until the end of the year in which they turn 17. From 17 years old, drivers holding a driving licence can drive on road and stage rally events.

Sporting Trial

Sporting trials involve driving up challenging, muddy, hills in specialist vehicles. Teenagers can get behind the wheel from 16-years-old.

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