How I Learned to Become a Racing Driver in a Single Day

"I am not here to watch the Revival; the vintage motoring meetup which draws a crowd of thousands every year. I am not here, as many are, for a track day, driving their own machines around this technical circuit. Rather, I am here to take my first step to becoming a racing driver. Rain was not supposed to be part of the plan."

"The ARDS test is what you need to pass to apply for your first racing license, and it comes in two parts. First, a theory, in which you must know the correct marshal flags inside out. If you get one of the questions on flags wrong, you fail the whole thing. The second half is an on-track assessment, where an instructor grades your awareness, consistency, knowledge of the racing line, and your general ability to keep the car safely on course."

"Goodwood is a deceptively tricky circuit. It is a fast, flowing track, and while relatively flat, it has a few bumps that can catch you off guard. It doesn't have much run-off either, so if you find yourself with a wheel on the grass, you can be in big trouble. It is a unique place and is the only circuit in the world to remain exactly in its original form."

A novice attends a Novice Driver Training Course and ARDS test at Goodwood to become a racing driver. Rain begins during the theory portion. The ARDS requires passing a theory exam, including exact knowledge of marshal flags, and an on-track assessment of awareness, consistency, racing-line knowledge and ability to keep the car safely on course. Goodwood is a fast, flowing circuit with bumps and limited run-off that can punish errors. The track opened after WWII with its inaugural event in 1948 and hosted the UK’s first post-war race with 15,000 spectators. Silverstone became home to F1 while Goodwood remained a proving ground for sports cars and non-championship races.

Read at Elite Traveler