How do racer's careers start?

[s4m]

Hey, have u guys ever wondered how these guys started their racing careers? Do they have driving sch or something? N im talking about other kind of races too like WRC etc.

[taz_rocks_miami]

It depends, in the US some drivers start off in locar 1/4 mile dirt ovals, sprint cars and if they're good the might make it to NASCAR. Some begin racing in SCCA local and regional events and later move up to the pros. I've heard about a lot of Indy drivers start off in Go Karts, F3000 and F2000.

I guess the ways of getting into racing are as varied as the many classes of racing categories

[Mustang]

well as many of you know im starting rallying in a few months once ive got my car built

the good ol' Rickard Burns didnt start driving till he was 19 i dont think and then he had something to do with the rallying that i will be doing but not sure what so you never kow, if ive got the tallent then maybee, jsut amybee...

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by Mustang

if ive got the tallent then maybee, jsut amybee...

Nope, just cancel that dream.

[s4m]

haha thats mean. u never know maybe 5 yrs down the road he might just become famous

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by s4m

haha thats mean. u never know maybe 5 yrs down the road he might just become famous

No, I'm 100% right.

Most racers start w/ Karting though, if you were still interested. I think the Schumi's started at 6.

[Matra et Alpine]

Originally Posted by Rockefella

No, I'm 100% right.

Most racers start w/ Karting though, if you were still interested. I think the Schumi's started at 6.

Ben Collin's doing pretty well for himself having only started racing at 18.
As well as on the podium in most of his single seater races and finishing in the top 3 in the champion ships for 3 or 4 years he did Le Mans and European GT1 with some high finishing. A good number of top finishes in the Indy Lights at the same time as doing well in F3 and F3000 testing. A good number of top finishes and wins in the World Sport car series too in recent years and some F1 testing as well. AND of course he's the current Stig ( well he's the favourite, nobody has 100% confirmed anything yet )

So not bad for someone who didn't sit in a racing car till he was 18

Go for the dreams, even if F1 isn't managed, climbing the heights and gaining the life experience trying to get there will be worth it.

on top of that NOBODY can start closed stage rallying youn ANYWAY.
So the WRC is even MORE littered with "late starting" drivers

[Deckard]

Usually a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ goes a long way too!

[fpv_gtho]

Most drivers here who want any sort of a chance need a private jet All the action's in Europe and thats a fair bit of travelling to do if you dont plan on shifting there permanently

On a more serious note, most circuit racers i know who have gotten serious got into karts before they were 15, thats on a competition level, and usually having one a state or regional title, depending where you live. Around here it gets serious with state titles, i could well imagine a place will far less land mass would value regional titles moreso

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Rockefella

Nope, just cancel that dream.

haha alrite then look at this... these are the guys that compete in the same championship

and you never know i might be lucky

Originally Posted by rally

No not girls, but the ral talent that is in our challenge. The BMWs are really close, the 1400s have a hard core of 5 or 6 crews that are swopping times but its the 1600s that is fascinating.

When Nippers decided to miss this year and Robbie dale moved to BRC, it was believed the challenge would be easier to win! WRONG!!!

Look at the talent already, we really are the fastest championship in britain, Fast lad George Thomas, went to the Silkolene 1400s, he is winning it outright, Tom Curtis started in 1600s, now 1900s and Prospeed Scholarship £30000 winner, Stefan and Ed Robinson were finalists. Robbie is leading the F2000 BRC Tables, but the Challenge is where it is at. There are up to 20 drivers capable of winning, in Silkolene there are 4-5, in BRC 2-3 , us 20!!!!!!!

You Have Winstanley/Bye, Bayliss/Mason. Nutt/Haven, Johnston/Flynn, McVay/Cadwallader, Robinson/Youd, Wilson/Jenkins, Paerce/Humble, Moffat/Davies,. Cook, Manuel, Walster/Walker, and Hancke/Millard[ 2 of who are only 18, Walster & Robinson]. WOW, then there is Hattersley/Briggs, Gould/Collis, Greenall,/Whattham, Jones/Martin, Davies/Young, Farley/Traynor who have all set top 5 fastest times, and won classes in the last half of last season.

[Homem de Gelo]

When mommy and daddy decide to "get down with it".

[F1_Master]

^
Lmao.

In a way, that's true.

[90ft]

A common carrear path to F1 is start in Karting, goto formula ford or equivelant, then up to 3000/ F3 and hope you are good enough to get noticed and get a drive as a test driver or someother opportunity.
However now you probably need a sponship backer as well to bring money with you as you come to the team, unless you have your own. You have to be a nice bloke good in politics and general baby kissing cos half the time you won't be in the car.

You could then just fall short at hte last hurdle end up in GT car or other series. Get a factory test driver seat for a manufacturer and have a lifetime of not getting to the top but still racing a lot.
There was a house in the village where 4 drivers lived. One was a F1 test driver who never made it 2 GT drivers and a manufactrer test driver who was working at Mira, one was Andrettis son. Live near a circuit like Silverstone and you meet a lot of failed F1 hopefulls who are in all sorts of lines of work now.