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Then you’ll need a National B Competition Licence before you begin.
This essential qualification provided by the sport’s governing body, the Motorsport Association (MSA), is recognized throughout the UK. It includes both academic and practical assessments, ensuring your suitability and helping to maintain safety at circuits around the country.
Silverstone Motorsport Academy is one of the country’s leading Association of Racing Drivers Schools (ARDS). All our instructors are competitive drivers, ideally placing them to provide the knowledge and skills needed for a successful licence application.
The Junior drivers course is a full day mix of classroom theory and practical driving. Advanced courses are a one day programme that allows you the opportunity to gain a signature on your race licence upgrade.
To book one of these forthcoming dates or for further enquiries please call 0844 3728 235 or email race@silverstone.co.uk. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm.
£299.00
Book Experience0844 3728 235
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We hosted the first ever Formula One World Championship race in history in 1950 and we are still the current home of the FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX! There have been epic battles throughout the eras, the world’s best drivers have tried to master it, racing legends have done it and now it’s your time…..
Time to start your racing career in the footsteps of legends….. On the track, you will work with world class instructors who themselves race at the top level of motorsport. Their sole goal is to help you pass your test, learn a great deal about race driving and most importantly enjoy the experience.
We are here to help……
The Silverstone ARDS briefing covers all aspects of race driving techniques in order to help you understand and learn the physics behind the art of race driving before we go on track.
We cover:
You will then need to take the written exam, we’ll explain in detail the process and offer guidance with any issues you may have to help you perform at your best.
Here at Silverstone, as part of the ARDS day we offer practical experience in Skid control which we believe is fundamental to the start of a safe racing career. We are the only school in the country to offer this specialised training in your ARDS course. We educate you through direct skid experience and analysis of cause and effect for different types of cars.
On the circuit you are assigned to the same instructor for all four sessions of coaching and analysis. This allows the instructor to focus on the areas that need the most attention thus giving you the best preparation for your on track ARDS practical assessment. You will leave with a great insight in the art of race driving, the perfect start to your racing career.
Here’s just a few names of those who have mastered the circuit at Silverstone:
Luigi Villoresi, Emmanuel de Graffenried, Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina, Jose Froilan Gonzales, Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Peter Collins, Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Peter Revson, Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Clay Regazzoni, John Watson, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert, Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg…….. You could be next!
This comprehensive one day programme gives you what “we believe” to be the minimum training required. Over and above our half day programme you’ll enjoy the benefits of learning both skid control and car control. During the course you will learn track techniques during a stimulating lecture in one of our classrooms, master the art of skid control to minimise any potential incidents and maximise the available grip – gaining those valuable tenths of a second, enjoy in-depth practical one-to-one coaching sessions, enabling you to learn racing lines, circuit driving techniques, consistency and safety. This course really has everything you need.
At the end of the day you’ll take driving and written assessments and can start looking forward to entering this exhilarating sport.
Before you set off for the Home of British Motor Racing you’ll need to buy an MSA Go Racing pack. These are available for £95 when purchased from the MSA, who can be contacted on 01753 765000. They contain an application form and the essential course material you’ll need to study before reaching the circuit.
Accident Damage Waiver reduces the potential cost of accident damage from £5,000 to £1,000 and is available to purchase for £20pp. This waiver can be purchased on the day of your Experience from the Silverstone Experience Centre.
Please click here to view our terms and conditions.
The Junior Drivers course is a full day mix of classroom theory and practical driving. It does however assume that the pupil has prior experience of driving a manual gearbox car. If the pupil has no prior clutch / gearbox experience then additional tuition will be needed as per our existing young driver assessment and should be recommended prior to the main training.
Content of the course will comprise of the following:
Basic car control to appreciate and understand the following:
Accident Damage Waiver reduces the potential cost of accidental damage from £5,000 to £1,000 and is available to purchase for £20pp. This waiver can be purchased on the day of your Experience from the Silverstone Experience Centre.
Please click here to view our terms and conditions.
We recommend the 1 day ARDS programme as the most beneficial way to take your test, offering you in depth coaching and skid control activities. If you are re-applying for your license and are ready to tackle the test on a standalone basis, the ARDS test can be booked upon request.
Once you have watched the MSA safety video you will sit the written part of the test, this is divided in two parts testing your flag knowledge and Section Q of the MSA competitors and officials yearbook (Blue book in starter pack).
You will then move on to the practical assessment on circuit where the Instructor will assess your driving over a series of laps (approx. 20 minutes.) You will need to demonstrate you’re a competent circuit driver, showing you can lap consistently in a safe and controlled manor whilst negotiating other circuit traffic.
The ARDS test is priced at £299 with an optional Accident damage indemnity for £20.
We have a number of time slots available on our listed dates, please call the team for more information.
This comprehensive one day programme allows you the opportunity to gain a signature on your race licence upgrade card. During the course you will learn track techniques during a stimulating lecture in one of our classrooms, master the art of skid control to minimise any potential incidents and maximise the available grip – gaining those valuable tenths of a second, enjoy in-depth practical one-to-one coaching sessions, enabling you to learn racing lines, circuit driving techniques, consistency and safety. This course really has everything you need.
Accident Damage Waiver reduces the potential cost of accident damage from £5,000 to £1,000 and is available to purchase for £20pp. This waiver can be purchased on the day of your Experience from the Silverstone Experience Centre.
Please click here to view our terms and conditions.
Here are the available dates for our 2018 ARDs courses. To book any of these dates, click on the BOOK NOW button, or call 0844 3728 236.
| Date | Session | Circuit | Price | Book |
| Monday 21 May | ARDs Test | International | £299 | Call To Book |
| Sunday 29 July | Full Day ARDs | International | £695 | Call to Book |
| Junior ARDs | International | £695 | Call to Book |
Driving on circuit is a very different world to the road, so prior circuit driving experience is strongly advised where possible. You maywish to take part in one of our Car Track Days or some Driving Coaching, giving you the opportunity to get out on circuit before your ARDS test. We don’t expect you to set a new lap record around our circuit, but you will need to demonstrate you can drive the circuit consistently and safely over a series of laps during your test.
You must buy a “MSA Go Racing Pack, which contains an application form and the essential course specific material.
These can be purchased here from MSA, for £95.00 or by calling MSA on 01753 765000
On the day of your ARDs course you will need to bring the following:
You will also need to:
Please bear with us, the website is currently undergoing maintenance but we expect to be back online shortly. Thank you for your patience.