Go-Karting, How Do You Get Spotted?

How do you get spotted for a go-karting team?

Google doesn't help either.

I have won 16 out of 17 races (I know this isn't much but I'm not rich), I have done 12 indoor races, and 4 outdoor races (one in the rain).

I lost in my second race because on the final corner, I waved to first place as I over took him and span out of control, ened up second last.

I don't have enough money to enter championships without a team so it is crucial for me to get spotted, any help?

Don't make stupid mistakes like the one above, if you're not racing in a league there is almost no way you will be spotted I'd imagine. That said I've never raced in any REAL capacity.KimisApprentice

I'm only doing one off 30 minute races.

I've learnt not to be cocky in life, everytime I do, I fail.

Where do you suggest I start?

But then I would need my own stuff to race in a league won't I?

Yeah, you'd want to be looking at any local/regional championships are going and you will need to get a competition kart and all the rest relevant to the championship. True competitive karting isn't cheap but it's a whole lot cheaper than formula ford/formula Toyota/Formula Vee etc whatever you have above karting out your way.KimisApprentice

I'm 15 if that helps.

I also heard that you need some sort of licence to race.
Any amateur Championships that I should enter and what kart should I get (I can't tell the difference)?

Yeah you will need a racing license and maybe even an actual driving license. I would contact a few teams (i.e. F1, British Touring Cars, Formula Ford etc) to see what they can suggest. It would not hurt to ask, what do you have to loose by doing so?Garfield360UK

Driving license?

I'm 15...

I know, still you may need one but I can not say for sure. You would have to wait till your 17 assuming you are from the UK. However I would contact the teams and places like Silverstone, Brands Hatch etc to see what advise they could offer for you.

Realistically though if you plan to get forward and make this a profession you need backing and soon as cash is needed to get a car to race in and people to help you out with it. You won't get far without backing as no team will take a driver on who cant pay their way into the seat unfortunatly.

However that doesnt mean give up, but you need to be realistic and be positive. I personally cant help you with getting into the sport but I would go to people who organize these events and teams who know what they are talking about and get their advise and speak with your parents/teachers etc.

I know, still you may need one but I can not say for sure. You would have to wait till your 17 assuming you are from the UK. However I would contact the teams and places like Silverstone, Brands Hatch etc to see what advise they could offer for you.

Realistically though if you plan to get forward and make this a profession you need backing and soon as cash is needed to get a car to race in and people to help you out with it. You won't get far without backing as no team will take a driver on who cant pay their way into the seat unfortunatly.

However that doesnt mean give up, but you need to be realistic and be positive. I personally cant help you with getting into the sport but I would go to people who organize these events and teams who know what they are talking about and get their advise and speak with your parents/teachers etc.

Garfield360UK

Then how did people like Button and Hamilton win karting championships at a young age?

How much money do you think I need?

I can't find any go kart teams on Google so therefore won't be able to contact any.

Contact teams above that championship level, also contact championship organizers.

I cant say monetary values, maybe a few hundered thousand when you are looking to get into formula ford/3000 level and millions when you are going into Formula One (I mean take a look at Hispania to see how it is, thats one of the lower teams, never mind the likes of McLaren, Red Bull etc).

Hamilton and Button did karting so maybe you need a license for that but you are looking to a super license when you get to Formula One levels and that costs a lot of money to obtain I think as well as actual experience to get one. I cant say as I have not researched it as a profession as I started to drive later in age and also I just dont like speed so its not for me.

All I can reccomend is contacts the leagues and teams as I say and go from there. I cant do it for you, if you want this you will have to work hard at it and really have knowledge about the way a car handles and the mechanics behind it all, pure speed alone will not do it.

Contact teams above that championship level, also contact championship organizers.

I cant say monetary values, maybe a few hundered thousand when you are looking to get into formula ford/3000 level and millions when you are going into Formula One (I mean take a look at Hispania to see how it is, thats one of the lower teams, never mind the likes of McLaren, Red Bull etc).

Hamilton and Button did karting so maybe you need a license for that but you are looking to a super license when you get to Formula One levels and that costs a lot of money to obtain I think as well as actual experience to get one. I cant say as I have not researched it as a profession as I started to drive later in age and also I just dont like speed so its not for me.

All I can reccomend is contacts the leagues and teams as I say and go from there. I cant do it for you, if you want this you will have to work hard at it and really have knowledge about the way a car handles and the mechanics behind it all, pure speed alone will not do it.

Garfield360UK

I can't get into Formula anything, I'm too young.

I don't know what go kart Championships I should enter, I don't know where to start at all :(

Had a look around the Internet (Googled hard) and found this:

"ABkC Tal-Ko Formula Junior TKM National Championship

For 11 to 17 year olds, restricted to 100cc British TKM engine with various sizes of inlet restrictors depending on the weight of the driver, and approved karts. No tuning and very few chassis modifications are allowed. Uses Maxxis long life tyres and blue number plates with white numbers."

Would this be the right place to start as it appears to be at a rookie level?

Wow.

It seems like the more money you have, the better you do :(

I wish it was more about skill, that way, the drivers in F1 will be even better!

Slightly disappointed to learn this and to learn that used go karts are £500+.

Well depending on how well you get on atm you may want to aim for something like this in the future.

Also given your age you may be able to get involved with Ginetta racing, I remember seeing Damon Hill's son Josh competing in it a couple of years a go as part of a touring car event. Again it may be quite an expensive route so it depends how much support you have and how serious you are about racing as a career as giving up every other weekend to go racing all around the UK takes a fair bit of commitment.

Well depending on how well you get on atm you may want to aim for something like this in the future.

Also given your age you may be able to get involved with Ginetta racing, I remember seeing Damon Hill's son Josh competing in it a couple of years a go as part of a touring car event. Again it may be quite an expensive route so it depends how much support you have and how serious you are about racing as a career as giving up every other weekend to go racing all around the UK takes a fair bit of commitment.

Racky_rules

Sounds interesting, though, no further contact etc. information is provided.

Ginetta Racing? In Ginetta cars? Don't you need a driving license for that?

I am definitely fully committed. I will give up a lot of things for this.

Really you need to be doing this for a very long time if you are thinking of getting into F1. I mean there are other options such as Touring Cars where the average career is longer than that of an F1 driver and even things like the World Touring Car Championship, World Rally driving etc.

F1 is extremely difficult to get into as there are only 24 of them in the world at each weekend race, more with test drivers and ones not being used for example Chandhok. However the ammount of new drivers on average per season is very low as drivers move around teams rather than when they leave a team a new driver enters the sport.

Really you need to be doing this for a very long time if you are thinking of getting into F1. I mean there are other options such as Touring Cars where the average career is longer than that of an F1 driver and even things like the World Touring Car Championship, World Rally driving etc.

F1 is extremely difficult to get into as there are only 24 of them in the world at each weekend race, more with test drivers and ones not being used for example Chandhok. However the ammount of new drivers on average per season is very low as drivers move around teams rather than when they leave a team a new driver enters the sport.

Garfield360UK

 And that's where I fail massively.

I can't do it for a long or consistent time (e.g. every weekend) because it's so damn expensive.

Which is where motosports disappoints me, it's more about money than skill.
The more money you have in go karting, the faster you go.
That's why I thought the ABkC Tal-Ko Formula Junior TKM National Championship would be good because of the tuning restrictions which would make the karts on the field pretty much the same.

I would do go karting every day if I could (I would wake up at 1:00 AM on a school day) but money is what stops me.

Is there a way to get into F1 without needing loads of money?

Like I said motorsport is hugely expensive. I'm hoping I may get a drive in a racing V8 touring car for my 21st but it's about $300 and you don't get much seat time (probably no more than 30mins). You will probably have to pay your way through lower leagues until you're past formula ford then you might be able to get some kind of sponsorship - mind you, you Brits are probably more into your motorsport than we Kiwis.KimisApprentice

Pay your way through leagues?

Aren't you supposed to get promoted to the next league with yuor team?

$300=30 minutes :shock:

[QUOTE="Garfield360UK"]

Really you need to be doing this for a very long time if you are thinking of getting into F1. I mean there are other options such as Touring Cars where the average career is longer than that of an F1 driver and even things like the World Touring Car Championship, World Rally driving etc.

F1 is extremely difficult to get into as there are only 24 of them in the world at each weekend race, more with test drivers and ones not being used for example Chandhok. However the ammount of new drivers on average per season is very low as drivers move around teams rather than when they leave a team a new driver enters the sport.

dabest2500

And that's where I fail massively.

I can't do it for a long or consistent time (e.g. every weekend) because it's so damn expensive.

Which is where motosports disappoints me, it's more about money than skill.
The more money you have in go karting, the faster you go.
That's why I thought the ABkC Tal-Ko Formula Junior TKM National Championship would be good because of the tuning restrictions which would make the karts on the field pretty much the same.

I would do go karting every day if I could (I would wake up at 1:00 AM on a school day) but money is what stops me.

Is there a way to get into F1 without needing loads of money?

Unfortunatly not I am affraid. Luck would be the biggest thing to be seen and you need contacts etc. I cant help you other than what I have said really. There is no one ticket to get into F1 driving, you have to be the best of the best and have been for several years to even get noticed and the money is needed to keep a team going.

[QUOTE="dabest2500"][QUOTE="Garfield360UK"]

Really you need to be doing this for a very long time if you are thinking of getting into F1. I mean there are other options such as Touring Cars where the average career is longer than that of an F1 driver and even things like the World Touring Car Championship, World Rally driving etc.

F1 is extremely difficult to get into as there are only 24 of them in the world at each weekend race, more with test drivers and ones not being used for example Chandhok. However the ammount of new drivers on average per season is very low as drivers move around teams rather than when they leave a team a new driver enters the sport.

Garfield360UK

And that's where I fail massively.

I can't do it for a long or consistent time (e.g. every weekend) because it's so damn expensive.

Which is where motosports disappoints me, it's more about money than skill.
The more money you have in go karting, the faster you go.
That's why I thought the ABkC Tal-Ko Formula Junior TKM National Championship would be good because of the tuning restrictions which would make the karts on the field pretty much the same.

I would do go karting every day if I could (I would wake up at 1:00 AM on a school day) but money is what stops me.

Is there a way to get into F1 without needing loads of money?

Unfortunatly not I am affraid. Luck would be the biggest thing to be seen and you need contacts etc. I cant help you other than what I have said really. There is no one ticket to get into F1 driving, you have to be the best of the best and have been for several years to even get noticed and the money is needed to keep a team going.

This is hugely disappointed.

What is the cheapest place I should start?

Also, is my age a problem because all the F1 drivers started at 10 years old etc. and I'm 15.

Also, do you do racing?

Nope I don't. I cant honestly tell you what would be cheapest. You need to research this but as I have already said contact teams/event organizers and talk with your parents/teachers/career guidance places etc.

I and probably others here can not tell you realistically what to do as racing is very very challenging to do as a career and 99.999999% of people who enter it will not get into F1. You have to be special at it to get to the top and make zero mistakes in a race that can go on for two hours plus all the practice and qualifying sessions, endurance races etc.

I am not telling you not to do this, but be realistic in expectations and if you really want it know that you have to give up a lot as you will need to learn about car performance etc. We cant tell you everything, you will need to research this a lot yourself and not give up if a web site or person or whatever does not give you an answer imediatly. I mean teams have contact pages usually to get in touch with them. Maybe look to agencies for advise as well if there are any to see what they can reccomend you do but you will need paticence and perserverance as you wont get answers right off the bat. You need to show you will be banging on the door come sun, rain or snow to be involved in the sport.

Nope I don't. I cant honestly tell you what would be cheapest. You need to research this but as I have already said contact teams/event organizers and talk with your parents/teachers/career guidance places etc.

I and probably others here can not tell you realistically what to do as racing is very very challenging to do as a career and 99.999999% of people who enter it will not get into F1. You have to be special at it to get to the top and make zero mistakes in a race that can go on for two hours plus all the practice and qualifying sessions, endurance races etc.

I am not telling you not to do this, but be realistic in expectations and if you really want it know that you have to give up a lot as you will need to learn about car performance etc. We cant tell you everything, you will need to research this a lot yourself and not give up if a web site or person or whatever does not give you an answer imediatly. I mean teams have contact pages usually to get in touch with them. Maybe look to agencies for advise as well if there are any to see what they can reccomend you do but you will need paticence and perserverance as you wont get answers right off the bat. You need to show you will be banging on the door come sun, rain or snow to be involved in the sport.

Garfield360UK

I've Googled and Googled but can't find any teams. I can only find names of drivers.
Racing being challenging is why I enjoy it so much, though, I wish it wasn't so much about money.
If I do find a team, I will attempt to get a trial or something.

If I do fail at getting into F1, I do have a backup as I am doing very well in school.
When you say agencies, you mean like a persnal agent?
I can't contact any teams as I can't find any at all.

Well have you even tried teams like Virgin Racing, Lotus, McLaren etc. I know they may ignore your email but if you try and word it well, be persistent (but not over the top, emailing every day would not be good but email every couple of weeks with a different one, maybe getting names from the team) and teams in the British Formula 3000, Touring Car Championship. Heck even try emailing Autosport, BBC etc as who knows.

I mean actual employment agencies, like you have Briatorie as an F1 agent, I dont expect him to answer but he will have a company set up as will other agents. You wont get a drive offer out of them without them seeing you but they may be able to offer you advise onto which routes to take and why.

Well have you even tried teams like Virgin Racing, Lotus, McLaren etc. I know they may ignore your email but if you try and word it well, be persistent (but not over the top, emailing every day would not be good but email every couple of weeks with a different one, maybe getting names from the team) and teams in the British Formula 3000, Touring Car Championship. Heck even try emailing Autosport, BBC etc as who knows.

I mean actual employment agencies, like you have Briatorie as an F1 agent, I dont expect him to answer but he will have a company set up as will other agents. You wont get a drive offer out of them without them seeing you but they may be able to offer you advise onto which routes to take and why.

Garfield360UK

Wait, we're still talking about go karting here right?

I doubt contacting teams such as Virgin etc. will get me anywhere as I'll need a licence first to even get a trial, I was talking about go karting teams.

Can you also give me a link or something for agencies?

I can only find job ones after Googling for them.

Also, what do am I supposed to email them?

Hello, I want to drive for your team?

A bit optimistic there :(

Will applying for a young drivers program help?

Or will I need to wiin some Championships first?

You know that place you go karting? Maybe someone there knows something. Talk to them. Don't talk to us. We are but a bunch of random people from around the world who may or may not understand your ideas of being serious versus you being an annoying troll.XSamFisherX

I hate it when that happens, people calling me a troll when I'm not actually trolling...

I've googled a lot but to no avail.

Also, I don't go karting often so I thought it would be more convenient to ask here, also, there is a hell of a lot of people on the internet.

Also, I don't go karting oftendabest2500

[QUOTE="dabest2500"]Also, I don't go karting oftenXSamFisherX

I don't go karting often because it is too expensive.

I made this thread to try and get into Championships in as cheap a way as possible because generaly, the more money you have, the better you are.

It's a real shame this, there are probably a lot of good drives out there who simply don't have the money to be spotted.

Okay, tomorrow after I come home from school, I'm going to call McLaren and any other F1 team I can and ask if I can apply to be on a young driver's support program.

I'll let you guys know how I get on.

You don't need to be rich to be good. You must've missed out on the Lewis Hamilton documentary... err, sorry, ITV's coverage of the 2007 season. He was brilliant but hadn't got the money, but once he caught Ron Dennis' eyes, he was fine. You don't need money to be good, but you need money to progress.

Also, it's difficult to really get started at the age of 15 if you really wanna make it to the big leagues. I mean, you're gonna have to rise up the ranks pretty darned fast.

You don't need to be rich to be good. You must've missed out on the Lewis Hamilton documentary... err, sorry, ITV's coverage of the 2007 season. He was brilliant but hadn't got the money, but once he caught Ron Dennis' eyes, he was fine. You don't need money to be good, but you need money to progress.

Also, it's difficult to really get started at the age of 15 if you really wanna make it to the big leagues. I mean, you're gonna have to rise up the ranks pretty darned fast.

Redders1989

I started watching F1 in 2009 but caught up on the races since 2000.

I know that you don't need money to be good but you need money to even start :(

Lewis's dad had 3 jobs at a time to pay for Lewis.

Pedro De La Rosa started karting at 17, this is where I have hope :)

Pedro De La Rosa started karting at 17, this is where I have hope :) dabest2500

Now that, I wasn't aware of.

[QUOTE="dabest2500"]Pedro De La Rosa started karting at 17, this is where I have hope :) Redders1989

Now that, I wasn't aware of.

DAMN!

Forgot to call!

I wasn't aware of this either till I randomly read his biography in F1 2010.
A coincidence?

Its the reason I never took racing up, I couldn't afford, I caught the eye of a few people when I was cadet karting when I was 9-10, but never had any financial backing.

If you not got the dosh, you not gonna go nowhere, its as simple as that, Ask F1 teams and they can point you in the right direction and the MSA here in the UK, but thats my two cents.

Its the reason I never took racing up, I couldn't afford, I caught the eye of a few people when I was cadet karting when I was 9-10, but never had any financial backing.

If you not got the dosh, you not gonna go nowhere, its as simple as that, Ask F1 teams and they can point you in the right direction and the MSA here in the UK, but thats my two cents.

kipi19

It's always about friggin money.

That's why I'm trying to get on some sort of program to get help with funding.

After readin this:

This.

I found out that you need to be between 17 and 23 :(

Of course it's about money, you have to showcase your talents to those who can afford to help your progress. Many drivers and their families prop them up through Karts and Formula Ford before any kind of decent sponsorship money can come in. If you were to start in karts you could try find small personal sponsors (i.e. local busineses) that you could display on your kart but I wouldn't expect anything exceptional.KimisApprentice

Formula Ford?
At such a young age?

I haven't even gotten a kart yet, it's £600+ for a used one.

Okay, just called McLaren and they said to email them.

Which I just have.

Wish me luck :D

Have you tried anybody else? Dont put all your eggs into one basket.Garfield360UK

Going to try RBR and Force India after I come back from school on Monday.

Why not try all teams? Unless there are some near your location you could even phone and ask if it was possible to talk to somebody (but dont say can I speak to Ron Dennis, Sebastian Vettel etc, just ask if they have somebody you could talk to, if they say no just accept that but you have nothing to loose by asking).

Why not try all teams? Unless there are some near your location you could even phone and ask if it was possible to talk to somebody (but dont say can I speak to Ron Dennis, Sebastian Vettel etc, just ask if they have somebody you could talk to, if they say no just accept that but you have nothing to loose by asking).

Garfield360UK

Some teams don't have young driver programmes.

The young driver programmes go about picking their own young drivers that they see talent in. As far as I'm aware you don't apply and even if you were to you would have to show some kind of credentials from low league competitive motorsports.KimisApprentice

Could you not ask for a trial?