Trying Single Seater racing

G-Money

So I'm a big F1 fan and have recently been toying with the idea of perhaps trying some sort of test day or something in a single seater. However I guess I have a few questions.

Is it possible to pay for some sort of private time on the track where you are the only one driving it? I don't mean an entire day, but perhaps an hour or something? My reason for asking is that I've never done any kind of "racing" so I guess it would be nice to be able to do a few laps without having to worry about running into someone or holding someone up. Something where I could kind of just do a few laps myself and try to feel comfortable.

I guess the other thing I'm thinking about is whether I'd be suitable for giving it a go. Perhaps this is irrelevant but I don't drive fast or speed when I'm driving in my road car. Mostly because I don't want to get into an accident and there's so much stupid driving out there by other people on the roads that you really have to be prepared for almost anything.

So I guess what I'm saying is that perhaps I might not have the "balls" to drive particularly fast if I got into a single seater. Anyway I'm not sure. I often wish I could get into a single seater and go for a burn around a track for a few laps, but it could be just a pipe dream that I'd drive anyway fast.

I don't really have any interest in any sort of roadcar style driving, single seaters seem more appealing. Mostly because I feel they can take the corners much faster than a roadcar type racing car could. Perhaps there's a bit of a speed demon in me somewhere afterall

Anyway, sorry for the rambling nature of this post. Just wanted to get some feedback from others who tried it out and who perhaps thought beforehand they might not be cut out for it.

Also, where would be the best place to try something like this out if I decided to give it a go? I live in Dublin so I guess Mondello would be the nearest place, but I don't know if it's possible to get any sort of private time to do a few laps without anyone else being on the track.

And do you need to be a particular weight to fit in the car? I'm just under 17 stone but I've dropped almost a stone in the last 4-6 weeks as I'm trying to get fit. However I know for single seater cars, there might be more restrictions when it comes to body sizes than there would be in some sort of roadcar.

Thanks!

vincenzolorenzo

+1 on the Mondello school. I've done two courses there and its a great experience. Go for it!

G-Money

Thanks for the replies so far.

I should probably clarify my post a little. I don't think I'm really considering racing as any sort of career or even some sort of part-time hobby. I was just wondering what it would be like to go for a few laps around a circuit in a decent single seater.

I guess if I really liked it, then I could think about doing it a little more seriously or competively, but at the moment I just was wondering if I could do a few laps somewhere to see what it's like and not have to worry if turns out I'm too cautious and too much of a "yella belly"

mathepac

Have you considered karting as an intro? They are like scaled down single-seaters and are a relatively easy way to control risks and costs and to stick a toe in the water motor-sport wise.

mstan

Mods, could we get a sticky thread going for people looking to get started in motorsport? It might be easier if everyone was using one thread to share info and ask questions.

mickdw

Op, Do the mondello race school. It less than 200 for a basic course & you will get to drive a mazda 3 for a few laps & then the single seaters. Its not really long enough to really get into it but its a good taster for sure & its done in safe conditions.
I did it & I then did the course thats required for getting a race licence.

If you wanted to do a test day or equivalent, you would typically need a race licence but I believe it might be possible without it at some circuits.

A top formula vee team offered me a test day for about €500 with I think €1000 deposit for damage.