“I don't remember as a kid wanting to do or be anything else but drive something, be a race driver.”
- Mario Andretti
Does this resonate with you?
Maybe karting has taught you fundamental car control skills that will lay the foundations for your career, and now you’re thinking of a new challenge. Or perhaps you’re simply interested in open-wheel racing, and you have some disposable income?
Whether you’re looking to make the step up from karting, or you want to move from another type of race car to an open-wheel car, there are steps to take to make your transition smooth so you can focus on doing what you love most: racing. It’s never too late to begin your racing career. In just a few months, you can be licensed and entered into your first official race.
If it’s your dream, you might have a bigger budget. If it’s a hobby, you might be looking for a less expensive route. Either way, here are the best ways to get into open-wheel racing.
Is There a Best Way to Get Into Open-Wheel Racing?
There are different ways to get into it. Some paths will require more time, traveling, and investment than others. With so many schools, programs, classifications, and races available, choosing which direction to take can be challenging.
Whether you’re a hobbyist or dreaming of a racing career, we’ll take you through the considerations of open-wheel racing and detail the path ahead.
Get Your License and Permit
The first step to racing in the United States is getting your license to enter events. There are two central sanctioning bodies in the U.S., the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) and NASA (National Auto Sport Association).
Deciding which sanctioning body to go with may come down to a couple of factors. We’ll focus on the SCCA for now.
Firstly, within the U.S., an SCCA license is generally accepted at other levels by sanctioning bodies. Secondly, If you’re in a hurry to get started, finding the school or driver program closest to you or best fits your schedule is more manageable with several accredited schools in multiple regions; the SCCA is an intelligent choice. You can find a list here.
Obtaining your license is a five-step process, explained on the SCCA website here.
You’ll also need a physical examination to determine if you’re fit to drive and you’ll have to apply for a Novice Permit.
License Waiver
If you’ve previously held a license, or you’ve got an extensive racing background, and you’re making your way back into the sport, you might be able to get a license waiver. The SCCA might not require you to go through racing school again to obtain your license.
An example from the SCCA website: A driver who previously held an SCCA license but has not raced for a few years. Depending on this individual's previous racing record and the length of the layoff, it's possible the Divisional Licensing Administrator may waive the driver back to a Full Competition license. Or, the Administrator may require a "retread" to complete a Drivers School or a private racing school before a waiver will be considered.
If you think this applies to you, check out this PDF from the SCCA. You can put your case forward with them, detailing your experience and why you don’t need to obtain your license in the normal way.
It’s Time for School
Before choosing a driving school, think about your budget and how much time and effort you can dedicate to racing. Some schools supply cars, race suits, and helmets and cost between three to eight thousand dollars to go from complete novice to a full license. With places like Lucas Oil School of Racing or Level Up Racing School, you can be ready for racing in just a few days, but it may be on the more expensive side.
Many schools charge less, but to attend an SCCA Driver School you’ll need your own properly prepared race car, driving gear, and an approved helmet. If you don’t have a car, you’ll have to rent or lease one (see below - we’ve included this in the cost section). The upside of leasing a car is you can decide later which class best fits your goals before you buy a car.
You’ll learn from well-known instructors how to improve your skills and control of the car and drive various road courses. There will be a heavy focus on safety since open-wheeled racing is among the fastest in the world. The cars are lightweight, capable of incredible speed, and are therefore harder to control.
There will be processes and procedures to get familiar with. You’ll build an understanding of flags, how to pass safely, racing rules and how to keep your car under control when you exceed the car’s limits. The safer you feel, the better you drive.
Ultimately, you’ll learn how to control a formula car. It’s a step up from karting, and school will help you understand if you want to advance into open-wheel racing.
Which School?
As mentioned above, many schools across the United States provide opportunities to obtain your SCCA license. Through competition programs, the process of getting your license is streamlined. Finding a racing school that offers licensing is the simplest way to go.
An example of an accredited racing school is the Allen Berg Racing School. Run by a former Formula One driver, it promises the latest in modern racing and more track time than any other program. And they have beginner and advanced training; meaning if you already have experience, you can further increase your skills.
Once you’ve completed driver school and three additional race weekends, you’ll be eligible for an SCCA Full Competition License.
Then it’s time to decide which class fits your budget and current skill level.
Do you Have to go to School?
Short answer, no. If you’re young and stepping up from karting, there are driver programs, scholarships, and different formula classes. You could also be proactive, volunteering for a local driver’s crew. You’ll get hands-on experience in mechanics, race-day preparation and learn what it takes to be a professional driver.
An example of an entry-level program is F4 (Formula 4). It was created to offer young racecar drivers the opportunity to graduate from kart racing to open-wheel racing. There are developmental programs that cover everything from driving preparation to marketing and public relations. They promise a fast and affordable path to professional racing and cash prizes as well as scholarships to the top levels of racing.
So far, you’ve read about two paths to open-wheel racing. There are many more than we can put into a single article.
The Cost of Open-Wheel Racing
If there’s one thing you need to know, it’s that racing takes significant investment. Most motorsports are self-funded. We’ll highlight one path for you here, which will give you a rough idea. Like most things, there are several options.
Your initial outlay will include your membership fees, physical exam, novice permit, and racing school. If you don’t go to the schools where everything is provided, a ballpark figure is around eight hundred to a thousand dollars. Add your safety gear and clothing to this, and you’re looking at approximately three thousand dollars depending on your safety equipment.
Next, if you’re providing the car, you’ll already have invested in it, but renting a car for a racing school that passes the technical inspections may set you back around two thousand dollars. Again, there are a variety of cars at various costs.
Depending on your age, experience, skill, and budget, you can reach various heights in open-wheel racing, but you need to start somewhere.
Determine your Budget
For the everyman, Formula Vee offers an affordable way to develop your skills. You can get a new Formula Vee for between thirty-five and fifty thousand dollars, but on the less expensive side, you can get a second-hand car for approximately fifteen thousand dollars. Registering for a season is relatively inexpensive, and race weekend fees are typically less than one thousand dollars.
Moving up from Formula Vee through the classes available will incur extra financial investment.
You might want to stick to autocross or club events; there are opportunities available in both classes.
Autocross
Autocross is a time-based event. Competitors drive their vehicles, which are all similar and built to the same degree of the rules, through courses defined by cones. The events are often hosted in large parking lots in sports stadiums or airports. There are local and national championships.
It’s very different from road racing, both in form and time. A typical race lasts around sixty seconds, on a course you have very little time to master. It puts your car control to the test. You have to be able to look ahead, be precise, and adapt quickly. You’ll get three or four attempts at a course you have very little time to master. If you like pressure, look no further. You can push your car to its absolute limits; the worst thing you’ll do is crash into cones.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of autocross is that it can be done at a fraction of the cost of road racing. Entry fees are lower, you’re less likely to incur damage, and your maintenance costs will be lower.
Club Events
At club level, there are so many classes within the SCCA that you can pretty much race any make and model of your choosing. With spec classes, the playing field is level and the best driver usually wins, giving you more chance of success at club level.
We can’t cover them all, but you’ll have an idea in mind where you want to take your racing career.
Sponsorship
One thing to consider when it comes to cost and investment is to look for sponsorships. Local companies might be willing to sponsor you, which will help cover the racing costs such as fees, transport to races, hotels, food, etc. Looking for big companies to sponsor you, especially when you are just getting started is an uphill battle. You are more likely to find partnerships with local companies where you may be able to be creative and create a reciprocal benefit. What can you offer them through your race program and how can you help quantify your value?
Do you Need a Team?
Depending on which class you choose and which level you race at, you’ll need to know whether you need a team. Having a team will allow you to focus on driving.
A team offers working knowledge of the car, the tracks, and logistics. It’s a helpful path in the early years and for those who are looking for a turn-key package.
Doing it on your own means you may save money but will need an initial investment to have general knowledge of the car, how it works, how to repair it, how to set up for race day, buy tools, and an appropriate transporter.
There’s also the hybrid option. Get a team to prep your car, but you own the equipment. This is a strong option for most. This allows people the autonomy of owning their own car, which doesn’t completely tie them to a team, however, it allows them to take advantage of team support.
Which Class do you Want to Take Part in?
There are a ton of options to start from. Whether you want to make it to the IndyCar Championships or take part in some of the fastest club racing, the world of open-wheel racing is your oyster.
You’ll need to do your research and talk with people in the various series, product manufacturers, and other racers. Team owners and sanctioning bodies are there to help, but you’ll need to tell them what your ultimate goal is.
For example, Formula Mazda offers the opportunity for new drivers to take part in club and professional racing. You can race Formula Mazda cars in the U.S. F2000, but for a team to complete one season could cost around two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. If you win the U.S. F2000, you’ll receive a scholarship from Mazda to advance to the Pro Mazda Championship and keep moving up the ladder.
Below the F2000 are the Pacific F2000 series, which costs half or less, and finally, the Formula Car Challenge, where costs range between forty and sixty thousand dollars.
If professional racing isn’t the path you want to take, there are other types and classes of open-wheel race cars on the market and sanctioning bodies to choose from.
Spec or Open
You might be wondering which is better, open or spec classes. Open means you can change as much as you want about the car. But you’ll need to keep coming up with changes to make the car faster, which requires an in-depth knowledge of the car and engine.
Spec classes don’t allow for changes, only adjustments, and tuning. Your car will always be competitive, and you’ll be able to keep costs down and reliability up. As drivers advance their skills, they are often looking for more adjustability to fit their driving style, allowing them to maximize their performance.
The Path to Open-Wheel Racing
There’s a lot to unpack and understand here. For many, decisions start with your budget. How much do you want to invest in open-wheel racing? Would you be happy racing in schools? Or do you have your sights set on the national stage?
Answering these questions will start to clarify your path in open-wheel racing .
But first, start local. Find a racing school that caters to your needs and ambitions. Find a team. Find a club. Get track time. You’ll soon be on the right track.
