Calling all young drivers!

RacingBeginners

17 Apr

Did you know that budding young racers as young as 14 can hit the track?

At RaceAway we're passionate about nurturing young talent and ensuring they have the right skills to succeed on the track. We see plenty of young drivers on the tarmac who have usually started their journey in karting. Our goal with these keen ones is to ensure they have the basics down in driving a manual car, can apply these in a modified racing environment and get plenty of practice on the track.

Early skills we develop:

Spatial awareness - ensuring they are using their peripherals, staying the line and being courteous of other drivers
Downshifting into corners - bringing awareness of the sound and feel of the revs as this happens
The feel of the vehicles grip on the road and how/why this may be compromised
These points are essential for saftey and a solid development of their racing skills.

Where do you start (aka, where to spend the money)?

Coaching - A good coach is key to proper development and keeping them safe on the track. Whether they want to get into racing or simply dip a toe into track days, the value they will get out of one-on-one coaching will set them up for success.
Hire Cars - Made for beginners, the PWC Mazda 2's or RA Mazda 3 track cars are perfect for young starters. Accesible and easy to use, they ensure a good base in manual driving skills that can be easily applied to other vehicles. Hiring a track car also prevents the wear-and-tear going on the family car - especially while they are still figuring things out!
Gear - To start, ensure your teen has an FIA approved helmet (not a motorcross helmet) and good racing shoes. Racing shoes have a thinner sole allowing the driver to feel the pedals. This will allow them to develop good pedal skills with the proper gear. A long sleeve shirt and long pants will be fine for early track days - upgrading to a racing suit when you have a clearer idea of their goals.