Race licence rushposted in KNOCK29 | 09 | 2010

SO, I FIND myself needing to get my ARDS (The Association of Racing Drivers Schools) licence pretty damned quick, so after quick phone call to Jillian Butcher at Knockhill, I have a date with Scotland's master race instructor Ian Forrest.

Now, I'm fortunate that I've known Ian for a good few years, and he's sat next to me a few times as we've gone round Knockhill's 1.3-miles of twisting, undulating tarmac. Most importantly, he's lived to tell the tale. The problem was, in all those years I'd never actually done my ARDS test; today though was the day.

As many of you know, passing the ARDS test is a requirement to allow you to obtain a Race National 'B' Competition Licence. It's a crucial test which covers all the necessary safety and skill aspects of racing a car round a track, and it isn't to be taken lightly.

Much of the background is covered in the excellent 'Go Racing' DVD which accompanies the ARDS pack from the MSA (Motor Sport Association). Ian talked me through the presentation and focused on a number of areas he felt required further explaining.

Having covered the main topics, including racewear, driving position, mental approach, leaving the pitlane, the racing line and the overtaking manouevre, I was presented with an exam sheet which I had to complete.

Part of the test involves identifying the 14 flags which any racing driver can expect to see during a race. Of course, anyone who watched F1 on the TV knows all about yellow, blue and red flags; but what's the difference between a yellow stationary, and a yellow waved? And what does a black flag with an orange disc in the middle signify?

Thankfully, I got the answers right and we were off on to the track behind the wheel of a brand spanking new Seat. Only problem; it was absolutely tipping it down, as you can see from the photograph.

Well, if you're going to race in Scotland or anywhere else in the UK, you'd better be able to drive in the wet, so off we went. Half-an-hour later, having fine-tuned our braking points, entry and exit speeds, we pulled back into the pitlane.

Back in the office, Ian dug out this 'Knockhill ARDS' rubberstamp and duly left the necessary imprint at the foot of the application for.

"That it Jim, you've passed," he beamed as we shook hands. "Now you just need to find yourself something to race."

That 'something to race' is a two-litre race-prepared Mazda MX-5 which I'll share with three other drivers in this weekend's Britcar 24-Hours race at Silverstone. Not a bad place to make your racing debut.

I'll be keeping you posted on Scotcars with various reports over the weekend, but you can also keep up-to-date with everything by following us on twitter.com/scotcars

Jim McGill