GETTING STARTED
Gaining a licence
If you know your way around a racetrack, and have learned the relevant theory, the ARKS test is no obstacle to progress. Hugo and Eloise both made sure they had a few days practice in a kart before meeting the examiner and got straight into racing soon after. Hugo was racing the day after he passed.
“ When we signed up, we got the booklet and everything came through very quickly and efficiently,” recalls Ian.“ That really helped. I had a few questions, so I put a call in and got clarification on them very easily, so all that information was great. Hugo then did seven days of testing before the ARKS test, and I think that really helped.
“ It is important to learn the basics before you do the test, and we downloaded the data, and used a GoPro to help him improve. You need to have the lessons, and you also need to learn the theory, because Club rules can vary from track to track, so they are not always the same – you really need to do your homework.”
Andrew adds:“ The pack from Motorsport UK includes this video, and that really helped with the preparations. We also chatted to lots of parents in the paddock whose kids had gone through the process recently, and if you watch the video, learn your flags, and drive safely, competently and fast, it is not a huge hurdle to overcome.”
The test itself, while relatively straightforward, can still be daunting for youngsters who have often never sat a formal exam before, and Hugo recalls:“ Remembering the answers was difficult, but it was mainly the mental aspect. I am a very confident person academically, but I was worried because I did the test the day before my first race, so I had to pass!”
Eloise adds:“ I was not nervous about the theory because the Motorsport UK booklet and video taught me everything I needed to know. Where I was slightly nervous was having to get within 10 per cent of the fastest time, on a track I had never been to. Some drivers there only raced on that track, so they were very fast, but I was comfortably inside it in the end.”
Preparing to race
Having gone straight into a Junior Rotax – a big step from indoor karting – Eloise spent a few weeks completing a further eight days of testing, with four or five timed sessions a day. Most of the time, she was in a dedicated grid slot for rookie karters, enabling her to go out with other rookies and gradually build her confidence and speed up with everyone else.
It is not just about passing the test though. All that preparation is more about building the confidence to get through the test, get on the grid, and be happy with where you are. Andrew explains:“ We deliberately waited until we knew her driving ability had progressed to a point where she did not have to overly think about it.
“ The amount of preparation you need depends on how much karting you have done in the past. If you have driven karts before, you are familiar with the flags in F1, and have common sense around safety, you could pass, but it is good to get some experience in the kart and know you can go around the track in the required time bracket.
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If Stage Rallying is your call, then the BARS exam is your passport to adventure
Despite a wet track, Eloise ended her session with a huge grin!
JEP / James Roberts
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Revolution- July 2025