To enter Formula one, is age 16 too late of an age to start go-karting?
958460
With the exception of Damon Hill (who started by racing motorbikes and didn't get into car racing until he was 14) most of the modern drivers were racing karts before the age of 8. So, yes, you're a little late for racing single-seaters. Look at saloon car racing or hill-climbing as a way into motorsport.
114740
It's 16 or 18 depending on circumstances. For more info, see my source.
783955
That's one of the toughest gigs to land in all of racing but if you're serious you need to start at the bottom.  That would be Go-Cart racing...yes, I am serious!  They have its of classes and it's here most get their start in open wheel racing.  \n\nIF you're good and the right eyes spy you then you MIGHT get invited to test for one of the open wheel teams that run in various 'feeder' series such as the Mazda Star Series.  Better win some races and probably a championship because the next stop (if you're REALLY lucky) is IRL or CART.  Lots of guys race their entire careers there and never even get the privilege to talk to even a back running F1 team so you might consider selling your soul at this point if success is really that important.  \n\nOK, I guess your fingers still dripping where you signed in blood so I'll give you the last and probably harshest bit of news.  Even if you get to F1 it's most likely you'll start for one of the small teams, you know, the ones whose names you likely don't even know like Menardi or Saulver.  Yup, even F1 has it's feeder teams and it's here you must shine your brightest all the while driving equipment which is, well, not substandard but old, the cast offs and outdated equipment from teams like McClairen, Williams and Big Red. Expect a lot of heartache as you'll know that in each and every race you have an almost infinitesimal chance of even finishing in the points and absolutly zero of winning.  \n\nOh, I almost forgot the most important part...MONEY!  Most of the smaller teams where you get your start require a driver buy in, or in other words big bucks for the chance to get behind the wheel and the last I heard it was about a cool $1,000,000 to get a seat at even the lowest level.  Why do you think it's only rich Europeans behind the wheels?  Old family money for spoiled rich kids to 'compete' for the families honor. \n \nSorry to be the bearer of bad news but facts are facts and I certainly don't make the rules.  My best advice to you if you TRUELY want to be a race car driver is to start in Go-Carts or entry levels of any of the dirt racing series and make a name for yourself.  Even if you don't get to the top you'll have a blast and make memories which will last a life time. So here's to living the dream. Best of luck to you, and I really mean it.
913696
I THINK IT'S 16 NO MATTER WHERE YOUR AT. YOU CAN GET A SPECIAL WORK PERMIT IF YOUR YOUNGER
334779
The current age is perfectly fine with me. I just turned 21 in March and I know for a fact that I still need more experience in life. Plus, the person will have had be able to get previous political experience by the time the person reached 35.
934616
I don't know the ideal age to start.  Oscar started like 7 as did many great fighter.  Some fighters like Jermaine Taylor started in teenage years.  If you start too young there is a good chance you will be burnt out.\n\nAs far a 21 if you were a very gifted athlete you can still be good even pro.  To be a world class boxer at 21 is a very late start.\n\nI started in 8th grade and still found many kids my age with much more experience.  The good news is after getting your butt kicked by more experienced guys your fighting will get much better if you keep on trying.
1103001
It all depends on how you depend on getting into go karting.\n\nIf you are going to buy your own kart, and race it, then it probably would be necessary, as then you know what can go wrong, what has gone wrong, how to fix, etc.\n\nIf you are going into a team that have mechanics, etc, then no it would not be necessary.  It would be advisable to have an aptitude towards learning about the engines, so the above paragraph could be applied when you drive.  I am sure the mechanics would not be slow in offering help and information abou the engine, as it is in their best interests as well.  Ie, You may not harm the engine as much when driving.
381766
I don't know much about supercross. But I can tell you that the age of 14 is when you have to give up for most motor racing on a professional level.  If you hadn't started training by then.  Its sad, but you really aren't going to make it.
442363
1. Learn how to drive.\n2. Practice driving.\n3. Try karting (like Michael Schumacher did).\n4. Try driving a taxi cab or similar PUV (like Mika Hakkinen did).\n5. Try to slim down.\n6. Try to become smaller.\n7. Enter a racing school, preferably F1 racing schools.\n8. Earn a racing license, I don't know if F1 has different racing licenses.\n9. Look for smaller tourneys like F2's, F3's and the like and try to be the best (like Juan Pablo Montoya).\n10. Find an F1 racing team, preferably the low earners like the Jordan team that we used to have (remember how Karthikeyan tasted 1 F1 season?).\n11. Transfer to a more decent team in case opportunity arises (don't be like Takuma Sato, please).
233579
You didn't mention your age.  While you may be mature enough to handle a golf cart, most people under 18 are certainly not.  Having said that, some 40 year olds drive them into lakes and onto greens too.
82151
Get a licence\nIn Britain, from January 1 this year, the licensing rules were changed and every driver wishing to contest stage rallies now has to hold a Stage Rally Competition Licence.\n\nComplete novices will have to complete a BARS (British Association of Rally schools) course and apply to British rallying's governing body, the MSA, for a "Go Rallying Pack". For £39 you will receive an MSA Competitors' yearbook, a novice application and a video on rallying.\n\nThe next step is attending one of the 10 registered BARS schools for a 15-minute theory test and a driving test lasting roughly 10 minutes. If you successfully pass both, you can send off your application and a 'National B' status licence will be yours.\n\nThe National B licence\nThis piece of paper is your gateway to the various national rally championships at clubman level. Alternatively you could join a one-make series, of which there are currently four in the UK run by Peugeot, Ford and Volkswagen.\n\nThere are advantages to both but with a one-make series you will learn fast and compete against people at your level. A full season in a one-make series will be relatively cost effective and coupled with that you have the back-up of a manufacturer and skilled personnel at your disposal. Indeed, reigning world rally champion, Richard won Peugeot's one-make series, the Peugeot Challenge in 1991.\n\nPeugeot Sport boss, Mick Linford offers his words of advice: "My own point of view is that a one-make championship is a very level playing field. You go into the championship knowing that everything is down to your driving.\n\n"To anyone wanting to get started in rallying, get as many events under your belt as you can. Nothing beats experience. Also build up that experience with a regular co-driver."\n\nThe next step\nPlayStation gamers will think this is a little like Gran Turismo because once you've competed successfully at National B level, the next step-up licence wise is the 'National A', which you can upgrade to after contesting four of the 'National B' events.\n\nThis opens up a whole new world of rallying with access to national championships such as ANCRO or BTRDA and the British Rally Championship (BRC).\n\nThe BRC has traditionally been the step-up to world rallying and a talent spotters' paradise. Four-time world champion Tommi Makinen is a past competitor in a Nissan and Colin McRae stepped-up from the Scottish Championship to the British series winning in 1991 and '92.\n\n"The championship is Britain's premier series geared up to give any talented driver, in any class of car, the chance to win," says Mark Taylor, championship manager for the BRC.\n\n"It's held over seven qualifying rounds and is a mixture of demanding, high-quality tarmac and gravel events. Drivers with Super 1600, WRC or Production cars can gain experience of top-class, competitive rallying and the top team managers view any BRC champion as a potential star of the future."\n\nFor budding Finnish rally drivers, the Finnish Championship is also a breeding ground for future WRC talent. Marcus Gronholm and Harri Rovanpera are among the successful graduates who have made the transition to the world stage.\n\nBut also remember that while you are talented, you don't necessarily have to be in the best car to get yourself noticed. Ford's young gun for the 2002 season Markko Martin was originally spotted driving a Lada in the Estonian Rally Championship.\n\nAnd for some world rally debuts are lucky breaks. Quite literally for Norwegian Petter Solberg who replaced Thomas Radstrom on the Safari Rally when the Ford driver broke his leg!\n\nCareer swaps?\nYou don't have to start your career in rallying either. Carlos Sainz was a Formula Ford driver before he switched his allegiance to rallying, Belgian ace Francois Duval started out in karting and Petter Solberg was a rallycrosser.\n\nBut what
12201
Drinking and driving is a great concern here (in the US) where many teenagers have access to the family automobile.  It is possible to learn how to drive in a relatively short time for example using Drivers Ed (I began on my 16th birthday - 67 years ago today!) but it takes much longer to integrate all the new knowledge with experience behind the wheel.  For example a skilled driver can spot danger well ahead even while wistling their favorite tune while a beginner may be entering a rotary (roundabout?) for the very first time.\n\nExperiments have proved that if two piano players start to drink until both are drunk at a given blood alcohol concentration, the less experienced piano player (with newly learned skills) will perform well below normal ability far sooner than the piano Pro (with well ingrained skills).\n\nTherefore it follows that new drivers drinking while still integrating skills under age 21 are more prone to lose their skills and judgement and cause fatal accidents, killing themselves and their friends and people standing or driving nearby.  Many below the age of 21 are still in high school and even drive to school.  Eighteen to 21 is an important transition age in many ways.  \n\nNo one should drink and drive - and no one wants to lose their teenaged sons or daughters.\n\nIt is good that UK children are taught moderation, hopefully in all things.
193637
18 I believe, but call a defensive driving school to varify this.
95374
I don't know, I'd like to drive though, you can be my mechanic ...if you're good.  There are special schools but I think they cost quite a bit.  Here's one I ran across coming back from Charllotte yesterday.  \n\nwww.motorsportsintern.com
224599
Remember you need to have a 28" waist, otherwise you will not fit into the cockpit. Hopefully you are also still young, for you need about 300 hours of TEST driving in a F1 car, not mentioning the other formula driving categories that you need to race in too\n\n-- Otherwise , best of luck
161433
agha, Don't listen to the other people. Now, car racing is a hit in Iran. From Karting at azadi to rallying and that girl who's a really good driver. I would recommened practising and if you actually beleive you are one of the best 50 drivers in the world, jusst get a normal visa to the US and try out. If you get in AWESOME, we'll have the first Iranian Nascar driver. But If you can't make it, PRACTISE HARDER!
435389
Inorder to get onto a driving seat one has to first have a super licence which can be obtained by displaying one's skills in local, national level, etc. small races like go carting etc. after obtaining the super license one may build his/her repute by  entering in smaller world championships like formula3, indy car etc. then with the help of sponserers he can have a test drive with any of the F1 teams with their approval. and if you fulfil the necessary requirements and if the team feels you as suitable for a driving seat, u may be given a driving seat.