F1 - No experience

[wideboy]

Can someone tell me why its possible for a novice driver with absolutely no experience to go & race an unbelievably quick historic F1/ F5000 car just because they've got the money to do it. Should this be allowed? The novice stage is undoubtedly the hardest time- anyone will tell you because all is new. The drivers who are stupid enough to drive these machines are doing neither themselves nor the other competitors any favours. The RAC must review the licence requirements before a serious incident occurs.

[TimD]

Welcome to the forum, Wideboy.

Without necessarily naming names, are there any particular incidents that spring to mind? The reason I ask is that I can't think of any driver in the top echelons of historic racing who hasn't had years of experience on the nursery slopes.

Indeed, there are many, such as Peter Hardman, Martin Stretton and Mike Wilds, who could easily have made it to the very pinnacle of professional motor sport, if the breaks had fallen slightly differently.

Besides, surely the FIA International status of a class such as - say - the Thoroughbred GP series will mitigate against any novice taking part. A little question of the number of signatures on licence and proven on-track history. Can one of the active historic racers enlighten us on this one?

[Yimkin]

Hi Wideboy,

In simple terms, it isn't possible. For a start to get an international historic licence you need at least 5 signatures, Several series (and I'm almost certain that BOSS/Thoroughbred GP/F5000 are included) have their own licence requirements, particularly designed to overcome this perceived problem - although would anybody be loony enough to do it? As TimD says, these drivers have had extensive experience in the lower orders before moving on to these series, and several were/could have been pro's 'in their day'

[ghinzani]

What about that German woman who Autospurt reported made her racing debut in the Thorobred series? apparently it was her first race, and in an F1 car!

[Rob29]

Yes,apparently money can buy you a German international licence.She only had to do a test in an F3 car to qualify.