License requirements in the BTCC

[Radisichrox]

What license requirements are needed to drive in the BTCC? How would you go about getting them? Thanks!

[Simon Pullan]

An International C licence is need to compete in the BTCC. You get a National B licence by taking a one day ARDS course which comprises a driving test and a written test. Below is how you can upgrade this to International C standard and is straight from the blue book:

2.15.2. RACING – How to Upgrade a Licence
(a) National `B’ to National `A’ Race
A competitor who is qualified to hold a 2002 National `B’ Race licence mayupgrade it to National `A’ Race licence either at renewal or during the yearas follows:
Obtain Clerk of the Course’s signatures on the reverse of a 2000, 2001and/or 2002 licence certifying that the qualifying events have been successfully completed. These are 10 National `B’ or Clubman Races which must not all be at the same venue, and must not contain more than 5 signatures from Single Make Races utilising cars organised, prepared or provided by the Organisers/Promoters.
One of the Clerk of the Course signatures required for having successfully completed a Race may be replaced by a Clerk of the Course signature for completing a day on a marshal’s post during a race meeting. One of the Clerk of the Course signatures for having successfully completed a Race may be replaced with a signature for having successfully completed an ARDS Advanced Course.

(b) National `A’ to International `C’ Race
A competitor who is qualified to hold a 2002 National `A’ Race licence may upgrade it to International `C’ Race licence either at renewal or during the year as follows:
Obtain Clerk of the Course’s signatures on the reverse of a 2000, 2001 and/or 2002 licence certifying that the qualifying events have been successfully completed. These are 3 National `A’ Races OR 2 National `A’ plus 2 National `B’ Races OR 6 National `B’ Races. In all options signatures must be obtained at 3 different venues.

[Les]

so what sort of racing is classed as National 'A'and what's National 'B'?

[Simon Pullan]

National A races are the faster national championships. The overseas rounds of the Radicals were National A, as is the Caterham Superlight Challenge, and FRenault. Clios and Tuscans however, are National B. It's basically down to the championship coordinators. If they don't want novices then they make it National A, if they want bigger grids, including novices, then National B it is. Most championships in Britain are National B. The only domestic International C championships I know of, are F3, BTCC, and British GTs.

[Les]

so if Clios are 'B' - how does someone get from Clios to touring cars when it seems we don't have any class 'A' drives (except maybe the production class)

[BTC-P fan]

By successfully completing 6 National B races at 3 different venues would upgrade your licence from a National A to Int C. Or in other words complete 16 National B races to go from a National B licence to an Int C

[Les]

Not being rude to those that have progressed that quickly but that seems too easy or few to me.
16 races to go from novice to being on the same track as Plato and co... No thanks!

[Craig]

I can think of at least one of your 'mates' who wouldn't have been on the grid if the rules were any tougher...

[Simon Pullan]

Originally posted by Les
so if Clios are 'B' - how does someone get from Clios to touring cars when it seems we don't have any class 'A' drives (except maybe the production class)

Most people at the front of Clios have done some racing before and so will probably be on at least a National A licence if not an International C already.

[Les]

Originally posted by Craig Antill
I can think of at least one of your 'mates' who wouldn't have been on the grid if the rules were any tougher...

Quite a few I should think and they know who they are but it's the rules that seem to geared to allowing it or even promoting it. I just think it's a bit sad that the top class of racing is 'so easily' attainable (licence wise).

Obviously I am not having a go at any one who has done it - I'm just talking licences and the getting of - not whether anyone on the grid is capable or not of being there

[Takuma]

Just a thought, how many races had Aaron Slight done in cars before he drove in the btcc last season?

Or were BMP/TOCA so desperate to get drivers in their failing series that they would take anyone?

[KA]

Originally posted by Takuma
Just a thought, how many races had Aaron Slight done in cars before he drove in the btcc last season?

Or were BMP/TOCA so desperate to get drivers in their failing series that they would take anyone?

Slight had driven at least one touring car race before, (the Tourist Trophy at Donington for Honda back in 97 or so), so may have already had an appropriate grade of licence. Presumably overseas drivers don't drive on RAC competition licences but those issued by their own motorsport governing body, so he'd have driven on one issued in New Zealand- I'm sure I've read somewhere that he has raced cars before in Australia or NZ?

[KA]

Originally posted by Takuma
Or were BMP/TOCA so desperate to get drivers in their failing series that they would take anyone?

I'm not sure I'd describe the BTCC as failing just yet- touring car racing in general isn't in great shape at the moment, so most series apart from Aussie V8s and the DTM which went their own way some years ago are still recovering from the decline of Super Touring...

The BTCC isn't so much 'failing' as 'recovering' -its still early days....

[Radisichrox]

Sounds somewhat easy.