Could I be a F1 Driver ?

[renaultbel]

A few weeks ago I went to go karting with my whole class and thats about 25 persons.
Nobody have driven under the 30 sec only me and a other guy, but for the other give it was his 16th time he have driven a kart. For me this was my 3th time and I have driven the second fastes time. Am I a talent ? I dream about F1 but I think I never would get there just because I dont have the money to drive in F1.

I am 19 years old and if I ever get ritch I promise myself I start a F1 team. A team like Minardi where F1 still is passion and love. and thats about what I love about the back teams of F1 the love and the passion for F1

why do you love F1 ?

[Minardi fan]

I always wonder if, when I finally go karting at some point (I want to gooooooooo!!!!!) if I will blow the rest of the field away with my amazing talent. Or not.

I love F1 for everything - the racing, Minardi, drivers like Raikkonen, Alonso, Katayama... It's hard to put a finger on it, but when it comes down to it, I just LOVE F1!

[Carla O]

Originally posted by Minardi fan
I always wonder if, when I finally go karting at some point (I want to gooooooooo!!!!!) if I will blow the rest of the field away with my amazing talent. Or not.

heehee

I went karting once 2 years ago near Lisbon. it was really cool, unfortunately there was a difference between men and women... all men were first, then all the women... bah! But even so, I was the fastest girl in qualifying and I even managed to overtake one of the guys in the start. I was the fastest of the girls, leaving the others way behind me and didn't finish too far ahead from the last guy...

It was great fun!

[Liz]

Well, we can always race karts and PRETEND it's F1.

If Bernie suddenly decides to leave his empire to me, I will promptly wind the clock back to 1979 and if anyone, male or female, can drive those cars at speed and give us a good show, he or she is hired.

We will have no "driver aids" (crutches and cheat sheets) because Formula One in the 1979 cars is not a game for babies or sissies - it is "Survivor" writ large.

Bring your own Insurance.

[EERO]

Of course I have fantasized that my genius behind the wheel would have made me WDC several times over. Time for your medication, Mr Mitty

I actually have a pretty clear sense that I never would have cut it on any level in racing. But it hasn't diminished my love for the sport. I marvel at skill I can barely imagine.


The real shock was Berger's retirement as he was the last guy near my age-I could be father to half the field today! My days as a Formula 1 driver are PAST being numbered!

[DancingMachine]

NO

[SH0077]

I have been dreming for years of what it would be like to drive a F1 car. Those dreams would soon turn into reality and I was no F1 driver. With all the new electronic gadgetry that is going on these days, I proudly announce that I would be able to drive a modern F1 car! Keeping up with the feild, well that's another dream...

Chuckling at myself,

sh0077

[TimD]

Am I right in thinking that there's a circuit school running at Paul Ricard that uses AGS Formula 1 cars from about 1989? Certainly it was there a couple of years ago.

That would be the way to find out if there was a chance for you at the fast end of motor sport, or whether you were just going to frighten yourself silly.

I must say I'd be tempted to give it a try, although it's not going to be cheap.

As for careers in Formula 1 - remember that only 22 people each year get to work for a living as Grand Prix drivers. A lot more people in the world get to earn their living being Prime Ministers! It is a very tough thing to get into.

But there are plenty of championships to get your teeth into, even if you miss out on a works drive because at age 22 you are frankly past it. Formula 1 cars never die - they just get driven by privateers. If you are good enough, and if you can get the money together, there is nothing to stop you being a hobby racer, even in a Formula 1 machine. Just ask the Historic GP racers, or the FORCE and BOSS series competitors.

There are plenty of avenues open, as long as you accept that you are unlikely to be the next Michael Schumacher.

[marcus]

yes TimD you are correct about the AGS thing ..but it is the 1991 chassis and an old ford DFR engine..but still would be an experience to drive it ...I remember some magazine giving the public the chance to win a drive in it a few years back.

I always wondered what it would be like to drive an F1 car ..it would be just amazing..knowing that I would never get the chance I decided to give any kind of racing a go and purchased a go kart..
its not F1 by a long shot but it definately is a rush and at 100kph (60mph) you dont have time to pretend its F1

well at least I can run at the front of the pack in karts..and that goood enough for me.

[djb]

Here in Canada I'm pretty certain that there is an outfit that runs some early-90's Larousses(does that sound right?). If I recall correctly, its about $4000 can. and you start in Formula 1600 or 2000 cars for most of the day, and then each student gets 3 or 4 laps in the Larousse. I've read of a similiar operation in Europe, but lets face it, it's only for people with a serious amount of money to spend for a weekend.

As for the Walter Mitty aspect of karting, I don't go very often, but man is it fun. Would recommend it to each and all of you.

[Valve Bounce]

OK. My next project will be to have a go at carting. Most of my successes to date have been in sailing, so I'll have a go on land.

[Sodemo2]

I go karting with the "Brunel Motorsport Society". In teams of 3 or 4 we had a Lemans-style driver change 2 hour race at this big track in Milton Keynes. Going from karts that do 45mph to ones that do 80mph was at first daunting, but I felt no different getting the kart sideways round the almost-flat turn 13.

PS out of my team i got the fastest lap, I was also the most consistent

PPS What gloves do you guys use?, I used to have a pair of Stand 21's but after a few races they were so uncomfortable, I got a pair of Sparco GP's, but even they chaff a bit round the base of my thumbs.