The Next Challenge: Why You Should Get Your Race Licence and Join the Action

There comes a point in every petrolhead’s life when driving fast on the road just isn’t enough anymore. You’ve mastered the art of threading your supercar through Alpine passes, your heel-and-toe is on point, and you’ve done enough track days to know the Nürburgring’s corners by name. So, what’s next? Simple. You go racing.
And before you protest with a well-rehearsed list of excuses – “It’s too expensive,” “I don’t know where to start,” “I’m not good enough” – allow me to stop you right there. Because if I, a reasonably competent driver with a healthy disregard for mechanical sympathy, can go racing, then so can you.

Why I Started Racing
My own foray into motorsport started with EnduroKA – a low-budget endurance series where four drivers share a car and compete in races lasting up to 24 hours. Yes, 24 hours. In a Ford Ka. If that doesn’t sound like the very pinnacle of motorsport, then you, my friend, have never tried wrestling one of these shopping trolleys around a circuit at full throttle.

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It’s wheel-to-wheel racing in its purest form. No traction control, no ABS, and just enough horsepower to make an overtake feel like an achievement worthy of a knighthood. The fun is in the battle – bumper-to-bumper racing, late-braking heroics, and the constant threat that the car might throw a tantrum at any moment.
Over time, we’ve built our own little team. What started as a handful of enthusiasts has grown into a 10-person squad, complete with mechanics, strategists, and a dedicated tea-making department (arguably the most important role of all). We’ve experienced the highs of victory, the lows of mechanical failure, and everything in between. And I can tell you, without hesitation, that being part of a racing team – even when things go spectacularly wrong – is some of the most fun you can have in motorsport.

Racing Will Make You a Better Driver
One of the biggest surprises about going racing is just how much it improves your driving. Suddenly, everything you’ve learned on road and track days gets pushed to the extreme. You become smoother, faster, and more precise. You learn how to feel the car beneath you, how to manage grip, how to out-brake someone into a corner without sending both of you into the gravel trap.

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And let’s be honest – having a race licence also gives you immediate petrolhead bragging rights. You’ll be that guy at dinner parties, casually mentioning that you’re competing in an endurance race next weekend while everyone else talks about their latest motorway commute.

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Racing presents a whole new mental challenge
One thing I didn’t anticipate in the early days of my racing career was just how much it would test me mentally—and how it would unlock my competitive side. It’s far more than just going around in circles. I’ve learned the art of setup, the power of marginal gains in data analysis to shave off those crucial tenths, and how to push myself to extract even more performance. Every day is a school day, and it’s bloody good fun too. Just when you think you’ve mastered it all, racing humbles you and throws another exhilarating challenge your way.

The Perfect Place to Start - The Radical Cup UK
Now, if you’re looking for a proper race series to sink your teeth into, let me introduce you to the Radical Cup UK.
Radical racing is pure, unfiltered, high-adrenaline motorsport that can take you across the globe to legendary circuits. With comparative speeds to a GT3 car, these lightweight, aero-packed race cars are proper weapons, designed for one thing – going extremely fast. It’s the closest thing to driving a prototype race car without selling a kidney to fund a Le Mans entry making it one of the best entry level series in the UK.

And the best bit? Fellow Supercar Driver members John Hewitt and Lee Jackson are already competing. Last year, they lined up alongside our very own Jonty, going wheel-to-wheel in one of the most competitive grids in the country. Check out how Jonty got on here. This year, John and Lee are back for another season, with John making an even bigger statement by racing in the special-livery 3000th Radical ever built.

Supercar Driver members can book Radical Cup UK hospitality directly through the Members’ Area, giving you a prime spot to witness the action, soak up the atmosphere in the GT Cup paddock, and cheer on John and Lee as they take on the 2025 season. It’s also the perfect chance to get a feel for the paddock, chat with drivers, and start plotting your own racing future.

All you need to do is get your race licence, find the right series for you, and dive in. The thrill of competition, the camaraderie of a race team, and the sheer joy of pushing a car to its limits make it one of the best experiences a petrolhead can have.
So, what are you waiting for? The next challenge is calling.

Written by Paul Pearce - Member & Racing Driver