Go Racing Pack: What It Is, What's Inside and How to Get Your Race Licence in 2026

A Go Racing pack is the official starter kit from Motorsport UK that takes you from "I'd like to race" to holding a valid competition licence. It's the route almost every new circuit racer in the UK goes through, and it bundles together the two things you legally need before you can start: the ARDS (Association of Racing Drivers Schools) theory and practical test, and your first Motorsport UK licence application. Order the pack, read it, book your test, pass it, send off the paperwork — and you're cleared to enter races.

Below is exactly what's in the pack, what it costs, and the order you actually do things in — because the pack itself is only the first step of a slightly longer process.

What's inside a Go Racing pack

The pack is produced by Motorsport UK, the governing body for four-wheel motorsport in Britain. It's designed so a complete newcomer can understand the sport's rules and safety requirements before ever turning a wheel in anger. You'll typically get:

• The official guide/booklet explaining how UK motorsport is structured, the different licence grades, and what each lets you do.
• A copy of the key regulations (or access to them) — the flags, the safety procedures, the on-track rules you'll be tested on.
• Your licence application form and instructions, including the medical declaration.
• The ARDS test material you need to revise before sitting the assessment.

Much of this is now delivered digitally through Motorsport UK's system rather than as a physical box through the post, so don't be surprised if "the pack" is largely an online account and downloads.

How much does a Go Racing pack cost?

The pack itself is relatively inexpensive — the significant costs come afterwards, at the ARDS test and licence stage. Rather than quote a figure that dates quickly, it's worth checking the current price directly with Motorsport UK, because the pack, the test and the licence are priced separately and reviewed each year.

To budget properly, the biggest line item is the ARDS test at an approved racing school, plus the licence fee and a medical. We've broken the full, current numbers down in our guide to the ARDS test cost in the UK for 2026 — read that before you spend anything, so there are no surprises.

The full route: from pack to grid

The Go Racing pack is step one of about five. Here's the honest sequence most first-time racers follow:

1. Get the Go Racing pack from Motorsport UK and read it properly. This is where you learn the flags, the rules and the safety basics.
2. Get a medical. A Racing National A licence (the usual entry grade) needs a medical examination and a completed declaration, done by a doctor.
3. Book and pass the ARDS test at an approved circuit racing school. It's split into a written/theory paper on the rules and flags, and a practical on-track assessment with an instructor who checks you can drive safely and follow instructions. It is not a race — it's a competence and safety check.
4. Send off your licence application with the pass certificate, medical and photo. Motorsport UK issues your licence.
5. Enter your first race. Once the licence is in hand, you pick a championship, join a club and enter. Our guide on how to enter your first motorsport event walks through the entry process itself.

Which licence does the pack lead to?

For most people the goal is the Racing National A licence, which lets you compete in the majority of national circuit racing championships. The Go Racing pack and ARDS test are the standard gateway to it. There are other grades above and below — a lower grade for certain non-race disciplines, and international grades you upgrade to later once you've built up signatures from race finishes — but National A is where nearly everyone starts.

Step	What it covers	Roughly how long
Go Racing pack	Rules, flags, safety, application forms	A few evenings of reading
Medical	Fitness to race, declaration signed by a doctor	One appointment
ARDS test	Theory paper + practical on-track assessment	Half a day at a school
Licence issue	Application processed by Motorsport UK	Days to a couple of weeks

Do you need a Go Racing pack for every kind of motorsport?

No — and this is worth knowing before you spend. The pack and ARDS route are specifically for circuit racing. Plenty of UK motorsport disciplines have a much gentler entry: autotests, sprints, hill climbs, autosolos and some road events can often be entered on a basic (and cheaper, sometimes free) non-race Motorsport UK licence, or even just club membership, without an ARDS test at all.

If you love the idea of competing but want to start smaller and cheaper, it's genuinely worth browsing what's out there first. Our discipline-by-discipline guide to UK motorsport explains what each type of event involves, and you can see what's actually running near you on the event map and calendar. Many people do a season of sprints or hill climbs before committing to the full circuit-racing route.

Tips before you order

• Decide your discipline first. If you're set on wheel-to-wheel circuit racing, the pack is essential. If you're not sure, sample a cheaper discipline before you spend on ARDS.
• Book your medical early. It's easy to leave this until last and then find you can't get a GP slot in time.
• Choose an ARDS school near a circuit you'll actually race at. Learning the track you'll compete on is a nice bonus.
• Revise the flags properly. The theory paper is very passable, but people do fail it by not reading the pack. Don't be that person.
• Sort your kit and car separately. The licence lets you race; it doesn't provide a car, race suit or helmet. Budget for those too.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Go Racing pack the same as the ARDS test?

No. The Go Racing pack is the starter kit and information you read to prepare. The ARDS test is the separate assessment — a theory paper plus a practical drive at an approved school — that you sit afterwards to prove you're ready. The pack gets you ready for the test; it isn't the test itself.

How long is the race licence valid once I've got it?

Motorsport UK competition licences run on an annual basis and are renewed each year, usually with an updated medical declaration depending on your age and grade. You don't have to repeat the ARDS test each year once you hold the licence.

Can I get a Go Racing pack if I've never driven on a track?

Yes — that's exactly who it's designed for. No track experience is assumed. Doing a trackday or some coaching beforehand will make your ARDS practical far less daunting, but it isn't a requirement to order the pack.

What's the total cost from pack to first race?

Budget for the pack, a medical, the ARDS test at a school and the licence fee — then car, kit and race entries on top. The licensing side is the predictable bit; see our 2026 ARDS cost breakdown for current figures before you commit.

Ready to find something to enter?

Once your licence is sorted, the fun part begins: picking races. You can browse every UK motorsport event in one place, filter by circuit and check dates, entry availability and noise limits so you can plan a full season around the fixtures that suit you.