How to Autotest

It’s one of the slowest forms of motor sport as you rarely need to get out of first or reverse gears, but autotesting demands great skill. It was where two of Britain’s motor sporting icons, rally King Colin McRae and stunt-driving wizard Russ Swift, made their competition debuts.

Autotesting grew out of the driving tests that used to decide major rallies in the post-war years, and by the 1960s it had become a popular sport in its own right.

Autotests are incredibly accessible, with numerous events every weekend from local motor club level, up to the Link-Up Ltd MSA British Autotest Championship. The BTRDA also runs a series – the Demon Tweeks Direct BTRDA Autotest Championship. There are regional championships in every area of the country.

Where do the events take place?

On any small area of asphalt or grass – often car parks or smooth grass fields. There are numerous venues up and down the country, so, wherever you live, you won’t have to travel far to compete.

How do the events work?

Drivers compete on courses marked out by plastic pylons or cones. They will have a number of tests, at which they get two attempts each. The driver with the lowest accumulated time is the winner – although penalties are incurred for hitting cones, failing to stop on a line, or for taking the wrong route (or going the wrong side of a cone).

Autosolos

If you prefer to drive only in a forward direction, autosolos are simpler than traditional autotests. And they are an ideal first step into motor sport. Each test is clearly marked with cones and tape so that drivers – especially novices – are free to concentrate on setting competitive times rather than trying to remember where the course goes. To keep costs down, you have to use a standard road car and, importantly, it must be driven to the event.

So how do I start?

Join your local club Ystrad Mynach Motor Club.Get a club membership card and if you want to compete at Regional level or above apply for your MSA Clubman Competition Licence. Then take your car – and that includes using your road car if you want – and go autotesting! You’ll need to be at least 16 years old (or 14 for production car autotests).

But what can I compete in?

Most people start in their road car. Small hatchbacks such as Vauxhall Novas have proved to be very popular and competitive in recent years. Obviously, stretched limos are not so maneuverable, although you’ll certainly become a crowd favourite!

The MSA and BTRDA championships have seven classes to enable drivers to compete against similar machinery and most other events have class structures too. These are split into saloons, sports cars and Specials. They may also be split by engine size, as well as front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.

It’s estimated that, competing with your standard road car, you can complete a season of MSA Championship autotesting for as little as £700! Regional or Club level championships can be even cheaper.

Equipment Required

Road cars are ideal for starters, but if you get serious you may want to look into building or buying a ‘special’.

The most famous cars in autotesting are Mini Specials. The Mini is an ideal car for a sport that puts such a high premium on manoeuvrability and the Specials are generally Minis with the roof chopped off and low sides.

Other than that, you don’t really need anything. Because autotests take place at low speeds, you don’t even need a helmet or fireproof clothing.

Original article courtesy of the GO Motorsport Initiative. www.gomotorsport.net

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