ARDS Test

[paul.haines]

Hi, I just wanted to ask a few questions about the ARDS test.  First off, price, I had a look a few years ago & I think the test cost £180, now at my local tracks (Brands & Goodwood) your looking at £250+, is this a reasonable price or are they charging above the odds?

On the Goodwood website & during a conversation with one of the instructors at Brands Hatch it was suggested that, with no prior track experience, you were VERY unlikely to pass.  I spoke to the MSA about the standard they were expecting but they explained "we only issue the licence's".  I understand that I can't go around the track not knowing my arse from my elbow but I begrudge paying £200 for a driver tuition day (about 20 mins of track time by the time everyone has had a go swapped seats etc etc) if it's not really needed. 

I just wanted to see what everybody else's thoughts/ experience of this was.

Many thanks

[Woody]

I did my test at Oulton Park and it cost £250. When I telephoned to book, like you, they told me I should have some training first. I had my doubts especially as that was another £200.
If you fail the test you've lost £250. So I bit my lip and booked the training for the morning and the test in the afternoon.

The training was supposed to be an hour one to one but it was more like an hour and a half and I feel it was very valuable and enjoyable. To be fair I don't think I would have passed without it as I had no previous track experience and the examiner was very hard.

3 of us did the test on the day and the guy with the most previous track experience failed.   
The test was 3 laps with the chief examiner talking to me (but not giving training or advise) and then 5 laps of silence where I was to complete fast, consistant and safe laps using the right lines.
I guess it depends on your previous experience but to me it was a bit like your driving test, you need to know how the examiner wants you to drive and what he's looking for.

[miles 10B]

I did the one-day ARDS at silverstone a couple of years ago which, I think, gives you plenty of track time before your test. The instructors I had were great; experienced racers, patient and encouraging.

There were probably ten of us there that day and, I think, one or two failed.

It's in Lotus Exiges too

http://www.silverstone.co.uk/track/driver-coaching/ards/full-day-ards/

[junior_ashton97]

Hey,
 i know from previous experience the whole ARDS liscence is a can of worms, but as said earlier its all about what you want from gaining an ards liscence. For me it was just about getting the bit of plastic to say you can race on uk circuits! I paid from memory £200 turned up in the morn, did the simple written test and went out for about 5 laps round mallory park in a bmw d3 alpina ESTATE !, 2 being watched and assessed. I came into the pits a bit of paper was signed and i drove home
but obviosly some other circiuts offer more substantial packages for people with more of a basic understanding.
Contact mallory park circuit or everyman driving school who operate there.

[ashton79c]

i did a full days package at Silverstone.Found it a bit of a nonsence really as i did about 3 sessions all in rear wheel drives and it was snowing.All i wanted was the pass .After that i learnt everything from race experience LEARNING FROM EVERYONE ELSE ON TRACK AND OFF.

[chrisastley]

Hi,

If you are still looking to do your ARDS Test, call Kate Smith at Everyman Racing (01455 841670) the price is around £250 and you get some track tuition as well, but more can be purchased (I'm not sure on price) but if you get a date when I am working, we will look after you you will be glad to hear that the Alpinas have gone, we are now using Ford Focus ST's or Focus RS's and sometimes Subaru Impreza 330 STi. We use either Mallory Park or Prestwold Hall which is our own purpose built race circuit just outside Loughborough. You will have demonstration laps by the assessor first, explaining lines and basic race craft with other cars on track (normally Lambo's, Ferrari's, R8's etc) All of the assessing instructors are patient, encouraging, and they hold either an A grade or S grade instructor's licence (meaning, they must have held an International C race licence minimum) You dont have to be the fastest driver in the world... Normally, if you pass, the Assessor's words will be to the extent of "Your not the fastest driver, your not the slowest driver, but you can be sat next to me on the grid next weekend. If I didnt think it would be safe to be sat next to you, I would fail you"

If anybody has any questions/queries etc feel free to get in touch with me on 07590406610 or email chrisastley_12@hotmail.com

Kind Rgds

ChrisAstley