I am not here to watch the Revival; the vintage motoring meetup which draws a crowd of thousands every year. I am not here, as many are, for a track day, driving their own machines around this technical circuit. Rather, I am here to take my first step to becoming a racing driver. Rain was not supposed to be part of the plan.
Like many tracks around the UK, including the Formula 1 circuit Silverstone, Brands Hatch, and others, Goodwood regularly hosts a Novice Driver Training Course, or ARDS test. There is only one reason anyone would want to do this: to become a racing driver.
The ARDS test is what you need to pass to apply for your first racing license, and it comes in two parts. First, a theory, in which you must know the correct marshal flags inside out. If you get one of the questions on flags wrong, you fail the whole thing. The second half is an on-track assessment, where an instructor grades your awareness, consistency, knowledge of the racing line, and your general ability to keep the car safely on course. As the rain started lashing down during my theory test, the latter assessment was becoming more of a concern.
Goodwood is a deceptively tricky circuit. It is a fast, flowing track, and while relatively flat, it has a few bumps that can catch you off guard. It doesn’t have much run-off either, so if you find yourself with a wheel on the grass, you can be in big trouble. It is a unique place and is the only circuit in the world to remain exactly in its original form.
The track opened after WWII, hosting its inaugural event in 1948, the same year as Silverstone. Goodwood got there first, hosting the UK’s first professionally organized post-war race, with over 15,000 spectators in attendance. But the two former RAF bases went in slightly different directions. Silverstone became home to F1, hosting the first championship race in 1950, while Goodwood was the proving ground for sports cars and non-championship F1 races.
Over the years, some of the most talented drivers of all time mastered the long corners of the former West Sussex airfield. Graham Hill won a total of seven races, while Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, and Mike Hawthorn all took home winning trophies. Sir Stirling Moss was a particular fan, and a successful one at that, winning 21 times. It was also the place where his career ended, after he suffered a near-fatal crash in his Lotus 18/21 in 1962.
The racing eventually stopped at Goodwood in 1966. Cars were getting increasingly faster, and after the track didn’t evolve to improve its safety, it was forced to stop hosting professional racing. It did for a time represent all that was brilliant about British motorsport, as it does today. Roy Salvadori, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and multiple victor at Goodwood, summed it up well: “Give me Goodwood on a summer’s day and you can forget the rest.”
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Sadly, for me, it wasn’t summer. After sitting in the briefing post-theory test, in which the instructor reminds you of the racing line and where the marshal posts are, I clambered into my ride; a road-going, manual BMW 118i. It’s a sensible option for the task at hand, and one I’m completely fine with. It’s the other cars I’d be sharing the track with that I was more concerned about. As I thought this, a brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 RS screams past the pit straight, leaving a rooster tail of water in its wake.
My ARDS test is taking place on a regular track day, so naturally, there are several vehicles lapping Goodwood. I spot a Volkswagen Golf Mk1 and an old MGB through to more modern machinery such as the GT3, a Mercedes-AMG, and a Caterham, all of which are faster than my BMW. My job, aside practicing safe, consistent racing etiquette, is to get out of the way. That means keeping an eye on the mirrors when safe and signalling to move right, allowing the quicker cars to pass safely on the left.
Aside from this, my first session on track is relatively straightforward. My instructor, talented racer Nathan Wright, guides me through the necessary points, reinforcing smoothness in both steering, braking and acceleration. This is especially relevant today, with standing water threatening to derail the afternoon. He speaks clearly and intently through the helmet’s intercom as we go, providing on-the-fly feedback for everything I’m doing. The ARDS test isn’t about speed but rather showing that you can drive safely and consistently on a live circuit.
The second session is the assessment, eerily reminiscent of a driving test. I manage, somehow, to keep the BMW on-track, and steer clear of a GT3 RS and a race-prepped Alpine A110, who drift past me. Thanks to easy-to-understand commands and my ability to retain the correct flag knowledge, Nathan passes me shortly after I pull into the pits. With my application form stamped, I can now send off for my first racing license, which will allow me to participate at club level.
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While the club racing calendar has ended for this year, I’m looking ahead to 2026. Perhaps then I will return behind the wheel of a fully-fledged race car, come rain or shine.