Guides · Historic · Checked 10 September 2026
Step by step
- 1
Get a race licence
Follow the standard route: Motorsport UK starter pack, ARDS Novice Driver Training Course, then the Race Club licence application.starterpacks.motorsportuk.org
- 2
Choose a club and era
Clubs running historic categories include the HSCC, VSCC, 750 Motor Club, HRDC, CSCC, Motor Racing Legends and Masters. There is no single definition of historic: the traditional cut-off is 1981, and the FIA now goes up to the end of 1990.motorsportuk.org
- 3
Check the car's eligibility papers
HSCC championships require HSCC Vehicle Identification Forms. The VSCC requires an Eligibility Document (Buff Form). An FIA Historic Technical Passport (HTP) is for international competition.hscc.uk
- 4
Join the club
HSCC racers need Full Racing Membership to enter race meetings. VSCC racers must be VSCC members.hscc.uk
- 5
Register and enter
Register for the championship and enter a meeting. HSCC Historic Formula Ford has a Novice class for first-year drivers.hscc.uk
The licence
Race Club
Motorsport UK Race Club licence (the VSCC still calls it 'Race Interclub')
Same as circuit racing: buy the first race licence pack, pass the ARDS Novice Driver Training Course, then apply to Motorsport UK. The VSCC says racers need a Motorsport UK competition licence of at least Race Interclub status.
Race Club £119 on Motorsport UK's licence page (no year shown); starter pack £119 including first licence (Motorsport UK Shop, checked 10 Sep 2026, listed as sold out).
Official licence page · vscc.co.ukKit you need
- Helmet, overalls, gloves, balaclava — The same circuit racing requirements as modern racing, meeting Motorsport UK regulations.getstarted.motorsportuk.org
- Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) — Mandatory across circuit racing except for competitors in certain Period Defined Vehicles. Check your class regulations.motorsportuk.org
What it costs
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Your First Race Competition Licence (ARDS) starter pack, includes first Race Club licence | £119 (Motorsport UK Shop, checked 10 Sep 2026; listed as sold out) | starterpacks.motorsportuk.org |
| ARDS test at MSV | £289 in a school car; £245 in your own suitable car | car.msvtrackdays.com |
Published figures from the sources shown, checked on the date above. Prices change; confirm with the organiser before you book.
Your first event
Coming up: go and watch one first
Historic racing: questions people ask
Do I need a special licence for historic racing?
No, you use the normal Motorsport UK race licence route (starter pack and ARDS test). The VSCC, for example, requires at least a Race Interclub (now Race Club) licence.
What is an HTP and do I need one?
An FIA Historic Technical Passport is a sporting document that lets a car take part in international competitions. UK club championships use their own papers, such as HSCC Vehicle Identification Forms or the VSCC Buff Form, though some HSCC classes also accept FIA HTP cars.
What counts as a historic car?
There is no single definition. Motorsport UK says 1981 has long been the general cut-off, while the FIA now sets the age limit at the end of 1990, and each club or championship defines its own eras.
Is there a novice class in historic racing?
Yes, for example HSCC Historic Formula Ford has a Novice class for first-year drivers.
Can I race a historic road car?
HSCC Historic Roadsports is for production road-going sports and GT cars built and road-registered between 1947 and 1969, and each car needs an HSCC Vehicle Identification Form.
Sources, checked 2026-09-10: vscc.co.uk · getstarted.motorsportuk.org · starterpacks.motorsportuk.org · motorsportuk.org · hscc.uk · hscc.uk · hscc.uk · getstarted.motorsportuk.org · motorsportuk.org · car.msvtrackdays.com. Rules and fees change; the governing body’s own page is always the final word.