THE PATHWAY TO AUTOTESTING

How do I get involved?

Step 1: Join a Motor Club and get connected!

Autotesting caters for competitors spanning from Junior entrants to experienced campaigners and everything in between!

Tap in to your local motor club to meet experienced competitors who will help you on your motorsport journey, and also to avail of large discounts on your licence fee. Find a list of clubs that run Autotesting events here.

Alternatively, contact the Motorsport Ireland Sport Development Officer or a member of the Autotest Commission, who will put you in touch with the right people to help kick-start your motorsport adventure and help with your development in the sport.

Step 2: Go for a look

Attend one of the many Autotesting events across the country, meet fellow competitors or help out by being a marshal, which is a great way to feel what the sport is all about - https://www.motorsportireland.com/events

You can also see upcoming events and follow the live timing and results for most events at https://www.stopastride.live/events.php

Step 3: Apply for a Competition Licence

Junior Entrant (Ages 14 - 16)

Competitor - Apply for a free Clubman Junior licence
Parent / guardian – must apply for a free Minor Entrant licence
No need for Introduction to Motorsport course

Ages 16 - 18

At age 16, the competitor has an option of applying for either a Clubman Junior licence (free for first-time applicants) or for a Clubman National licence (€65 for first time applicants with club membership discount)
Age 17+, apply for the aforementioned Clubman National licence
A free Minor Entrant licence required for parent / guardian until the competitor has turned 18, regardless of which licence the competitor has applied for
No need for Introduction to Motorsport course

Age 18+

If you’re looking to dip a toe in the water, ‘one event’ licences are available for a small fee from the Motorsport Ireland website but you must have an account registered beforehand
Apply for a Clubman National licence (€65 for first time with club membership discount)
No need for Introduction to Motorsport training course

Link to Motorsport Ireland Licencing - https://www.motorsportireland.com/licences

Step 4: Pick a car

Compact, light and durable are the key traits when picking a good Autotest car. None of those characteristics mean you need to spend a lot of money. On the contrary, one of the biggest attractions of Autotesting is its affordability. Many competitors have started out with cars costing less than €1000. Small cars like Toyota Yaris, Aygo, Ford Ka, Peugeot 107, Citreon C2, Seat Mii, Nissan Micra etc. are suitable.

Although agility and inertia mean more than outright power, for a slightly larger budget (a few grand) you can buy something that weighs less than a tonne but with more than 100hp.

Here is a useful list of those cars - Featherweight Fun - Backroads Forums

For the National Autotest Championship, hybrid, electric or battery powered cards are not permitted. For Autosolos, cars must be powered by naturally aspirated engines less than 2 litres. Some events or championships may have tyre restrictions that should be checked with the organisers in advance.

While there is no scrutiny, cars must be in a roadworthy condition, well presented and fitted with adequate silencing. Cars must be fitted with a fire extinguisher (handheld) and roll bars are compulsory on all open cars e.g. Mazda MX5’s. As events take place in a single venue (and if cars are being trailered to the events), they don’t need to be NCT’d, taxed or insured to take part.

Step 5: Car setup tips

Handbrake

Having a good handbrake is essential to execute manoeuvres and navigate tests. A well maintained and adjusted cable handbrake can be sufficient for front wheel drive cars (FWD) to begin with, although many opt to install a hydraulic handbrake, particularly so for rear wheel drive (RWD) cars.
When changing pads / shoes, try to avoid spurious brands and stick with genuine parts as they tend to have better bite. Trackday pads may also be unsuitable as they don’t come up to operating temperature quickly enough.

Steering knob

Attaching a steering wheel knob / spinner is essential for FWD to allow steering lock to be applied on and off quickly.
Some RWD cars may also use them, depending on driver preference.

Tyres

For FWD cars, you typically want a bias of grip to the front axle and a loose rear tyre setup. Narrow tyres on the rear, running 40-50psi is typically used for sealed surface Autotests. Front tyres need to be wider and ran at more normal pressure to provide more grip. Most championships use a road legal sports tyre such as a Michelin Pilot Sport 3 or Uniroyal Rainsport.
RWD cars need to slide the rear end but still need traction to drive the car forwards, they therefore can use similar tyres front to rear or with a slight grip bias to the front.

Weight reduction

Perhaps the biggest single performance attribute of a car is its weight. Less is more, particularly for autotests where large inertia changes are frequent and carrying momentum is key. Removing all or parts of the interior is a good starting place and costs nothing.
Depending on the class of car, extreme weight reduction (with an angle grinder!) may be permitted to create a ‘special’ that has parts of the body shell removed at the rear. For MVATs, the level of weight reduction may be restricted to a specified level and typically isn’t as extreme as 'pure' Autotest cars – competitors should consult with event organisers in advance of carrying out any such works.

Diffs

Limited Slip Differentials are not compulsory, but they assist both FWD and RWD cars in rotating sharp turns or circling pylons under power (similar to donuts). Some RWD cars may have LSD’s as standard but there are aftermarket options available from manufacturers such as Kaaz, Cusco etc.

Suspension

Aftermarket suspension isn’t needed to begin with, but competitors may opt to upgrade the shocks or lower the car with firmer springs to reduce body roll.

Step 6: Driving / Manoeuvres

So what is it like to drive behind the wheel and what manoeuvres can you expect? The action is fast-paced and things happen quickly, but speeds aren’t that high but due to the compact nature of tests. You’re constantly controlling the car on its limit of grip and slip, while trying to keep your vision up and mind focused on the route.

Handbrake Turns

Autotesting involves many tight turns and ‘throws’ that require the use of the handbrake to rotate the rear of the car around quickly. Handbrake turns are a fundamental part of autotesting and a lot of fun!

A ‘throw’ is usually where you need to turn the car so that only the rear wheels cross a line in reverse, marked by two pylons.

For FWD cars, an effective handbrake turn can be achieved by first turning the wheel towards where you want to go, thus allowing the weight to shift and then pulling and holding the handbrake hard. This should result in the rear wheels locking and tail of the car sliding around sharply. You then release the handbrake and continue in the required direction.

For RWD cars, the same applies but the clutch needs to be pressed and held down before the handbrake is pulled – this is to disengage the driven wheels and allow the handbrake be more effective.

Depending on the car, conventional handbrakes can be quite effective if in good mechanical order. A frequently used tip is to hold the handbrake button in with tape or a screw, so it doesn’t pop out when you release the handbrake and prevent the handbrake from being fully released.

For more powerful and consistent actuation of the handbrake, some cars are fitted with hydraulic handbrakes, but this is not essential at the start.

J-turns / Nose-Throws

This is like a handbrake turn, only in reverse and is an even more spectacular skill to learn. Build up some speed / momentum in reverse and quickly apply a lot of steering lock (usually in a clockwise direction of the steering wheel). This should result in a loss of front end grip and the nose of the car flicking around to achieve a 180 degree rotation of the car, whilst still travelling in the same direction.

Depending on the drivetrain layout (FWD / RWD), keeping the throttle pinned during the slide, lifting suddenly mid slide or braking hard, can help reduce grip on the front axle and help it rotate fully.

Donuts

Usually a flamboyant way to shred tyres for fun, donuts are actually a key manoeuvre in Autotesting and a donut around a pylon is usually required at least once in a test.

For RWD cars, this is usually achieved by starting with a handbrake turn (see above) and, when the tail of the car starts to slide, lift the clutch up and floor the throttle to spin the wheels and maintain a loss of rear traction. At this point, opposite steering lock needs to be applied and modulated with the throttle to avoid spinning out completely and exit the donut in the required direction.

Donuts aren’t just for RWD cars! In FWD cars, it’s possible to achieve the same manoeuvre and even faster. The dynamic concept is the same – sustained loss of rear end grip to help turn the car tightly through 360 degrees. The technique is different however – start with a handbrake turn (see above), but keep the handbrake pulled up so the rear wheels are locked throughout the donut; this achieves the required loss of rear end grip. Steering lock needs to be applied in the direction of the donut (no counter-steer is usually required) and the throttle is used sparingly to maintain as much front end traction needed to pull the car around the pylon.

Needless to say, a limited slip diff in both RWD and FWD cars is needed to complete a full, tight donut. Mechanical or Torsen LSD’s are most effective at distributing power to the driven wheel with the most grip and helping to tighten the donut.

Step 7: Enter your first event!

So you’re ready for your first event…..

A full calendar of events is available on Motorsport Ireland’s website - https://www.motorsportireland.com/events

Keep an eye on your Motor Club’s website and Facebook page for upcoming events, as well as other social media channels such as WhatsApp groups and Stopastride.com. A few weeks before the event, the organising Club will publish the event regulations and entry form. It is important to read and understand the regulations and ask the Clerk of the Course any queries you may have at this point.

In order to assist the event organisers, please try to submit entry forms as early as possible and sign on when available (this may be beforehand digitally or on arrival to the event).

It is recommended to arrive to the event at least an hour before driver's briefing, so that you have time to make final preparations to your car, orientate yourself with the venue and sign on.

You will need to present your Motorsport Ireland (or UK equivalent MSA licence) at sign on. Please ensure it is valid and in date well in advance of the event. Licences are now issued digitally by MI and it is a good idea to have it saved to your photos on your phone (with the expiry date in view), in case of poor phone signal at the venue or where you’re unable to log in to your MI account online.

You will receive a set of diagrams in advance of the event. This guide from ClubmanResults is helpful in understanding the diagrams - https://www.clubmanresults.com/Home/Autotests

The test diagrams can look daunting to a new competitor, however it doesn't take long to get used to reading and memorising the routes. It is a good idea to walk the tests with a more experienced competitor - they are always happy to help a newcomer!

It is vitally important at this point to walk the tests several times in the required direction / route to help memorise the tests. It also helps to learn them in sections or colouring the reversing elements can help you remember the route as you gain experience. Give yourself plenty of time to walk the tests that morning and walk and walk and walk them..... and yes, you will see people walking the reverse sections backwards! Ask for help if you are unsure of a manoeuvre and watch a few competitors before lining your car up to the start line. It's good practice to have a way to attach the diagram to your dashboard - so if you're unsure in the middle of your test, you can have a look to reassure yourself.

While scrutineering isn’t currently required, cars are expected to be in compliance and in good mechanical order i.e. functioning brakes, wheelnuts are tight and nothing loose in the car. The Clerk of the Course has final say on whether or not a car can start or continue an event.

If you are a Junior entrant, you will need to satisfactorily pass a simple driver assessment at the beginning of the event to ensure you can safely control your car.

By this point, you’re ready to go - try to keep focused on remembering the route and don’t worry about mistakes! Everyone was the same starting out and you’re sure to get support from organisers, marshals and fellow competitors.

Your first event is an experience to remember – so most of all, enjoy it!