Behind the Scenes: Training with Wexford Motor Club Youth Academy

A Focused Programme for Young Drivers

The Wexford Motor Club Youth Academy packs an incredible amount of learning, fun, and development into a short season. The Academy provides a structured introduction to motorsport for young drivers, helping them build solid foundations both on and off the track.

Each month features a karting session at Kiltorcan Raceway as part of the season’s championship, giving participants the chance to put new skills into practice while learning from experienced instructors. Whether it’s improving braking technique, refining lines through a corner, or learning how to handle pressure during competition, every session brings new progress. Students learn from each other too — sharing tips, refining racing lines, and comparing braking points to get that little bit quicker each time.

Lessons Beyond the Track

Motorsport isn’t just about speed — it’s about understanding. Talent alone rarely gets you to the top. That’s why the Academy includes classroom-based lessons covering all aspects of the sport: from safety and car setup to teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship.

The Academy also teaches essential life and career skills that extend beyond the racetrack. Students learn how to approach sponsorship opportunities and create a motorsport CV that showcases their achievements and experience — whether that’s in karting, rallying, or other forms of competition. These lessons in professionalism, communication, and presentation prepare them for the realities of progressing through motorsport.

It all culminates in a face-to-face interview at the end of the season, giving students real-world practice in interview technique and self-presentation.

One of the most valuable lessons taught is a simple but powerful truth — motorsport isn’t always fair! Learning to cope with setbacks, bad luck, and the unpredictable nature of competition helps students develop resilience — a vital skill for anyone looking to build a lasting motorsport career. It’s a phrase that sticks with me personally. I often remind myself of it when things don’t seem to go my way — it recentres my thoughts and reminds me that perseverance is just as important as performance.

Expert Tuition and Real-World Experience

A highlight of the programme is the chance to learn directly from karting champion and F4 racing driver Conor Grant, who leads track walks and on-site tuition sessions. His professional insights give students a deeper understanding of racecraft, focus, and preparation at the highest level of the sport.

The learning doesn’t stop there. At NCRS Wexford, students take part in hands-on workshops, gaining practical experience in vehicle preparation and basic mechanics. These sessions help young drivers appreciate the engineering behind motorsport and often spark a passion for the technical side of racing.

Preparing for the Future

It isn’t all about wanting to become a professional racing driver either — and I’m a good example of that. My ambition is to become a motorsport engineer, and hopefully one day, to work within Formula 1.

The Academy gives students all the tools and experience needed to create a comprehensive CV, so when it comes to applying to universities, we already have an impressive amount of experience to showcase.

Shaping the Future of Irish Motorsport

Even though it runs for only a few months each year, the Wexford Motor Club Youth Academy leaves a lasting impact. Through a blend of driving, learning, mentorship, and teamwork, it helps develop not just better drivers — but more confident, capable young people.

Each session, each lap, and each lesson contributes to a greater goal: keeping the spirit of Irish motorsport alive and thriving — one young driver at a time.