Ever dreamed of racing down the drag strip thought you had to wait until you were older? Think again!

Teen Racing (TR) is your chance to get in on the action - no special race car needed.

If you're aged 13-17, you can race in a full-bodied street car with a Co-Driver (like parent or guardian) riding shotgun to coach you through the fun. It's a super affordable way to get started in drag racing, and a great excuse for families to spend time together doing something seriously cool.

You'll race over the 1/4 mile using a dial-your-own format, alongside the Super Street class. It's all about learning, building confidence, and having a blast - safely and with support.

Who Can Race?

• Teens aged 13-17
• Must have a Co-Driver (parent, guardian, or adult 25+ with a full licence)

What Can You Race?

• Any full-bodied street car
• Car must have current WOF and Rego
• No race cars, convertibles, motorcycles etc. 
• No EVs or Hybrids, this is not exclusive to TR this is a rule for all PBDRC events.

Co-Driver Requirements

• Must be 25+ with a valid full civil licence (held for 2+ years)
• Drives the car in the pits, staging lanes, and return road
• Teen Racer only drives on the track

How to Get Licenced

1. Before race day, contact admin@ihra.co.nz and let them know you're interested in sitting the Teen Racing Licence, let them know which event and they will collect your information.
2. Vehicle Orientation - Show you know the car's controls
3. Basic Driving Test - Start, stop, turn, shift, brake
4. Licence Passes (all conducted as solo runs - no other vehicle in the other lane):
   • 1 run with the IHRA Steward driving
   • 3 runs with the IHRA Steward as Co-Driver
   • 3 runs with your assigned Co-Driver
5. If all goes well, you get your Teen Racing Licence and can then race in the Super Street class (still with your Co-Driver requirements).

Safety Gear

• Helmets, closed shoes and long sleeve shirt and pants are required for both driver and Co-Driver.
• Refer to the IHRA NZ Rulebook for Helmet specs.

Important Rules

• ET Limits:
  • Ages 13-14: 17.00 seconds or slower
  • Ages 14-15: 16.00 seconds or slower
  • Ages 15-17: 15.00 seconds or slower (until they have achieved a restricted civil licence, then they can move out of the TR program)
• No sandbagging - one warning, then you're out.
  • What is sandbagging? Sandbagging refers to a tactic where a driver intentionally runs slower than their vehicle is capable of. The goal is to deceive opponents or race officials about the vehicle's true performance, e.g. you are restricted to 16.00 and slow down before the finish line to not breach your ET restriction. 
• Go too fast? Instant disqualification

How Do You Get a Car to Run That Slow?

We know - most street cars are quicker than the ET limits for Teen Racing. But don't stress, there are a few easy ways to slow things down safely:

• Throttle Stops: These limit how much throttle the car uses during a run. Simple, effective and legal.
• Co-Driver Test Runs: Your Co-Driver can do a test pass to help figure out how the car performs and what adjustments might be needed.
• Chat with a Tech Inspector: The IHRA NZ friendly tech team is always happy to help you find safe, legal ways to meet the ET requirements. Just ask!

The goal is to keep things safe and fun - and make sure everyone's racing within the rules.

Got Questions?

Want help getting starts or just curious about how it all works?

Flick us a message on Facebook or email - we're here to help you get on track and into this wild sport we love!