Most junior drivers' accounts are run by a parent. Done well, it helps with sponsors and keeps family and friends in the loop. Here is how to do it safely, and without it eating your race weekend.
Who owns the account
Instagram and TikTok both require users to be at least 13. For a younger driver, the account should be run by a parent or guardian, and say so in the bio. Even for teenagers, it is sensible for a parent to approve posts that name a sponsor or share personal details.
What to keep private
- School, home town and home address. The county or region is enough for a local sponsor.
- Live location. Post after a session, not while you are still in the paddock, if you would rather people did not know where the driver is right now.
- Other children. Check before posting photos where other junior drivers can be identified, including names on helmets and karts.
- Direct messages. Keep messages from sponsors and strangers going to the parent, not the driver.
Sponsors and #ad
The same advertising rules apply whatever the driver's age. If a business pays or gives product in return for posts, label those posts with #ad at the start. Sponsorship agreements should be made with the parent or guardian.
Keep it manageable
The race weekend is busy enough. Plan the posts: race week early in the week, the result on Sunday evening, thanks on Monday. Write the captions after the racing, not between sessions. Use the same style every time so each post takes minutes, not an hour.
Involve the driver
Ask the driver what they want to say about the race. Their words, even one line, make the post better and help them learn to talk to sponsors, which they will need to do more of as they move up.
Read our safeguarding page for how VLTA handles accounts for drivers under 18.
Do it in VLTA
- Sign up as a parent or guardian and add your driver. Under-18 accounts are run by you, and you approve every post.
- Keep the sponsor page to what you choose to share: the area, not the town, and no school or address.
- Add race dates once. Build-up posts are drafted for you four days before each round, so the weekend is just the result and the thanks.