What ERA Racing School does

ERA Racing School is a private Belgian racing school founded in 2022 and headquartered at Circuit Zolder in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. It operates as the world's first racing school using fully electric Formula 4 race cars, serving young karting drivers transitioning to single-seater racing, corporate groups seeking premium team-building experiences, and motorsport enthusiasts. The school's core technology platform is the second-generation ERA Ligier F4 electric race car — a 600 kg open-wheel vehicle producing over 190 HP with a 48 kWh battery delivering 30+ minutes of track time and a 210 km/h top speed. This car is supplied by technology partner ERA Advanced (Hasselt-based), which developed in-house battery systems, the LVDN (Low Voltage Data Network), and an integrated AI system intended to connect driver, car, and engineer in real time. On-site facilities include the ERA Lounge (theoretical classrooms, simulator sessions, technical briefings, video/data analysis, and VIP hospitality) and dedicated ERA Pitboxes.

The school generates revenue through a tiered program structure priced from €750 for the entry-level Zolder Formula Experience up to an estimated €27,500 for the multi-day Racing School Ultimate, plus custom corporate events and team-building packages. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via an online event calendar with publicly disclosed pricing, supplemented by direct sales for enterprise clients. Programs combine theory, simulator training, telemetry-driven video and data analysis, and on-track driving sessions, with RACB club and national racing license pathways offered as outcomes of multi-day programs. Customer mix spans individual racing enthusiasts, families, SMB clients, and professional racing teams such as Bas Koeten Racing.

The company is founder-owned and operated, with a small team of 1-10 employees. Professional racing driver Xavier Maassen (25 years of top-level motorsport experience, including Formula Renault 3.5, FIA GT, Blancpain Endurance, and Le Mans/Spa/Nürburgring 24-hour races) serves as co-owner, manager, and lead instructor. Strategic partnerships with technology provider ERA Advanced, venue partner Circuit Zolder, and licensing authority RACB constitute the operating backbone. Since launch, ERA has served over 100 participants in its second season and is preparing to ship its ERA-F4 fleet to the USA for the 2026 season as its first geographic expansion.

Name

ERA Racing School

Legal name

ERA Racing School

Website

https://eraracingschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ERA Racing School is a Belgium-based racing school operating the world's first electric Formula 4 driver training program at Circuit Zolder, serving young karting drivers, corporate groups, and motorsport enthusiasts through tiered paid programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorsport Training Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies (MPAKAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motorsports Support & Feeder Series (Developmental Championships) (MPAKAGAH), Motorsports & Racing Experiences (THAJAFAF), Motorsports Tracks & Racing Facilities (MPAKAEAC)

Keywords

• Racing school
• Motorsport training
• Formula car experience
• Corporate driving events
• Driver development

Headquarters

HQ city

Heusden

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Racing School Programs: One-time fees for structured racing school programs ranging from single-day rookie courses to multi-day advanced and ultimate training programs. Pricing varies by program duration and intensity.
2. Experience Packages: Entry-level experiences like Zolder Formula Experience and ERA Driving Experience providing first-time formula car driving opportunities for individuals and corporate groups.
3. Corporate Events: Custom corporate event hosting including seminars, network events, lunches, drift training and VIP hospitality at the ERA Lounge and Circuit Zolder facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ERA Racing School operates a racing school at Circuit Zolder in Belgium using fully electric Formula 4 race cars to train aspiring racing drivers transitioning from karting to single-seater racing. The school offers structured programs from introductory experiences to multi-day advanced training courses, alongside corporate event hosting and team-building experiences on track.

Product overview

ERA Racing School is a classic racing school using modern electric technology. The core product is the ERA Ligier F4 electric race car (now in its second generation) which serves as the foundation for all racing programs. The company offers a portfolio of racing programs ranging from introductory experiences (Zolder Formula Experience, ERA Driving Experience) to professional training programs (Racing School Rookie, Weekend, Advanced, and Ultimate). The school also provides corporate events and utilizes its ERA Lounge facility for training sessions. The programs are designed to transition drivers from karting into single-seater racing, with licensing pathways through RACB.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ERA Championship Europe Series: The world's first 100% electric entry-level formula racing series. A scholarship opportunity (Next Gen Racer) valued at approximately €150,000 provides access to this championship.

Products and services

• Zolder Formula Experience Entry-level introduction to motorsport for drivers with little or no track experience, including 20 minutes of driving time in a Formula 4 electric car, theory training, simulator session, and full driving gear. Minimum age 14.
• ERA Driving Experience Half-day course for drivers with none or minimal experience, including 3x20 minutes of driving time, lunch, video and data analyses, and a certificate of participation.
• ERA Advanced Experience Full-day course equivalent to the Rookie program, including theory training, simulator training, and 5x20 minutes of driving time.
• Racing School Rookie 1-day course for drivers with minimal experience in single-seater racing, including 5 sessions of 20 minutes driving time. RACB club license obtainable upon completion.
• Racing School Weekend (Summer Camp) 2-day extended Rookie program with 13 sessions of 20 minutes driving time. RACB club and national license obtainable. Includes overnight stay at Hotel de Pits with breakfast.
• Racing School Advanced 4-day extensive program with 20 sessions of 20 minutes driving time, extensive theory and driving training, sponsorship and media training, and national racing license obtainable in Belgium.
• Racing School Ultimate 6-day ultimate preparation course for racers including extensive theory, simulator, and driving training, drift and skid training, fitness and nutrition coaching. Estimated price €27,500.
• Corporate Events Custom corporate event hosting including seminars, network events, lunches, and drift training experiences for business relations, partners, and associates at the ERA Lounge and Circuit Zolder facilities.
• ERA Ligier F4 Electric Race Car (Gen-2) Second generation full electric, high performance, lightweight open-wheel racecar producing over 190 HP, weighing 600kg, with 48 kWh battery, 210 km/h top speed, and 30+ minutes of track time. Features proprietary in-house developed battery and LVDN system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ participants drove ERA Formula 4 cars in second season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Software AGstrategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2022Sponsor of ERA Championship's Next Gen Racer scholarship worth approximately €150,000, providing funded seats for talented drivers to join the electric racing series. Partnership promotes accessibility in motorsport by favoring talent over financial resources.
• Circuit ZoldercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Official partners with Circuit Zolder serving as the homebase for ERA Racing School. The school is permanently based in the paddock with ERA Lounge and ERA Pitboxes. Zolder provides the iconic racing venue with challenging layout, state-of-the-art facilities, and excellent hospitality services.
• ERA AdvancedcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Technology provider developing and supplying electric Formula 4 race cars. ERA Advanced (Hasselt-based) provides Gen-2 electric race cars with in-house battery systems, LVDN data network, and AI integration. ERA Racing School is a long-standing client using these vehicles for driver training programs.
• RACB (Royal Automobile Club Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial licensing partner enabling ERA Racing School to deliver RACB club licenses and national level licenses through their programs. RACB collaboration validates the racing school credentials and provides official racing credentials to graduates.
• Hotel de PitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel accommodation partner for Racing School Weekend programs, providing overnight stay and breakfast included in the 2-day summer camp program package at Circuit Zolder.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ferrari Driving School: Official Ferrari driving experience program including single-seater F1 Client Experience and sports car courses. A scaled, brand-anchored incumbent in the same premium driving school category, with global reach and significantly larger budget.
• PalmerSport: UK-based motorsport experience company founded by ex-F1 driver Jonathan Palmer, offering corporate events and driving experiences at Bedford Autodrome. Comparable on corporate entertainment and premium track experiences, but broader portfolio of vehicle types rather than single-seater focus.
• Porsche Experience Center: OEM-backed driving experience centers (Leipzig, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Shanghai) offering performance driving courses and corporate events on dedicated tracks. Comparable on premium experience delivery, facility-based coaching, and corporate entertainment positioning.

Others

• Ligier Automotive: French manufacturer of the Ligier JS F4 chassis that ERA uses as the base for its electric conversion. Provides a shared technology dependency and an OEM-adjacent relationship for both fleet supply and category positioning.
• ERA Advanced: Hasselt-based technology company that designs and supplies the Gen-2 ERA Ligier electric F4 race car to ERA Racing School and other clients. While not a competitor, it is a critical supplier/partner whose technology roadmap directly determines ERA's product evolution.

Direct peers

• Winfield Racing School: French Formula Renault/Formula 4 racing school founded by racing professionals; offers tiered programs from one-day experiences to elite training at circuits like Magny-Cours. Most direct competitor in European single-seater racing instruction and licensing pathways.
• Marc Gené Racing School: Spain-based racing school run by ex-F1 driver Marc Gené, offering single-seater training programs and Formula car experiences. Closely comparable business model: founder-driven brand, single-seater platform, tiered consumer and corporate programs.
• Drivex Racing School: Spanish racing team and driver training academy operating single-seater programs and F4 experience days; competes for the same aspirational karting-to-single-seater customer segment across Southern Europe.

Emerging players

• SRO GT Academy / GT4 Academy: SRO Motorsports-organized GT racing academy programs that bridge amateur drivers into professional GT racing. Overlaps ERA's talent-development thesis and credentialing approach, though focused on GT rather than single-seater format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ERA Racing School