Home race for a learner (8)
I believe the answer is:
national
'home' is the definition.
('national' can be a synonym of 'home')
'race for a learner' is the wordplay.
'race' becomes 'nation' (I've seen this before**).
'for' says to put letters next to each other.
'learner' becomes 'l'.
'nation'+'a'+'l'='NATIONAL'
(Other definitions for national that I've seen before include "Countryman" , "Relating to the state" , "Citizen, subject" , "See 17" , "57-year-old carer needing care?" .)