Ring car hire - anyone used it?/insurance?

[turbo tim]

As above really...

I'm heading to the ring in Sept as a passenger, and I'm sure I'll get a itchy right foot, and have considered hiring one of the ring tools from the Ringhaus

Anyone on here used them before?

Can anyone recommend where I'm best to get one days insurance for the ring? (+ rough prices)

Ta

TT

[Sheriff JWPepper]

Ring info is a bit thin on the ground here - try Northloop.co.uk.

ETA: The forum section is very good for info.

Edited by Sheriff JWPepper on Monday 16th July 19:50

[tertius]

Where do you get the insurance from though? That seems to be the challenge for the ringhaus cars.

I'm hiring a car from rent-racecar.de next month who include insurance. I'll be able to report back after that.

[turbo tim]

tertius said:

Where do you get the insurance from though? That seems to be the challenge for the ringhaus cars.

tertius said:

I'm hiring a car from rent-racecar.de next month who include insurance. I'll be able to report back after that.

Please do!! Cheers.

[Hammerwerfer]

I would recommend Rent-racecar. Theo offers a great selection of well prepped cars. Another option would be the 75 Experience Alfas. They are available for hire or you may take a course or private instruction.

[Sheriff JWPepper]

It's worth checking what happens when the ring is closed due to accidents/recoveries, if you've never been before you'll be amazed at how often and how long it can be closed for especially if you are going on a weekend. Also it gets very busy after a closure and people can go a bit banzai which can lead to further closures.

If you paid out a couple of hundred quid to hire a care from Rent a Racecar you could be left very frustated. Also check out mileage restrictions on vehicles.

I'm not trying to put you off - it's an amazing place & you'll have a great time.

Also check out Ben Lovejoy's website for more info.

[tertius]

Sheriff JWPepper said:

It's worth checking what happens when the ring is closed due to accidents/recoveries, if you've never been before you'll be amazed at how often and how long it can be closed for especially if you are going on a weekend. Also it gets very busy after a closure and people can go a bit banzai which can lead to further closures.

If you paid out a couple of hundred quid to hire a care from Rent a Racecar you could be left very frustated. Also check out mileage restrictions on vehicles.

I'm not trying to put you off - it's an amazing place & you'll have a great time.

Also check out Ben Lovejoy's website for more info.

Thanks.

I have been before.

[turbo tim]

I've been before (with my own car) but this time I'm going this year as a passenger, and am likely to get bored and decide I NEED to drive.

If I do go for the hire option, I think www.rent-racecar.de seems to be the way to go, but at £155 for a half day with a BMW compact, it ain't cheap, especially when you take into account....

Sheriff JWPepper said:

It's worth checking what happens when the ring is closed due to accidents/recoveries, if you've never been before you'll be amazed at how often and how long it can be closed for especially if you are going on a weekend. Also it gets very busy after a closure and people can go a bit banzai which can lead to further closures.

If you paid out a couple of hundred quid to hire a care from Rent a Racecar you could be left very frustated.

[Maxx]

I've rented cars from Ringhaus and Rent-racecar. As has been said, Theo (Rent-racecar) has some great cars which are very well prepped and is a nice guy. What you have to watch out for though is the excess km charges. I hired their Megane 225 which was 490e per day with 250km included, extra km are @ 1.20e per km. We clocked up 300km over about a 3hr period (about 11 laps + to/from Rent-racecar & fuel). I can easily see someone clocking up double that which would mean 350km of excess charges which is 420e (making a total cost of 910e). If you think this is likely I would try and work a deal with Theo first.

We rented the Golf & Polo from Ringhaus, had problems with the Golf so can't say much about that but the Polo was great, yes, it's slow (90hp) but out-handles most stuff through the corners (it is caged though so you really need a helmet - can be hired AFAIK). Cost is 260e per day/440e for the weekend (2-days) ALL-IN plus is pretty light on fuel. I'm pretty sure that the deal with Ringaus is that if you bend it you mend it (so to speak).

M.

[number 46]

We used Theo (rentaracecar) and he was very helpful and friendly. We did a few laps in the 318 compact and then swapped it for the 325 which was a bit more of a proper racecar prep. i.e fully stripped out, full cage, lower uprated suspension etc. was really suited to and set up for the 'ring so it made for some great laps. I think the costs weren't too bad as the cars are well prepped and the engines felt strong, we had no problems all afternoon, did about 20 odd laps.We shared the car(2 drivers)which it is quite good way too go, both cost wise and it helps both of you learn circuit quicker. Both my mate and I have many years of circuit racing experience and racing licenses, so the 325 was the better option for us. The 318 had less power and traction control but was the much safer car although still great fun, so maybe if you have less track experience the 318 is the one to go for and it is cheaper !! Unfortunately Theo's M3 was not available as it had an engine problem, however we managed to keep up with and overtake a german guy in his own M3 in the 325 !!!

[Hammerwerfer]

What day were you out in the 325i?

[Maxx]

You might be interested to know that Ringhaus has just secured a deal with Caterham to rent their cars out at the ring.

http://forum.ringersforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3957...

Maxx

[number 46]

We were there in March on a Monday afternoon, really lucky with the weather as it was dry and sunny all afternoon, only one or two other cars on the circuit. It then snowed/rained for the rest of the week !!!! But that was good as we went skiing in Austria for the rest of the week !!

[tertius]

turbo tim said:

tertius said:

Where do you get the insurance from though? That seems to be the challenge for the ringhaus cars.

tertius said:

I'm hiring a car from rent-racecar.de next month who include insurance. I'll be able to report back after that.

Please do!! Cheers.

OK, I can now comment on rent-racecar.de: I hired the 318ti from them for the whole of last weekend. They were more than helpful, the car was perfectly prepared and setup, was ready for me when I arrived and I was on my way in no more than 15 minutes (and it only took that long as someone else was collecting their car when I arrived).

Rental is not cheap (720 euros) for the whole weekend but includes fully comp insurance (but with a 5K excess on damage to the car) and upto 500km. I drove 21 laps and returned the car having covered 507km - they let me off the extra 7km . And frankly that was enough laps for me.

For me (a relative ring novice, it was my second trip) the car was perfect, it is stripped out, caged, with 2 buckets and harnesses. Its obviously not quick in a straight line, but its handy round the bends and good for learning the circuit.

Coincidentally a colleague rented from the Ringhaus the same weekend, and while I can't comment on the car (I didn't even know he was there) I do know that the insurance is the same - ie full 3rd party cover and a 5K excess if you bend the car.

Overall I would thoroughly recommend rent-racecar.de - its a great way of getting a prepared car, properly insured for the circuit and Theo and Heide were both really friendly. I will definitely do it again.