Getting some track time at Thruxton

[stockhatcher]

Hello all,

for the first time this year the stock hatch championship will be racing at Thruxton. Testing I believe is severely limited at the circuit, and what track days they do, are specifically limited to road cars. So does any one else know of any other ways to get some driving time on circuit.

i have checked the race school on site, and there are a few options, £150 gets you one hour in your road car, ( i think with an instructor) £169 gets you 12 laps in an mx5, and of course there are those wanky supercar courses. Having seen the tosh on youtube as to what those courses are like, it would seem there would be little point in paying for one of them, as the circuit is all marked out with cones and the instructor is only interested in you not bashing the car. so is the one hour in your road car 1:1 any good? are there any other options like general test days etc...

tia

[pikeyboy]

I'm also interested in this since I've not driven at thruxton before and the healey championship has a round here.

[mikee boy]

I have raced at Thruxton once and did quite well (until the crash) because I walked the course first and watched a lot of internet videos. There are some obvious turn points and apexes to look for if you know them, but also a lot of hidden turn points and apexes. It's a very barren circuit, but look for patterns in the track surface etc as a guide. There are a lot of Internet videos (I have a Locost one on Youtube) that will show you a good line. It's also really easy to get the wrong line and lose all your speed.

The track is basically a flat-out sprint between 2 complexes (a right-left-right and the chicane section)and it's easy to get a good tow, especially into the chicane. Personally I wouldn't go to the expense of getting track time unless you're a front runner and really need the points.

If you can't find the youtube link I'll get it when I get home (my work computer has a fun filter fitted)

Mike

[SimonY]

Paying for track time is usually cheaper than paying for the inexperience related mistake

Edited by SimonY on Tuesday 8th January 14:38

[CivicMan]

Two lines into both the complex and the chicane, either can work if you're trying to overtake, and mind the bump on the right of the track coming out of Village (the sweeping back section).

Fabulous driving circuit - proof is they haven't messed with it in 30 years!

Edited by CivicMan on Tuesday 8th January 15:38

[fastfreddy]

Pay for the instruction session in your own car. Trust me, you'll gain seconds on anyone who hasn't driven there before by spending an hour with an instructor who knows the circuit.

It's not an easy circuit to learn - featureless round the back, several very long fast corners with blind exits, easy to turn in way too early several places if you don't know better.

Just remember not to pay too much attention to the cones, as they won't be there on race day

[Gregor Marshall]

Whatever you do don't think it's completely flat between the two complexes as it really depends on car, tyres and b*lls as I'd be surprised if Church is flat in most things and even then you need to get it right.

If you can speak to a racing driver you know/respect and get their advice or go out with an instructor.

[bse]

I did one of the RX8 experiences before christmas and thought it well worthwile. Yes its expensive, but compared to testing prices at Thruxton it's reasonable value. I've no immediate plans to race there, but would feel a whole lot more confident going into a qualifying session now than before driving the circuit. As others have said, compared to most other circuits in the country, the turning/apex/exit points are much less obvious and are often mid-track (i.e. you're not on the extreme left or right of the track). It is also a very wide, relatively feature-less track, which makes identifying the points more difficult. With regards to the RX8 course, there was no rev limiter or requests to slow down from the instructor.....