familiarising a track

[pancholi]

newish to track days,
comfortable with speed/control and safe track driving.
is there method to learning a new track?

how long does it take to get comfortable with the track?
depends on track?
start with youtube vids? sims? sighting laps? tuition? book with 'respectable' track day companies?

any input would be welcome
thanks

[Wh00sher]

You have a couple of ways to approach this.

When I go to a new track, I don't watch any videos or drive on a console. I enjoy the challenge of learning the circuit as I first drive it. If you do this approach, I find a fairly long first session, slow pace and try to memorise what's next. If you can see the track ahead, start looking at the exit which often determines if it's a late apex or not.

Then just tweak as the day progresses.


If you want to do as much prep as possible before the day, search for track guides on YouTube for the track you are going to. They often break each cornet down with emphasis on particular kerbs etc. If you have a wheel, iracing or Assetto Corsa have a lot of circuits and that can help.

Obviously don't arrive thinking you 'know' the track if you've done 100's of sim laps, but it does massively speed up the corner recognition part of the day.

[SAS Tom]

The sim is probably the best for me then YouTube videos of someone you can tell is decent.

I’ve done thousands of sim laps of the Nurburgring and I never had to give it a second thought where I was, the lines or what kerbs I could/couldn’t take. I’ve had the same at other tracks too.

[brillomaster]

Been a while since I learnt a new track, but will have to do so in two weeks when I go to brands for the first time.

Personally, I look at a track map, then probably try and find some youtube on boards of someone driving a similar car to me. Then it's sighting laps on the day.

I think I pick up tracks pretty quick, but... its a trackday, I'm not chasing tenths. If i was a club racer and had limited practice time before a race my approach might be different

[TheLoraxxZeus]

pancholi said:

newish to track days,
comfortable with speed/control and safe track driving.
is there method to learning a new track?

how long does it take to get comfortable with the track?
depends on track?
start with youtube vids? sims? sighting laps? tuition? book with 'respectable' track day companies?

any input would be welcome
thanks

First, if you have a sim that's your best bet. Might sound a bit silly but rather than watching real laps on YouTube look up an iRacing track guide for a slow car like the MX-5 because it's close enough.

Second, if you have a day booked and it's through a club or well known organiser they sometimes include free tuition for a couple of laps. That will be more beneficial than anything else.

Third, just drive it and go slow. Ask around the paddock if you can go for a passenger lap with someone who is more experienced.

[WombleCate]

+1 on YouTube doesn’t help me memorise the circuit. I find Project Cars on an old PlayStation 4 helps me remember where to go left & right. I have used a professional SIM a couple of times and find it a bit better than the PlayStation.

+1 you don’t’ need to do this before the day.

On the day, if you’ve never seen the track before you will get two sighting laps following an instructor. Then in your first few laps start going round at 100kph*, gradually, building your speed and making your braking points later.

Track days are for fun. Enjoy them.

• as long as you move over to the right on the straights & follow the racing line in the corners (from the sighting laps) and are predictable the driving gods should not be annoyed

[pancholi]

thanks for the replies and insight,
tracking again upcoming Thursday, looking forward to putting gained advice into practice.