Best tracks - must do tracks
Discussion
I too like Bedford, I am located exactly between it and Silverstone (which I also recommend but not at £500 a day!) but Bedford can be tricky to get it really right until you spend a lot of time there, it can be very rewarding to drive on.
Donington is up there, I also like Blyton outer because it's a small, fast circuit, some tricky bits and if you get it wrong in certain sections you can end up in a farmer's field. Its really funny when you get waved yellows because a farmer is out churning his field next to the track lol
I am surprised there hasn't been more mention of Snetterton 300 so far, Its fast, flows well and the bomb hole is great fun to test your bottle and grip levels, I'd go there more often but its a ball ache to get to unless you are local or just doing an evening session
Donington is up there, I also like Blyton outer because it's a small, fast circuit, some tricky bits and if you get it wrong in certain sections you can end up in a farmer's field. Its really funny when you get waved yellows because a farmer is out churning his field next to the track lol
I am surprised there hasn't been more mention of Snetterton 300 so far, Its fast, flows well and the bomb hole is great fun to test your bottle and grip levels, I'd go there more often but its a ball ache to get to unless you are local or just doing an evening session
Donington is my favourite track by far. smooth and fast, but with some challenging corners and craner curves are epic. Plus, good facilities and easy to get to.
following that, i like Oulton, Bedford, and Snetterton. MSV do have excellent circuits with excellent facilities, and any of these on a good day will be great.
Personally, i dont really like Cadwell (flame suit on) too tight and twisty for me (yes yes i need tuition, learn the track more blah blah blah but i just dont like it, ok? you have your opinion, i have mine). by all means head on up there and see what you make of it, but i'd only do so once you're happy with your own abilities and are confident in the wet, since there isnt much run off if you get it wrong.
I've heard good things about Anglesey, though haven't driven it yet.
But really, the best thing you can do is take a few days off and do a trackday at Spa. now that track is EPIC, well worth the trip over there.
following that, i like Oulton, Bedford, and Snetterton. MSV do have excellent circuits with excellent facilities, and any of these on a good day will be great.
Personally, i dont really like Cadwell (flame suit on) too tight and twisty for me (yes yes i need tuition, learn the track more blah blah blah but i just dont like it, ok? you have your opinion, i have mine). by all means head on up there and see what you make of it, but i'd only do so once you're happy with your own abilities and are confident in the wet, since there isnt much run off if you get it wrong.
I've heard good things about Anglesey, though haven't driven it yet.
But really, the best thing you can do is take a few days off and do a trackday at Spa. now that track is EPIC, well worth the trip over there.
Edited by brillomaster on Friday 24th June 08:48
I've only driven at Snetterton, Bedford, Brands indy and Cadwell and enjoyed them all. Cadwell is the hardest and most rewarding, but also has the best scenery. It's a lovely place to go round even on a cool down lap. I do like Bedford, even though there are a few too many straights and hairpins, it does have some good corners and sections too. I always seem to have a good time there.
Ignoring unconverted airfields, which I mostly think are a bit rubbish, In the UK I've done:
Castle Combe
Donington
Llandow
Pembrey
Rockingham
Silverstone
They all had their merits, although I felt Rockingham was a bit pants, but theyve closed it now so it's irrelevant.
For me Donington was the best of the bunch, its fast and flowing and you'll have fun in whatever you're in. Silverstone is good, but you'd want either a fast car or a bike to get an authentic feeling. Llandow is cheap and cheerful, Pembrey is good for beginners, and Castle Combe is fast, fun and very accessible but dangerous.
TLDR: Get Donnington booked (ideally the National layout, which gets rid of the slow Melbourne loop)
Castle Combe
Donington
Llandow
Pembrey
Rockingham
Silverstone
They all had their merits, although I felt Rockingham was a bit pants, but theyve closed it now so it's irrelevant.
For me Donington was the best of the bunch, its fast and flowing and you'll have fun in whatever you're in. Silverstone is good, but you'd want either a fast car or a bike to get an authentic feeling. Llandow is cheap and cheerful, Pembrey is good for beginners, and Castle Combe is fast, fun and very accessible but dangerous.
TLDR: Get Donnington booked (ideally the National layout, which gets rid of the slow Melbourne loop)
Clarkgti said:
Thruxton is super under rated in my opinion. Super fast and being on the limit over Church corner is bonkers, it scares a lot of people so if you're committed you can chase down some pretty meaty machinery which is always fun.
Unfortunately the noise limits put the track off limits for many people. 
Goodwood is a similar kind of track and an excellent alternative. For an overall experience I think Goodwood is the best in the UK because it's a very nice place to hang around as well as drive. Some stunning machinery usually turns up to the track days too including people just dropping in to visit (on weekends at least), which makes Goodwood track days feel very different to a typical day at other locations.Like Brands GP they are often expensive days, but definitely one to do at least once.
braddo said:
Goodwood is a similar kind of track and an excellent alternative. For an overall experience I think Goodwood is the best in the UK because it's a very nice place to hang around as well as drive. Some stunning machinery usually turns up to the track days too including people just dropping in to visit (on weekends at least), which makes Goodwood track days feel very different to a typical day at other locations.
I really enjoyed driving around Goodwood - it's an excellent classic circuit.But I can't stand the way it's operated so will not be returning
Garbage is a bit harsh... ive probably been to bedford more than any other track, and its still an entertaining trackday. Nice social atmosphere in the pits too, and no racecars and plenty of room on track with minimal red flags makes for a stress free day.
Plus its about the only place i really feel safe pushing on when it rains, which it does a lot in the uk.
Plus its about the only place i really feel safe pushing on when it rains, which it does a lot in the uk.
).carl_w said:
Steve H said:
Rockingham is much missed.
It had a lot of detractors but I always enjoyed it. Nowhere else you can enjoy some banking. Even in a slow car you had to pick your line through turn 1 quite carefully. cerb4.5lee said:
Bedford has been recommended to me as a track to use as a first timer on a track(not that I'll ever get around to doing one though knowing me).
It was my first trackday, and it seemed to work perfectly.It's flat and well-sighted, so you rarely get caught out by layout. There are also a couple of long straights, so ample opportunities to let faster cars past. There's also lots of runoff, if it all goes badly wrong.
cerb4.5lee said:
Bedford has been recommended to me as a track to use as a first timer on a track(not that I'll ever get around to doing one though knowing me).
That happens a lot. They are wrong. cerb4.5lee said:
I always thought that Rockingham was a boring track if you were just spectating, and I remember going to a couple of Ford shows there.
I may be biased because it was such a good track to drive but what’s not to like about a circuit where you can see 80+% of what is happening from the grandstand?Steve H said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Bedford has been recommended to me as a track to use as a first timer on a track(not that I'll ever get around to doing one though knowing me).
That happens a lot. They are wrong. Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 25th June 21:21
It depends a lot on what kind of car you have and what level your driving is I would say
I love Goodwood now, but at first found it very intimidating as there is very little run off and most of it is grass which is almost useless. Not somewhere to start with but once you are confident Goodwood on a Summer's day is just perfection, especially if they fire up the Spitfire! What was it that someone did not like about the running, I've always found them perfectly fine?
Silverstone is great if you have powerful car and is safe with the big F1 run off areas, so I like that for really improving my technique. The GP circuit is long so in many ways the shorter National circuit allows you to repeat laps more quickly which can aid learning. You do run the risk of mixing with some pretty fast GT are though which can be interesting, but is ok if they (and you) stick to the rules.
Brands likewise although maybe not quite as safe, though it has fantastic changes in elevation which at speed are a real experience. I like evening sessions there for a quick blast without having to commit to a whole day sometimes.
Anglesey is just amazing provided the weather is good, such scenery, a choice of circuits and lots of runoff mostly. Can't recommend it highly enough although it's a way to go from the South East. You also get to drive through some beautiful scenery on the way back home.
I've not done Donnington or Bedford but people speak highly of them as places that are safe and offer a chance to push on and improve. they're just a bit too far for me to travel sadly.
I love Goodwood now, but at first found it very intimidating as there is very little run off and most of it is grass which is almost useless. Not somewhere to start with but once you are confident Goodwood on a Summer's day is just perfection, especially if they fire up the Spitfire! What was it that someone did not like about the running, I've always found them perfectly fine?
Silverstone is great if you have powerful car and is safe with the big F1 run off areas, so I like that for really improving my technique. The GP circuit is long so in many ways the shorter National circuit allows you to repeat laps more quickly which can aid learning. You do run the risk of mixing with some pretty fast GT are though which can be interesting, but is ok if they (and you) stick to the rules.
Brands likewise although maybe not quite as safe, though it has fantastic changes in elevation which at speed are a real experience. I like evening sessions there for a quick blast without having to commit to a whole day sometimes.
Anglesey is just amazing provided the weather is good, such scenery, a choice of circuits and lots of runoff mostly. Can't recommend it highly enough although it's a way to go from the South East. You also get to drive through some beautiful scenery on the way back home.
I've not done Donnington or Bedford but people speak highly of them as places that are safe and offer a chance to push on and improve. they're just a bit too far for me to travel sadly.
Steve H said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I always thought that Rockingham was a boring track if you were just spectating, and I remember going to a couple of Ford shows there.
I may be biased because it was such a good track to drive but what’s not to like about a circuit where you can see 80+% of what is happening from the grandstand?Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff