Thruxton - fast cars only. Hot(ish) hatches not welcome?
Discussion
On the top of the booking page on the trackday providers site it states "Thruxton is a high speed circuit and is not recommended for novice drivers or low powered vehicles."
I guess what is a 'low powered vehicle' is a relative term, but anyone taken their super mini around Thruxton?
I was thinking about booking a track day in my Suzuki Swift Sport (140ish bhp), but the above has put me off.
I guess what is a 'low powered vehicle' is a relative term, but anyone taken their super mini around Thruxton?
I was thinking about booking a track day in my Suzuki Swift Sport (140ish bhp), but the above has put me off.
You'll be absolutely fine.
There are plenty of places to overtake at Thruxton and whilst it is a fast track, the speed comes from carrying it, rather than just mashing the accelerator.
The issue I can see is that because you have to carry so much speed, if you come up on a slow car in the middle of a corner, it can be a bit of a challenge to navigate it safely (in a race, you'd just go straight past them in the corner). It is for this reason that I think they warn against it for novice drivers. That said, last time I was there, I was chatting to a guy doing his first track day. He did absolutely fine and didn't get in anybody's way as far as I could see.
So in summary, I think the issue is slow drivers rather than slow cars (the slowest car last time I was there was a guy in a GT3 RS driving at 50mph and being a bit of a hazard).
There are plenty of places to overtake at Thruxton and whilst it is a fast track, the speed comes from carrying it, rather than just mashing the accelerator.
The issue I can see is that because you have to carry so much speed, if you come up on a slow car in the middle of a corner, it can be a bit of a challenge to navigate it safely (in a race, you'd just go straight past them in the corner). It is for this reason that I think they warn against it for novice drivers. That said, last time I was there, I was chatting to a guy doing his first track day. He did absolutely fine and didn't get in anybody's way as far as I could see.
So in summary, I think the issue is slow drivers rather than slow cars (the slowest car last time I was there was a guy in a GT3 RS driving at 50mph and being a bit of a hazard).
I’ve driven the track a number of times. There’s an off camber corner that can catch you out if you take too tight a line going in….. Called Church. Watched a track day there and a couple of cars lost it there as they were flying and back end went light, and they went off. I think front drive hatches can struggle if they mess up that corner. At least the two I saw crash there seems to.
It’s a very fast circuit. Of all the track days I did this was the one I liked least. It’s a pretty boring place for track days. Fine for watching BTCC though as there’s always spills.
I’m pretty sure it’s the most ‘full throttle’ circuit in the U.K. hope your brakes are up to it.
It’s a very fast circuit. Of all the track days I did this was the one I liked least. It’s a pretty boring place for track days. Fine for watching BTCC though as there’s always spills.
I’m pretty sure it’s the most ‘full throttle’ circuit in the U.K. hope your brakes are up to it.
As above it’s the speed differential that is the issue. No inherent problem for slower cars. However some of the corners are very fast and very long, in fact the circuit is almost one gigantic series of corners with very few straight bits. Not ideal on a track day where overtaking is generally to be done on the straights.
I love it it’s a real big balls circuit. Very entertaining. No issue with the brakes incidentally, it might be fast but there are only a couple of significant braking events per lap and they are a good way apart.
I love it it’s a real big balls circuit. Very entertaining. No issue with the brakes incidentally, it might be fast but there are only a couple of significant braking events per lap and they are a good way apart.
after Church I often back off and rest the car down to the chicane (the one big braking point).
mines a slow car so little to be gained with half a mile of wot.
plenty of overtaking, though rather confusingly in my opinion it's on both the left and right. confusing because some regular trackdayers will not have that muscle memory and so situations may arise. it's not an incident prone circuit in my experience though.
slowest cars have actually been some of the fastest too.
Swift should be fine. I've seen way more trouble at Brands Indy where frustration builds and overtaking is more limited.
mines a slow car so little to be gained with half a mile of wot.
plenty of overtaking, though rather confusingly in my opinion it's on both the left and right. confusing because some regular trackdayers will not have that muscle memory and so situations may arise. it's not an incident prone circuit in my experience though.
slowest cars have actually been some of the fastest too.
Swift should be fine. I've seen way more trouble at Brands Indy where frustration builds and overtaking is more limited.
Appreciate all the input folks, thanks for taking the time to feedback.
It's quite an inexpensive track day (£152 for a summer day) and my friend lives quite close by in Andover, so I can combine a day at the track with a visit to see him. Worst case scenario I can always give the morning session a go and bail if it's proving to be too hairy vs the faster cars.
I imagine that the noise limits at Thruxton somewhat limit the types of cars that can drive there.
It's quite an inexpensive track day (£152 for a summer day) and my friend lives quite close by in Andover, so I can combine a day at the track with a visit to see him. Worst case scenario I can always give the morning session a go and bail if it's proving to be too hairy vs the faster cars.
I imagine that the noise limits at Thruxton somewhat limit the types of cars that can drive there.
porterpainter said:
Appreciate all the input folks, thanks for taking the time to feedback.
It's quite an inexpensive track day (£152 for a summer day) and my friend lives quite close by in Andover, so I can combine a day at the track with a visit to see him. Worst case scenario I can always give the morning session a go and bail if it's proving to be too hairy vs the faster cars.
I imagine that the noise limits at Thruxton somewhat limit the types of cars that can drive there.
I was literally then about to post and say "I'm surprised that you even get many 'properly' fast cars there with the noise limit they have.It's quite an inexpensive track day (£152 for a summer day) and my friend lives quite close by in Andover, so I can combine a day at the track with a visit to see him. Worst case scenario I can always give the morning session a go and bail if it's proving to be too hairy vs the faster cars.
I imagine that the noise limits at Thruxton somewhat limit the types of cars that can drive there.
I know that I'd have no chance of getting my car on there in my car, never mind some of the really quick things I see at other track days.
porterpainter said:
I imagine that the noise limits at Thruxton somewhat limit the types of cars that can drive there.
Bloody NIMBYs.When the wind is in the right direction you can hear race meets there over in Andover, it’s great.
I did Thruxton in a Clio 182 and it didn’t feel particularly problematic, as others have said it’s all about carrying speed. It’s quite a technical circuit if you want to be fast in anything without mega power though.
I wouldn't worry too much, I did a trackday there in a standard 1.6 Focus Mk1 and didn't have any issues. 99bhp vs much quicker EVs and all the normal trackday cars - the circuit is wide enough and plenty of straights to let other cars through safely. Like any other trackday, you will have paid your money just the same as the person in a car with 3x the power, you have as much right to use the circuit as they do (providing you let them pass at an appropriate time)
Agree with previous post.
I’ve done one test day and two track days at Thruxton this year, first time with 125 bhp and then with 140 bhp. There have been lots of Clios & Fiestas having a cracking time too. As others have posted, the lower noise limit may mean fewer race cars on track days.
At first glance it looks very simple, but, quite interesting to get right (if anyone can show me the braking point for the chicane).
I’ve done one test day and two track days at Thruxton this year, first time with 125 bhp and then with 140 bhp. There have been lots of Clios & Fiestas having a cracking time too. As others have posted, the lower noise limit may mean fewer race cars on track days.
At first glance it looks very simple, but, quite interesting to get right (if anyone can show me the braking point for the chicane).
You will be fine in the Swift. I did it earlier this year sharing my 240bhp Octavia with my youngest son and daughter. Car was out all day and we didn't come across any problems at all.
It is a long, generally wide track so there is plenty of overtaking space.
Daughters first time out on an almost empty track chaperoned by my son, (maybe people saw her go out and stayed in the pits...).
https://youtu.be/lz3fvTdQoOs?si=cRY4sTgTBDJvRAuz
It is a long, generally wide track so there is plenty of overtaking space.
Daughters first time out on an almost empty track chaperoned by my son, (maybe people saw her go out and stayed in the pits...).
https://youtu.be/lz3fvTdQoOs?si=cRY4sTgTBDJvRAuz
CABC said:
plenty of overtaking, though rather confusingly in my opinion it's on both the left and right. confusing because some regular trackdayers will not have that muscle memory and so situations may arise. .
Not all TDOs run that way at Thruxton, Circuit Days are left side only for sure and I would suspect the same for a number of the others. porterpainter said:
On the top of the booking page on the trackday providers site it states "Thruxton is a high speed circuit and is not recommended for novice drivers or low powered vehicles."
I guess what is a 'low powered vehicle' is a relative term, but anyone taken their super mini around Thruxton?
I was thinking about booking a track day in my Suzuki Swift Sport (140ish bhp), but the above has put me off.
My 70yo trackday novice father popped his cherry at Thruxton in a 200bhp Mini. He's not a fast driver by any stretch of the imagination, and it was absolutely fine.I guess what is a 'low powered vehicle' is a relative term, but anyone taken their super mini around Thruxton?
I was thinking about booking a track day in my Suzuki Swift Sport (140ish bhp), but the above has put me off.
The whole 'fastest track in the UK' thing is mostly just marketing spiel. The far end of the circuit has a really fast right-handed kinked straight, but the rest of the track is no 'faster' or more intimidating than any other UK track.
Steve H said:
CABC said:
plenty of overtaking, though rather confusingly in my opinion it's on both the left and right. confusing because some regular trackdayers will not have that muscle memory and so situations may arise. .
Not all TDOs run that way at Thruxton, Circuit Days are left side only for sure and I would suspect the same for a number of the others. C70R said:
Steve H said:
CABC said:
plenty of overtaking, though rather confusingly in my opinion it's on both the left and right. confusing because some regular trackdayers will not have that muscle memory and so situations may arise. .
Not all TDOs run that way at Thruxton, Circuit Days are left side only for sure and I would suspect the same for a number of the others. it's true that others are not. could be confusing...
CABC said:
C70R said:
Steve H said:
CABC said:
plenty of overtaking, though rather confusingly in my opinion it's on both the left and right. confusing because some regular trackdayers will not have that muscle memory and so situations may arise. .
Not all TDOs run that way at Thruxton, Circuit Days are left side only for sure and I would suspect the same for a number of the others. it's true that others are not. could be confusing...
TTmonkey said:
I’ve driven the track a number of times. There’s an off camber corner that can catch you out if you take too tight a line going in….. Called Church. Watched a track day there and a couple of cars lost it there as they were flying and back end went light, and they went off. I think front drive hatches can struggle if they mess up that corner. At least the two I saw crash there seems to.
It’s a very fast circuit. Of all the track days I did this was the one I liked least. It’s a pretty boring place for track days. Fine for watching BTCC though as there’s always spills.
I’m pretty sure it’s the most ‘full throttle’ circuit in the U.K. hope your brakes are up to it.
In my Clio RS200 Cup, the rear does go light while flat out around Church. It's so exhilarating feeling a car on its edge, and the slightest lift on the throttle would have me on the grass. Brilliant fun! My M2 while so much faster, wouldn't have the edge-of-your-seat kind of driving, which I bloody love from the Clio.It’s a very fast circuit. Of all the track days I did this was the one I liked least. It’s a pretty boring place for track days. Fine for watching BTCC though as there’s always spills.
I’m pretty sure it’s the most ‘full throttle’ circuit in the U.K. hope your brakes are up to it.
My friend was in his Clubsport spec E46 M3 and he has no such worries. So yes, it does appear to be an FWD thing
Networkgeek said:
In my Clio RS200 Cup, the rear does go light while flat out around Church. It's so exhilarating feeling a car on its edge, and the slightest lift on the throttle would have me on the grass. Brilliant fun! My M2 while so much faster, wouldn't have the edge-of-your-seat kind of driving, which I bloody love from the Clio.
My friend was in his Clubsport spec E46 M3 and he has no such worries. So yes, it does appear to be an FWD thing
maybe wheelbase too? but for sure, lift off w/fwd can be interesting.My friend was in his Clubsport spec E46 M3 and he has no such worries. So yes, it does appear to be an FWD thing
way more fun being on the edge rather than fast, totally agree.
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