Driving an F1 car at Magny Cours with LRS Formula

[murphyaj]

LukeBrown66 said:

Yes they are F1 cars, but if you are expecting to do what Hammond did and jump into a full spec F1 car I would think not, they will likely be restricted, still very quick obviously, but I doubt very much they are full spec versions of the cars, a Prost never ran with a V8. So they are sort of bitza cars.

Takes nothing away, but your best bet to experience it unrestricted is to buy one or be in the Ferrari club stuff which is the reserve of very very rich people with more money than sense!

But for a couple of grand it's not bad.

They are quite upfront that they aren't running the original engines, to my knowledge you won't find anywhere in the world that will be running an F1 car with an original spec engine outside the teams themselves from the historical collection. F1 engines of this vintage had a lifespan measured in hours, and literally nobody in the world makes them if it blows up.

Not sure about the Williams, but the Prost V8s are using Cosworth supplied racing engines with a comparable power and weight to the original units. However in terms of using the actual drivetrain that they give you it didn't feel restricted at all, you were free to drive the car as hard as you wanted. Maybe if you're a professional racing driver you'd be able to tell the difference between the original engine and this one, but I most certainly wouldn't.

-- edited --
Just spotted that for the Jag R2 and Prost V10 it says "Chassis and engine are in their original configurations, just as its livery. " so maybe I am wrong there. Certainly the one I drove was a Cosworth V8. I also saw the Jag with the engine cover off and it was also a Cosworth unit. Perhaps they have a deal with Cosworth to maintain the original V10.

Edited by murphyaj on Wednesday 18th May 12:22

Edited by murphyaj on Wednesday 18th May 12:27

[ozzuk]

TypeRTim said:

I've had a massive hankering for doing something like this (I'd probably need to lose at least 3 stone first though!), but the ones in the UK all seem a bit...pedestrian. I know I'm no racing driver, but they are all on an airfield and all behind a pace car (which probably won't be very fast at all). I've done a few of the supercar experiences and always been left underwhelmed as they are so restrictive (leaving the cars in automatic mode etc.). Glad to hear that there is a more 'proper' experience out there!

Been very interested in the Palmersport day at Bedford if anyone has done that?

I did a palmersport race day several years ago, amazing experience. Cost has gone up, around £800 now but I'd say worth it. It's a racing focused event, league table, winners ceremony etc. A full day, we drove (from memory) jaguar xk race prepped, clio race cup, Porsche Carrera, caterham, go karts, Jp1 jaguar (amazing, instructor screams at you to go flat out), a special section with its own training to run a F3000 car, an off road section in a defender and a drifting section in a caterham.

may have been some other cars. Amazing day and highly recommended.

[LukeBrown66]

Talking of JP has there been any progress regarding this place in France he was supposed to be starting/buying and I am fairly sure he planned to close Bedford too did he not?

[Speed Badger]

It's always amused me how an F1 driver in a winning car could jump into a Minardi for example, and declare it a complete donkey and so slow, whereas if we got behind the wheel of a Minardi it would be the thrill of a lifetime!

[Thundersports]

Possibly running period F3000 rear end ie Engine/Gearbox in the Prost.

[350Matt]

murphyaj said:

They are quite upfront that they aren't running the original engines, to my knowledge you won't find anywhere in the world that will be running an F1 car with an original spec engine outside the teams themselves from the historical collection. F1 engines of this vintage had a lifespan measured in hours, and literally nobody in the world makes them if it blows up.

Not sure about the Williams, but the Prost V8s are using Cosworth supplied racing engines with a comparable power and weight to the original units. However in terms of using the actual drivetrain that they give you it didn't feel restricted at all, you were free to drive the car as hard as you wanted. Maybe if you're a professional racing driver you'd be able to tell the difference between the original engine and this one, but I most certainly wouldn't.

-- edited --
Just spotted that for the Jag R2 and Prost V10 it says "Chassis and engine are in their original configurations, just as its livery. " so maybe I am wrong there. Certainly the one I drove was a Cosworth V8. I also saw the Jag with the engine cover off and it was also a Cosworth unit. Perhaps they have a deal with Cosworth to maintain the original V10.

Edited by murphyaj on Wednesday 18th May 12:22

Edited by murphyaj on Wednesday 18th May 12:27

as someone with a bit of inside knowledge here I can vouch for the fact that LRS bought all the LK v10's and CK v10s that were used in the jaguar R1 and R2 cars
they rebuild and maintain them themselves with some parts supply from Cosworth and whilst they are restricted in revs compared to 'back in the day' they are otherwise the full spec

the r2 v10 in full race trim was capable of 850Bhp and 18,000rpm so I suspect then are probably 'only' running it to 16,000 or so to extend its life

[PhilAsia]

350Matt said:

murphyaj said:

They are quite upfront that they aren't running the original engines, to my knowledge you won't find anywhere in the world that will be running an F1 car with an original spec engine outside the teams themselves from the historical collection. F1 engines of this vintage had a lifespan measured in hours, and literally nobody in the world makes them if it blows up.

Not sure about the Williams, but the Prost V8s are using Cosworth supplied racing engines with a comparable power and weight to the original units. However in terms of using the actual drivetrain that they give you it didn't feel restricted at all, you were free to drive the car as hard as you wanted. Maybe if you're a professional racing driver you'd be able to tell the difference between the original engine and this one, but I most certainly wouldn't.

-- edited --
Just spotted that for the Jag R2 and Prost V10 it says "Chassis and engine are in their original configurations, just as its livery. " so maybe I am wrong there. Certainly the one I drove was a Cosworth V8. I also saw the Jag with the engine cover off and it was also a Cosworth unit. Perhaps they have a deal with Cosworth to maintain the original V10.

Edited by murphyaj on Wednesday 18th May 12:22

Edited by murphyaj on Wednesday 18th May 12:27

as someone with a bit of inside knowledge here I can vouch for the fact that LRS bought all the LK v10's and CK v10s that were used in the jaguar R1 and R2 cars
they rebuild and maintain them themselves with some parts supply from Cosworth and whilst they are restricted in revs compared to 'back in the day' they are otherwise the full spec

the r2 v10 in full race trim was capable of 850Bhp and 18,000rpm so I suspect then are probably 'only' running it to 16,000 or so to extend its life

I would expect the few laps you get to be pretty frantic assault on the senses, no matter which of the bronze, silver or gold packages were chosen.

I would probably opt for the most laps in order to take it all in, with the V10 being the secondary consideration due to the sound track.

[murphyaj]

350Matt said:

as someone with a bit of inside knowledge here I can vouch for the fact that LRS bought all the LK v10's and CK v10s that were used in the jaguar R1 and R2 cars
they rebuild and maintain them themselves with some parts supply from Cosworth and whilst they are restricted in revs compared to 'back in the day' they are otherwise the full spec

the r2 v10 in full race trim was capable of 850Bhp and 18,000rpm so I suspect then are probably 'only' running it to 16,000 or so to extend its life

Very interesting, thanks
Impressive that they are maintaining the original engines, I didn't expect that was feasible. That probably goes a long was to explaining the large cost difference between the car I drove and the next step up.

[350Matt]

I should also say the Williams is the original Cosworth engine too as I helped set the 3 cars up at Williams ready for sale

[stef1808]

Is the company LRS formula still operating? I’ve emailed them to enquire about booking with no reply and their phone number doesn’t work

[marine boy]

I'd like to drive the Benetton as I designed the bodywork on that one

[murphyaj]

stef1808 said:

Is the company LRS formula still operating? I’ve emailed them to enquire about booking with no reply and their phone number doesn’t work

They posted a photo of their latest experience day in Dijon just 15 hours ago to their facebook page, so I'd say yes.
Their communication was very good when i dealt with them last year.

[stef1808]

They finally replied, I had asked if I will fit in the car being 6ft3 and they said no. Will give puresport a try next

Edited by stef1808 on Wednesday 19th July 16:23

[plynchy]

Very interesting thread.

For those looking at the Formula Renault experiences in the U.K., I did one last month. Incredibly frustrating, didn’t get out of 3rd, tiny circuit at Elvington. Would love to try one on a proper circuit as the car was brutal.