Donington 24th May - Book A Track - my thoughts and pics
Discussion
Hi there,
Booked this a few months ago to take my Renault Clio 197 F1 on track for the first time. I had previously tracked a VW Golf GTi MK3 but have not been on track for about 18 months.
Only booked the evening session as just wanted a taster to find out how good the Clio was on track before I decided to spend any money on some little modifications for it.
Never been on a Book-a-Track day before so was keen to see what they were like compared to other track days organisers I have been with.
I arrived at the track around 4.45pm, and had a nosey round the paddock. There was a Book-a-Track day organised for the full day so there were plenty of cars around. Some pretty serious kit was on track including 3 new Ferrari 458 race cars
I headed for the drivers briefing at 5pm which was good, very clear and quite humorous in places before lining up in the pit lane at 5.30 for three sighting laps. Sighting laps were good and gave me a good look at the track which has changed in the last 18 months and one I had only ever driven on the Playstation. My 17 year old son had come along with me for his first time as a passenger so this was a good chance for him to see how a trackday works.
When I booked the trackday I paid extra for an instructor (Christian Dick) and he joined me in the car immediately after the sighting laps for a good half hour in the car. His advice and instruction was superb, he stayed quiet and let me drive for a lap before he started telling me where to turn in and where to brake etc. I really enjoyed having an instructor and will definately do it again.
After a scary moment braking heavily down the Dunlop straight towards the new chicane when I had major brake fade we came in and I gave the car 15 mins to cool down before going out again this time with my son. He loved it as we pounded the track for another 15 mins before coming in again for a rest and a sandwich. I was a little nervous at first, there must have been 20 Caterhams on the event and these things are damn fast and seem to stick like glue to the track. The 458 race cars stayed on for the evening event and these were fast like you wouldn't believe, I made sure I got well out of the way when I say one of these coming up behind me.
There were only 2 minor red flags in the whole 3 hour session, these were cleared up quickly with only minimal delay.
All in all a superb event and very well run by Book a Track. Now to book the next one !
Oh and as for the Clio, its bloody superb ! It handles superbly, accelerates well and brakes very well (after the initial fade the brakes were excellent). Only mod I want now is harnesses to keep me in my seat, and perhaps lowering the suspension a little.
Track Day bug has bitten again and I can't wait to get out again soon.
A few more pics: -
Hope you like the pics
Regards
Tim
Booked this a few months ago to take my Renault Clio 197 F1 on track for the first time. I had previously tracked a VW Golf GTi MK3 but have not been on track for about 18 months.
Only booked the evening session as just wanted a taster to find out how good the Clio was on track before I decided to spend any money on some little modifications for it.
Never been on a Book-a-Track day before so was keen to see what they were like compared to other track days organisers I have been with.
I arrived at the track around 4.45pm, and had a nosey round the paddock. There was a Book-a-Track day organised for the full day so there were plenty of cars around. Some pretty serious kit was on track including 3 new Ferrari 458 race cars
I headed for the drivers briefing at 5pm which was good, very clear and quite humorous in places before lining up in the pit lane at 5.30 for three sighting laps. Sighting laps were good and gave me a good look at the track which has changed in the last 18 months and one I had only ever driven on the Playstation. My 17 year old son had come along with me for his first time as a passenger so this was a good chance for him to see how a trackday works.
When I booked the trackday I paid extra for an instructor (Christian Dick) and he joined me in the car immediately after the sighting laps for a good half hour in the car. His advice and instruction was superb, he stayed quiet and let me drive for a lap before he started telling me where to turn in and where to brake etc. I really enjoyed having an instructor and will definately do it again.
After a scary moment braking heavily down the Dunlop straight towards the new chicane when I had major brake fade we came in and I gave the car 15 mins to cool down before going out again this time with my son. He loved it as we pounded the track for another 15 mins before coming in again for a rest and a sandwich. I was a little nervous at first, there must have been 20 Caterhams on the event and these things are damn fast and seem to stick like glue to the track. The 458 race cars stayed on for the evening event and these were fast like you wouldn't believe, I made sure I got well out of the way when I say one of these coming up behind me.
There were only 2 minor red flags in the whole 3 hour session, these were cleared up quickly with only minimal delay.
All in all a superb event and very well run by Book a Track. Now to book the next one !
Oh and as for the Clio, its bloody superb ! It handles superbly, accelerates well and brakes very well (after the initial fade the brakes were excellent). Only mod I want now is harnesses to keep me in my seat, and perhaps lowering the suspension a little.
Track Day bug has bitten again and I can't wait to get out again soon.
A few more pics: -
Hope you like the pics
Regards
Tim
Hi there,
Heres a video as well.
http://youtu.be/R1bw-eUSepM
Please bear in mind it was my first time on track, and the car had new brake pads that morning that needed some bedding in
Regards
Tim
Heres a video as well.
http://youtu.be/R1bw-eUSepM
Please bear in mind it was my first time on track, and the car had new brake pads that morning that needed some bedding in
Regards
Tim
Yeah - great evening (till the R500 broke down yet again).
Those 458 Challenge cars were the fastest car's I've come across in a long time. Great fun mixing it up with them with them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TskD5jNQAN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgpUL7tjcl8
Black 458 was being driven very well, and a good few seconds faster than the red one. Just goes to show how fast R500s are in road legal trim compared to £250k+ race cars on slicks!
Those 458 Challenge cars were the fastest car's I've come across in a long time. Great fun mixing it up with them with them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TskD5jNQAN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgpUL7tjcl8
Black 458 was being driven very well, and a good few seconds faster than the red one. Just goes to show how fast R500s are in road legal trim compared to £250k+ race cars on slicks!
Walton said:
Yeah - great evening (till the R500 broke down yet again).
Those 458 Challenge cars were the fastest car's I've come across in a long time. Great fun mixing it up with them with them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TskD5jNQAN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgpUL7tjcl8
Black 458 was being driven very well, and a good few seconds faster than the red one. Just goes to show how fast R500s are in road legal trim compared to £250k+ race cars on slicks!
Impressive how quick your R500 is, but I think the 458 challenge was being babied round the track. Evo tested a roadgoing 458 italia at the same time around bedford as the latest R500 superlight, yet the 458 challenge is 9 seconds a lap faster than a roadgoing 458 around fiorano. Then factor in fiorano is a 0.5 mile shorter lap then donington. End result is a 458 challenge would muller an R500 if driven at race pace.Those 458 Challenge cars were the fastest car's I've come across in a long time. Great fun mixing it up with them with them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TskD5jNQAN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgpUL7tjcl8
Black 458 was being driven very well, and a good few seconds faster than the red one. Just goes to show how fast R500s are in road legal trim compared to £250k+ race cars on slicks!
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff