First track day at Donnington
Discussion
Morning,
I am looking at attending my first track day at Donnington next week, was just wanting some advice.
I will be taking my BMW 1M Coupe, is there anything I need to do in terms of prerperation to my car to maximise my day?
What costs can I expect to incur after it has finished, I am expecting new pads at a minimum?
Is it worth while hiring tuition for a few laps since this is my first time, or are you better finding your own feet?
Cheers,
Paul
I am looking at attending my first track day at Donnington next week, was just wanting some advice.
I will be taking my BMW 1M Coupe, is there anything I need to do in terms of prerperation to my car to maximise my day?
What costs can I expect to incur after it has finished, I am expecting new pads at a minimum?
Is it worth while hiring tuition for a few laps since this is my first time, or are you better finding your own feet?
Cheers,
Paul
Do get instruction early in the day.
Build up pace as you feel comfortable.
Short regular sessions on track (watch your BMW brakes for fade)
Watch your mirrors, but don't panic, stay relaxed.
Keep an eye on tyre pressures and do all the obvious basic checks on fluid levels etc beforehand.
You probably won't wear anything out in the day unless you're right on it.
Donington is awesome!
Build up pace as you feel comfortable.
Short regular sessions on track (watch your BMW brakes for fade)
Watch your mirrors, but don't panic, stay relaxed.
Keep an eye on tyre pressures and do all the obvious basic checks on fluid levels etc beforehand.
You probably won't wear anything out in the day unless you're right on it.
Donington is awesome!
Donny is an excellent circuit.
I'd echo the tuition - worth every penny. For what they cost I'd book a session first thing and then one later in the day to iron out any mistakes.
It's a pretty safe circuit, but be careful through craners / old hairpin as it is easy to get it wrong and you will be travelling pretty fast.
Is this your first ever day or first donny day? If first every, just be aware that all the seven type cars will be hugely faster than you around the corners but you will be faster than them on the straights. Do lift on the straight to let them past or you will not be popular. If it's a Bookatrack day Jonny will point this out anyway, but it's worth remembering.
The other thing to do is to take a tyre pressure guage and come in after a couple of laps and reset your pressure so as not to overcook your tyres. I suspect you might get away with not changing pads but tyres could need replacing afterwards depending on how hard on the car you are.
Enjoy!
I'd echo the tuition - worth every penny. For what they cost I'd book a session first thing and then one later in the day to iron out any mistakes.
It's a pretty safe circuit, but be careful through craners / old hairpin as it is easy to get it wrong and you will be travelling pretty fast.
Is this your first ever day or first donny day? If first every, just be aware that all the seven type cars will be hugely faster than you around the corners but you will be faster than them on the straights. Do lift on the straight to let them past or you will not be popular. If it's a Bookatrack day Jonny will point this out anyway, but it's worth remembering.
The other thing to do is to take a tyre pressure guage and come in after a couple of laps and reset your pressure so as not to overcook your tyres. I suspect you might get away with not changing pads but tyres could need replacing afterwards depending on how hard on the car you are.
Enjoy!
BrotherMouzone said:
pscl227 said:
Is it worth while hiring tuition for a few laps since this is my first time
Yes yes yes and yes.I find Donington (National) isn't that hard on brake compares to other circuits but then my car only has 191bhp and weights 1100kg.
...but I reckon Donington is pretty hard on brakes - hard stops for the esses and redgate & 1M is a heavy, powerful car. OP will probably be braking pretty hard at macleans and coppice also.
Tuition will get you round faster, safer and will reduce the wear on tyres and brakes. New track drivers tend to be too fast into the slow corners and too slow into the fast ones.
Enjoy Donington - it's fantastic, and a good first circuit to try.
Donington is definitely hard on brakes if you have a heavier, powerful car. Make sure there's plenty of meat on your brake pads. If not, consider changing them before the day so that you don't risk running out of pad midway through the day.
My first track day at Donington was in an e36 M3. The brake pads (that were reasonably worn) just about made it through the day. Then one of them shattered while driving out of the circuit on those rough access roads...
Great track though! Have fun!
My first track day at Donington was in an e36 M3. The brake pads (that were reasonably worn) just about made it through the day. Then one of them shattered while driving out of the circuit on those rough access roads...
Great track though! Have fun!
This will give you an idea of lines etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukuYtT2qnLI
You need to pray for rain, your pads will not be up to the job if it's dry. It's extremely slippery when wet though, as you can see from this awful video of me -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukuYtT2qnLI
You need to pray for rain, your pads will not be up to the job if it's dry. It's extremely slippery when wet though, as you can see from this awful video of me -
edh said:
Agree with the tuition bit..
...but I reckon Donington is pretty hard on brakes - hard stops for the esses and redgate & 1M is a heavy, powerful car.
I must add that I was using CL RC5+ rather than standard road pads, but yes a car that weights over 400kg more than mine and with 150 extra horses would be a different animal....but I reckon Donington is pretty hard on brakes - hard stops for the esses and redgate & 1M is a heavy, powerful car.
Generally I've found tracks with hairpins and slow-med fast 90 degree turns are harder on brakes (trail braking with my FWD car).
Have fun OP! Donington is fantastic.
Paul,
The main thing to keep an eye on with your car are the tyre pressures - if you dont drop your pressures as the tyres warm up then you are more likely to shread them. If you aim for standard pressures when they are hot they will last much better. If you feel your brakes going soft then let them cool.
A further discipline that will help your car is to allow a lap for it to warm up, brakes and engine oil. Then also drive a cool down lap with minimal braking to allow the car to cool before parking it in the pits.
Otherwise, be as smooth as you can and dont get suckered into racing others!
The main thing to keep an eye on with your car are the tyre pressures - if you dont drop your pressures as the tyres warm up then you are more likely to shread them. If you aim for standard pressures when they are hot they will last much better. If you feel your brakes going soft then let them cool.
A further discipline that will help your car is to allow a lap for it to warm up, brakes and engine oil. Then also drive a cool down lap with minimal braking to allow the car to cool before parking it in the pits.
Otherwise, be as smooth as you can and dont get suckered into racing others!
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