Flappy paddle shifting, plus circuit usage Qs?

[BikingLampy]

My parents decided to buy me a "3 Supercar Experience" for my 40th birthday - something I wouldn't have chosen myself, as I have a strong suspicion that they're more about seperating you from your cash in the most efficient manner possible, than providing the "memorable experience" promised.

Anyhow, what's done is done, and it's all booked in for next week. As I seem to get 3 miles in each car (180mph+ vehicles) I reckon I'll probably be driving each one for not much nore than 5 minutes, so I'd like to hit the ground running to make the best of it....

Cars in question are a Ferrari 360, Lambo Gallardo and an Aston (could be V8V or DB9). All of which have flappy paddle gearboxes, which I've never used before. Assuming I'm allowed to use the paddles (I suspect I won't be), what do I need to know? Does one back off when changing gear as you do in a manual, or is it more like a slushbox changing, foot down all the way, just you have control over the "when" bit? I assume they're all clever enough not to let you do anything catastrophic to them? Do they automatically rev match on downshifts?

I've also never driven on a closed circuit before? What do I need to know...? (other than stay on the black bit!) Prestwold Hall if it makes any difference.

Current "fast car" experience has been limited to driving an RS4 in london traffic (didn't get out of 2nd), a 2003 Jag XKR (seemed more domestic puss than wild animal) and my own E91 320d, lightly tweaked and plenty quick enough for our current roads, but no sportscar...

Cheers,

Jon

[SteveSteveson]

BikingLampy said:

, as I have a strong suspicion that they're more about seperating you from your cash in the most efficient manner possible

Depends on the company. I did one of the classic car ones and the only advice to do with speed I got was "Watch as you come up to the second to last corner. The super cars tend to brake early because we get noise complaints about them"

BikingLampy said:

As I seem to get 3 miles in each car (180mph+ vehicles)

Normally it's three laps, not 3 miles, an out, a flying and an in lap.

BikingLampy said:

Assuming I'm allowed to use the paddles (I suspect I won't be),

Again. Depends on the company, but they make money out of people having a good day, but you may be better off with such a short period letting the car do the gears rather than trying to learn something new. They should have it in race/track/sport or whatever the most sporting mode is anyway.

BikingLampy said:

I've also never driven on a closed circuit before? What do I need to know...?

Don't worry about it. Is a supercar experience day, not a track day. No need to worry about anything other than enjoying it. Listen to what they tell you, and get out there.