Donington - 24th Feb
Discussion
Been a while since I've driven Donington but remembering really liking it, some fast flowing parts and technical slower stuff, sure you'll have an excellent day!
Other abiding memory was of a number of turn in points being hard to spot/blind, so definitely get some tuition early in the day. Enjoy!
Other abiding memory was of a number of turn in points being hard to spot/blind, so definitely get some tuition early in the day. Enjoy!
Be prepared for more red flags than most track days, donnington has quite a few gravel traps that cars can’t get out of under their own steam!
Marshalls will wave you out of the pit lane even with several cars approaching at speed (make your own checks if it’s safe to enter!)
First corner can be tricky when wet or cold though I think there’s been some resurfacing during the winter break.
Kraner curves with rear wheel drive needs a smooth approach or you can have big lift off oversteer.
Facilities and organisation is top notch and the food is next level! Enjoy!
Alex
Marshalls will wave you out of the pit lane even with several cars approaching at speed (make your own checks if it’s safe to enter!)
First corner can be tricky when wet or cold though I think there’s been some resurfacing during the winter break.
Kraner curves with rear wheel drive needs a smooth approach or you can have big lift off oversteer.
Facilities and organisation is top notch and the food is next level! Enjoy!
Alex
Hard to really talk through but key points are probably:
- first corner is later apex than you think and use all the track on way in (bit of pit exit if you can)
- Craner curves is all about track position, so make sure you are in the right place for the slight bump on the left turn, and position to get to left side for old hairpin
- old hairpin is faster than you expect, but also where you can have a big off, build up to it
- next corner (always forget name) is uphill, so brake later than you think but build up to it too, and in the morning can be little slippy if planes have been taking off that way all night
- next is blind apex, choose to turn before little rise and then let it drift to outside and hug it
- chicane is a chicane
Possibly my absolute favourite track. My first day of ‘24 will be some coaching there on the 28th, ahead of my first (ever) race there in March.
Totally agree with above advice and building slowly through the day, especially if cold or wet. Two braking points are near hill crests, which depending on car can be interesting…
Totally agree with above advice and building slowly through the day, especially if cold or wet. Two braking points are near hill crests, which depending on car can be interesting…
The fast and flowing side sounds great to me, hope it will help me to get two more track days out of the current tyres and brake pads.
The red flags less so, though hopefully towards the end of the day when things quieten down a bit there will be ample chance to get some clear laps in.
I was debating between Donington and Snetterton so hopefully I made the right choice. Chose Donington as the price for summer track days seemed to ramp up more for Donington than Snetterton
The red flags less so, though hopefully towards the end of the day when things quieten down a bit there will be ample chance to get some clear laps in.
I was debating between Donington and Snetterton so hopefully I made the right choice. Chose Donington as the price for summer track days seemed to ramp up more for Donington than Snetterton
adam.cantab said:
The fast and flowing side sounds great to me, hope it will help me to get two more track days out of the current tyres and brake pads.
The red flags less so, though hopefully towards the end of the day when things quieten down a bit there will be ample chance to get some clear laps in.
I was debating between Donington and Snetterton so hopefully I made the right choice. Chose Donington as the price for summer track days seemed to ramp up more for Donington than Snetterton
If you haven't seen Donington in the flesh before you'll be surprised how much elevation there is (a good thing!). The difference between Craner curves on youtube and in real life is massive. It's a brilliant track.The red flags less so, though hopefully towards the end of the day when things quieten down a bit there will be ample chance to get some clear laps in.
I was debating between Donington and Snetterton so hopefully I made the right choice. Chose Donington as the price for summer track days seemed to ramp up more for Donington than Snetterton
Elderly said:
WombleCate said:
Possibly my absolute favourite track. …
The National layout is my favourite track too, but not so the GP layout.braddo said:
adam.cantab said:
The fast and flowing side sounds great to me, hope it will help me to get two more track days out of the current tyres and brake pads.
The red flags less so, though hopefully towards the end of the day when things quieten down a bit there will be ample chance to get some clear laps in.
I was debating between Donington and Snetterton so hopefully I made the right choice. Chose Donington as the price for summer track days seemed to ramp up more for Donington than Snetterton
If you haven't seen Donington in the flesh before you'll be surprised how much elevation there is (a good thing!). The difference between Craner curves on youtube and in real life is massive. It's a brilliant track.The red flags less so, though hopefully towards the end of the day when things quieten down a bit there will be ample chance to get some clear laps in.
I was debating between Donington and Snetterton so hopefully I made the right choice. Chose Donington as the price for summer track days seemed to ramp up more for Donington than Snetterton
Donington park was a really fun track, particularly the Craner curves where I could really start to feel the limits of the stock suspension.
People were not lying about the red flags though, there were an awful lot of them. Plus a bit too much traffic with quite significant speed differentials. Then at about 3pm just as the traffic was starting to clear up a little a brake pad warning light drew my day to a early close.
Still a good day all around, maybe another visit midweek when there's fewer cars on track is called for.
People were not lying about the red flags though, there were an awful lot of them. Plus a bit too much traffic with quite significant speed differentials. Then at about 3pm just as the traffic was starting to clear up a little a brake pad warning light drew my day to a early close.
Still a good day all around, maybe another visit midweek when there's fewer cars on track is called for.
somewhat tricky to find a 'quiet' day at donington... its a very popular track, slap bang in the middle of the country and they have a busy schedule of races too so there are often racecars testing for upcoming events. the national circuit is also relatively short, so can get quite busy.
but yes, the donington gravel does cause a lot of red flags... run even slightly wide at any of redgate, the old hairpin, mcleans or coppice and you're immediately in the gravel - other circuits give you a bit of grass first!
i think of all my trackdays, i've only ever been stuck in the gravel at donington. damp track, dry line developing, i veered off the dry line to avoid someone coming out the pits, understeered a bit on the damp line, and found the gravel at redgate. any other track i'd have just run a touch wide and carried on no problem.
but yes, the donington gravel does cause a lot of red flags... run even slightly wide at any of redgate, the old hairpin, mcleans or coppice and you're immediately in the gravel - other circuits give you a bit of grass first!
i think of all my trackdays, i've only ever been stuck in the gravel at donington. damp track, dry line developing, i veered off the dry line to avoid someone coming out the pits, understeered a bit on the damp line, and found the gravel at redgate. any other track i'd have just run a touch wide and carried on no problem.
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