Top Gear Test Track
Discussion
As I can't seem to find the Top Gear thread anymore, here is the story of my morning.
Well it was a great half day biggrin.gif You're not allow to take pictures as Merc test new cars there and don't want them photographed and the BBC don't want it either. They do however wire up in car cameras so my best lap is below.
The trainer was very good and showed me how to get the best out of the legacy. As this is my first awd car I was interested in learning its limits and how to get the most out of it. I learnt that turning in straight after coming off the brakes is vital as the car is heavy you use the weight transfer to help it turn in quicker and use the throttle not the steering to adjust the line out of the corner. It really was first rate.
The track is much harder than anything I've driven before. As its large and the track blends into the rest of the runway at times its hard to find braking points and lines, it's my first time on a runway instead of a track so took a while to get my eye in. Anyone who says they are going flat through the follow through is lying, I knew TG exaggerated at times but even the instructor said everyone has to lift. Even the stig will always lift for that bend, the only car's he ever stayed flat with, were a Mini and a Focus.
My car performed well. Shocks need an overhall though as it rolled more than I realised when really pushing, brakes are now warped to buggery and need replacing, tyres have seen better days and the clutch slips when hot as all timed laps are full bore standing starts. However not only did it get thrashed it also had a 250mile round trip and to be honest the above is wear and tear nothing that was caused by the day, just wore out quicker biggrin.gif
Overall very impressed with the setup below is the Vid (follows shortly) and two pictures. one of the section I'm in and one of the whole leader board.
Oh and my time was...... 1:35.6, I'm really chuffed with it. I'm the fastest estate (think the only one too) and the fastest 4 door. They are the only lame fastest bits I could come up with.
My secton, I'm Joe B - Subaru Legacy Estate
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGqpFiLYb9A
Well it was a great half day biggrin.gif You're not allow to take pictures as Merc test new cars there and don't want them photographed and the BBC don't want it either. They do however wire up in car cameras so my best lap is below.
The trainer was very good and showed me how to get the best out of the legacy. As this is my first awd car I was interested in learning its limits and how to get the most out of it. I learnt that turning in straight after coming off the brakes is vital as the car is heavy you use the weight transfer to help it turn in quicker and use the throttle not the steering to adjust the line out of the corner. It really was first rate.
The track is much harder than anything I've driven before. As its large and the track blends into the rest of the runway at times its hard to find braking points and lines, it's my first time on a runway instead of a track so took a while to get my eye in. Anyone who says they are going flat through the follow through is lying, I knew TG exaggerated at times but even the instructor said everyone has to lift. Even the stig will always lift for that bend, the only car's he ever stayed flat with, were a Mini and a Focus.
My car performed well. Shocks need an overhall though as it rolled more than I realised when really pushing, brakes are now warped to buggery and need replacing, tyres have seen better days and the clutch slips when hot as all timed laps are full bore standing starts. However not only did it get thrashed it also had a 250mile round trip and to be honest the above is wear and tear nothing that was caused by the day, just wore out quicker biggrin.gif
Overall very impressed with the setup below is the Vid (follows shortly) and two pictures. one of the section I'm in and one of the whole leader board.
Oh and my time was...... 1:35.6, I'm really chuffed with it. I'm the fastest estate (think the only one too) and the fastest 4 door. They are the only lame fastest bits I could come up with.
My secton, I'm Joe B - Subaru Legacy Estate
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGqpFiLYb9A
On the surface it appears a great place , hardly anything to hit etc however could nt agree more about orientation , its kinda figure of eight ............spent the whole morning trying to guess what was next , ur coming when actually ur going some of the time ..............very few points of reference .............was learning left braking in a safe place and instruction was A1 .............after 2 hrs just abt sussed which direction to go in though!
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