Open wheeler track days?

[amir98]

Hi guys. I am looking to purchase a fully prepped formula renault car from the 2011 season for the odd track day as I have some spare cash laying about which I would like to exercise a hobby with but I have found there is not much track day support at all for the car which will defeat the purpose of me buying it. Is there any track days I can attend (maybe 2 times a month) in my formula renault or is the only place I can drive when I enter an actual event?

[amir98]

Thanks mate. I think that's just what I needed. Spent so long searching open wheel track days but I was just seeing experiance days. I understand they will need to be well maintained and engine will have to be rebuilt after a certain amount of miles.

[amir98]

doogalman said:

If my memory serves me right. Javelin organised some open wheeled sessions this year. Maybe give them a call.

I called them a few days ago and they said they only run 1 or 2 a year for open wheelers

[amir98]

MG CHRIS said:

Your better of with a kit car or radical type car if you want to do track days. Don't really see the point of single seaters unless you want to race it or use it for sprint/hill climbs.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've looked into this but the inner kid in me wants to feel like an f1 driver. I've looked alot into the test days and they seem my best bet.

[amir98]

Nickjd said:

I would see loads of issues with this as a "toy" car.
They are specialised, high maintenance vehicles. You are going to need some for of support crew even if just to help strap in. Tyres are going to cost you upwards of £1,000 a set and are not exactly long life.
More to the point, and very much one of the reason open wheel cars are not permitted on general track days is touching wheels brings about big problems and so you need to be proficient at knowing the size of the car and when, where and how to overtake or be overtaken.
So, yes test days are pretty much the only time you are going to get one of these things on track. Then the issue comes that very, very few people, if any, go into a Formula Renault with a novice cross on the car. Test days are not subject etiquette rules like trackdays and while they are not the actual race, it might very much well be. You will be expected to have served your apprenticeship and have the ability to be of reasonable pace and predictability or there is likely to be issues, potentially of a serious nature.

Hi financially I have no problem with the up keeps of the car and I'm not sure where you've got the idea that I am treating it as a "toy" but I am more than able to keep a healthy pace in the car once I am used to it. I would not have pursued the idea if I did not have some ability in delivering a good pace in the car so I would not be an obstacle on the track.

As I stated before I am looking to stretch my legs in it in a track day like manner which the test days would provide then after I can look at competing if I wish. I am looking to have my national b licence upgraded soon so I'm not some fool jumping inna car too quick for my own good if thats what you are thinking.

[amir98]

HustleRussell said:

amir98 said:

I am looking to have my national b licence upgraded soon

What have you been racing so far? Formula Renault's a pretty serious bit of kit...

Hello again. I done 4 karting events and 1 bmw compact endurance race with a friend. As far as I understand, I am 1 signature away from being able to upgrade to my national A licence.
And yes its going to be much quicker round a track than the porsche cayman I have been chucking around recently.

[amir98]

Nampahc Niloc said:

I’m sorry to disappoint, but karting events are not going to count towards upgrading to a Race National Licence.

Oh wow really. Either way I got a taste for the endurance racing when I entered with my friend. So I'm quite confident by the time I got the purchase all finalised and car delivered, I will be 1 or 2 events off anyway discluding the karting events.

[amir98]

HustleRussell said:

I think we can agree that two signatures away from a club licence is definitely ready for Formula Renault, or a Formula 2 with a V10 or V12 grafted in as per the other thread

As mentioned previously. I'm not looking to compete in formula renault. I was looking for a weapon to use on a track to fill my childish dreams and after working and earning like I have, I think I've earned that right. Maybe if I got a really good feel for the car then maybe but I simply do not have to time for that. I understand cars like the arial atom exist for that purpose but my budget is quite good and I will not have a problem financially for maintaining plus I want a proper formula experience. Never did I say I was at the pace of formula renault racing, I just stated that I would not be a complete obsticle to other cars on the track at a test session.

And regarding the other thread. If you read properly before replying, you would have read that it was a completely theoretical question asking if a company like dallara would produce a 2020 spec chassis for purchase to create a modern v10 formula car. It was made quite clear my understanding of the amount that would cost and how it would not be possible financially, I just wanted to know of it was theoretically possible. Please read before replying next time.
Thanks

[amir98]

I Like Tea said:

I think you will have a great time In a Formula Renault or similar. I bought my first single seater to sprint and hill climb earlier this year and it’s been a blast. The learning curve has been vertiginous, but I went at it from the first moment I let the clutch out with the engine running, which was maybe not the wisest. Made quite a number of mistakes that I got away with, but am now competitive after about 30 laps in it. A more measured approach would be to hire some time on an empty track, you can hire 3 sisters near Wigan for £120 an hour. I would advise you go there or somewhere similar for a couple of hours to learn the car before turning up at a open test session for single seaters. Many at a test session will be furiously fast, it will be intimidating and you don’t want to be learning a new and very different car in that environment.

I run mine by myself and can strap myself in no problem even though it’s a very tight cockpit, a FR will be more roomy and a bit easier I expect.

Maintenance is straight forward, everything is very accessible and easy to work on, but please only do this if you are a competent mechanic or engineer. Things like bolt/bearing/material spec is really important and you need to know what you are doing. Suspension and aero is all very adjustable so buy a car with a known good set up and data, lots of folk can help you with setup too.

Second hand slicks are £15 a corner and good enough for test days. Also, a kit car is nowhere close to as fast as a single seater, I used to race a 220hp Caterham on slicks and my 1000cc single seater kills it. Hope that helps, have a go and have fun I say!

Awesome advice. Thanks for the reply. I will look into 3 sisters.