There's a new fastest lap on the leaderboard for the PistonHeads Challenge which allows you to set a lap time on the Top Gear test track. The leaderboard now looks like this:
- Middlec (Westfield Megabusa): 1:24.8
- Duncan C (Dax Rush Hayabusa Turbo): 1:30.2 (w)
- PCM (Scooby WRX Sti Type R) 1:36.5
- Sarnie (standard Nissan 350Z): 1.39.2
- Diceman (Noble M400) 1.41.9 (w)
- Madras (Honda NSX 3.0) 1.45.6
- Neil (Lancia Integrale Evo 2) 1.50.2
- JP7152 (BMW E36 M3) 1.50.4
As one driver (PHer Madras) commented on the day: "It was the best tuition I've had, and the most I've learnt on a track."
So why not get your loved one to give you a voucher for the PistonHeads Challenge? Valid for any time during 2007, it will allow the recipient to hoon round the Top Gear test track and get his or her name on the leaderboard.
There are now three types of voucher:
- Standard (as below) - £189
- DVD -- you take a DVD of your laps away with you - £229
- Data-logger -- as DVD plus a data log of your times including a full debrief - £249
About the PistonHeads Challenge
The format of the Challenge will be as follows:
- Classroom Briefing
- Introduction to the session
- Safety briefing
- Introduction to the track
- Theory on technique.
- One hour of tuition on the circuit in your own car
Tuition is entirely one-on-one and there is only ever car on the circuit at one time. Hence this is very exclusive and unique in the UK. Unless you are a McLaren SLR customer, or a “star in a reasonably priced car” access to the venue is very restricted.
Then, if you feel up to it, you get up to six timed laps. Each lap is a standing start and a flying finish. After each lap the instructor will give some tips and pointers on how to improve. Your best lap sets your place on the “PistonHeads Challenge” Leaderboard which will be published on the Gassing Station.
Debrief and review
After the session, back to Plans for a debrief, review of the video, and sum up. The whole process takes just over two hours.
Plans' instructors are all qualified and experienced driver coaches and race car drivers. The tuition is tailored to each individual so, even if you don’t set a time, you’ll be guaranteed to learn a lot from the session, to make you safer on the road as well as more confident on the track.
It should make interesting reading to see which cars are faster than others -- and which PHers are faster than others.
Bookings are available with about two weeks notice. For the immediate future, the sessions are weekdays only due to planning restrictions.
Bookings
