Which track to get to know a fast road car?

[Kent Border Kenny]

Which track would people recommend to get to stretch the legs of my new car, and get a feeling for how it behaves around the limit?

I’ve bought a McLaren 650s, which while definitely not a track-based car does have a decent turn of speed.

Does it make sense to just go for the wide, fast turns of Silverstone, or would ai have more fun somewhere like Snetterton?

[CubanPete]

Where is most local?

[Turn7]

Bedford is the obvious choice, as very little to hit when it goes wrong.

Race tracks have armco and gravel traps.....

[HustleRussell]

Silverstone was my first instinct. Lots of tarmac runoff. Snetterton is in consideration but on the 300 layout there is a corner IIRC called 'Hamilton' where there is often a stack of tyres on the exit. Too much gravel and st at Donington

[Darranu]

Blyton's a good place to explore a car with little risk. There's only really one corner where you could hit something, the rest just run off into fields.

[Kent Border Kenny]

CubanPete said:

Where is most local?

Brands is really close. I took my R8 there last winter and had a great time, but it’s only ever the Indy track available, which I’m not sure is the best place for what I’m after. I quite like the idea of some higher speed corners.

[BertBert]

Kent Border Kenny said:

Brands is really close. I took my R8 there last winter and had a great time, but it’s only ever the Indy track available, which I’m not sure is the best place for what I’m after. I quite like the idea of some higher speed corners.

Silverstone national. Very good place to test cars. And Copse would be the high speed corner.
Bert

[Kent Border Kenny]

BertBert said:

Silverstone national. Very good place to test cars. And Copse would be the high speed corner.
Bert

The Grand Prix track’s available next Friday, is that even better?

[Turn7]

Kent Border Kenny said:

BertBert said:

Silverstone national. Very good place to test cars. And Copse would be the high speed corner.
Bert

The Grand Prix track’s available next Friday, is that even better?

Yes, but usually comes at a large premium.........

[mickyh7]

Turn7 said:

Kent Border Kenny said:

BertBert said:

Silverstone national. Very good place to test cars. And Copse would be the high speed corner.
Bert

The Grand Prix track’s available next Friday, is that even better?

Yes, but usually comes at a large premium.........

Shouldn't really be a problem if you can afford a McLaren 650s!

[anonymous-user]

Silverstone GP track is only £250 in the winter months which isn't too bad and makes it far more interesting.

[Kent Border Kenny]

Elatino1 said:

Silverstone GP track is only £250 in the winter months which isn't too bad and makes it far more interesting.

Yes, the one I looked at was £299, which seems very reasonable. I’m going to gamble on waiting until a few days before to book so I can check the weather forecast, as I’m not going to enjoy it in snow or rain.

[Turn7]

mickyh7 said:

Turn7 said:

Kent Border Kenny said:

BertBert said:

Silverstone national. Very good place to test cars. And Copse would be the high speed corner.
Bert

The Grand Prix track’s available next Friday, is that even better?

Yes, but usually comes at a large premium.........

Shouldn't really be a problem if you can afford a McLaren 650s!

Yeah, I did consider that lol

[Kent Border Kenny]

mickyh7 said:

Shouldn't really be a problem if you can afford a McLaren 650s!

They have become surprisingly affordable.

[ATG]

Dunno whereabouts in Kent you are, but the youthful me would have suggested M25 junction 5 anticlockwise onto the A21 south ... ahem ... obviously not a good idea. Enjoy exploring that superb car!

[Elderly]

Kent Border Kenny said:

The Grand Prix track’s available next Friday, is that even better?

Really? I thought that there were no track days at all in England at the moment.

But if it's dry there's very little to hit at Silverstone GP.
In the wet there's two chances to do damage; exiting Woodcote and exiting Club,
the concrete pit walls beckon!

[RichB]

Kent Border Kenny said:

Which track would people recommend to get to stretch the legs of my new car <clip>

Have you done any track days before? If not I would strongly recommend Bedford. It has wide run offs with graduated transitions from tarmac to grass.

[Kent Border Kenny]

RichB said:

Have you done any track days before? If not I would strongly recommend Bedford. It has wide run offs with graduated transitions from tarmac to grass.

I’ve done a fair few, and am fortunate to have done the Palmer driving day at Bedford quite a few times.

I’m comfortable on the track, but the new car’s quite a step up in performance, and I don’t want to be getting in anyone’s way on the tighter tracks like Croft.

[foxsasha]

All November track days in England have been cancelled. There are some at Silverstone in December but I'd not leave it too late to book as track days have been selling out weeks and months in advance this year. December sales will be slower but with November being cancelled there are a lot of people with credits to use.

[Kent Border Kenny]

Thanks for the input everyone. I’ve booked for December at Silverstone. £299 for an open pit lane day on the Grand Prix circuit.

Siklerstone’s a fast enough circuit that even if I’m a bit ham-fisted I shouldn’t be getting in anyone’s way.

The last time I was there I was in a BMW R1200GS, which felt a bit lost on the straights.