Which trackday in the UK offers the best track experience?
Discussion
I've raced on many of the UK circuits back in the day and I've done numerous track days to boot, but wondering what you guys think has been your best experience, in terms of the track itself, the layout used etc.
As trackdays are mostly about fun, some do choose to time themselves for the aspect of improving technique and skills.
So for fun, I think our mini Nurburgring (Cadwell Park) is a winner and for improving technique I've always found Donnington Park to be a good circuit. It has blind apexes, a good mix of fast corners that require throttle balancing, a need for good corner exist speed skills to cut time on the straights, and if you include the Melbourne hairpin you have the precise braking and turn in requirements to make a track that offers a lot.
Which UK tracks do you guys prefer?
As trackdays are mostly about fun, some do choose to time themselves for the aspect of improving technique and skills.
So for fun, I think our mini Nurburgring (Cadwell Park) is a winner and for improving technique I've always found Donnington Park to be a good circuit. It has blind apexes, a good mix of fast corners that require throttle balancing, a need for good corner exist speed skills to cut time on the straights, and if you include the Melbourne hairpin you have the precise braking and turn in requirements to make a track that offers a lot.
Which UK tracks do you guys prefer?
My favourite is Cadwell Park, by a long way.
It shows that top speed is irrelevant, it's all about the corners.
It really flows and its narrowness is not an issue once you get used to it.
But I have not yet managed to do Oulton Park or Knock Hill, and these too have gradient changes and interesting corners.
It shows that top speed is irrelevant, it's all about the corners.
It really flows and its narrowness is not an issue once you get used to it.
But I have not yet managed to do Oulton Park or Knock Hill, and these too have gradient changes and interesting corners.
Donington for me. Craner curves are epic fun. Though there are a lot of red flags usually, lots of gravel to get stuck in.
Oulton would be up there too but i cant get on with the chicanes.
Conversely i dont really like cadwell. Too narrow, twisty, never feel i can get a good flow. Plus, theres no proper pits, queues to get on the circuit, and its miles away!
Oulton would be up there too but i cant get on with the chicanes.
Conversely i dont really like cadwell. Too narrow, twisty, never feel i can get a good flow. Plus, theres no proper pits, queues to get on the circuit, and its miles away!
brillomaster said:
Conversely i dont really like cadwell. Too narrow, twisty, never feel i can get a good flow. Plus, theres no proper pits, queues to get on the circuit, and its miles away!
Cadwell is truly epic, it is the best track for true fun behind the wheel & is typically only lost on those with too much power to exploit the handling or who don't take the time to get tuition to learn it properly.It is twisty, rather than straight & is a technical circuit that can take a bit of learning, hence tuition being vital to enjoying it.
Pits, I have never used at any track I have been to & the only reason for the odd queue of a car or 2 is because the pit entry is "on the racing line" at a slow part of circuit, well worth any slight negatives IMHO.
It probably suits a lighter car better - I cannot speak for the others here, but my car is under 1100 kg but over 300 bhp. So quick between corners and into Coppice, but handles the corners, which are the fun bits.
I have been overtaken and left behind by an Audi RS6 V10, and by some margin, but the driver races when not showing us all how to drive on a track day.
I have been overtaken and left behind by an Audi RS6 V10, and by some margin, but the driver races when not showing us all how to drive on a track day.
I’d say that Cadwell is the best circuit overall, very challenging and edgy. Prices are always on the low side, but it’s a 250 mile round trip for me.
Overall though, I prefer Oulton. It’s 25 miles away from me and the prices tend to be very competitive in the winter. There is generally enough space on track and nearly all drivers respect the circuit and drive sensibly. The chicanes are grim, but it is fun in the wet.
Honourable mention is Anglesey. Lovely location and a nice circuit. But, quite far from most people and the prices are never a bargain.
Overall though, I prefer Oulton. It’s 25 miles away from me and the prices tend to be very competitive in the winter. There is generally enough space on track and nearly all drivers respect the circuit and drive sensibly. The chicanes are grim, but it is fun in the wet.
Honourable mention is Anglesey. Lovely location and a nice circuit. But, quite far from most people and the prices are never a bargain.
+1 for Anglesey. Fantastic circuit, whether you're in something with low or high power, regardless of layout. Make a weekend (or couple of weekdays) of it and have a blast on the Welsh roads around as well. It's a trek, but it's very worthwhile.
Oulton and Donington are also great. Bedford is dull as ditchwater IMHO. Not yet driven Brands, much to my shame.
Oulton and Donington are also great. Bedford is dull as ditchwater IMHO. Not yet driven Brands, much to my shame.
Ekona said:
+1 for Anglesey. Fantastic circuit, whether you're in something with low or high power, regardless of layout. Make a weekend (or couple of weekdays) of it and have a blast on the Welsh roads around as well. It's a trek, but it's very worthwhile.
Oulton and Donington are also great. Bedford is dull as ditchwater IMHO. Not yet driven Brands, much to my shame.
Anglesey is a circuit that I've never been to.Oulton and Donington are also great. Bedford is dull as ditchwater IMHO. Not yet driven Brands, much to my shame.
Seen plenty of car reviews done on there and by all accounts is a circuit with a good share of technical corners.
What layouts does the typical trackday offer on this track?
Anglesey is usually the full GP loop, or the coastal loop, with the corkscrew section that cuts out the long straight down to a hairpin, and then back again.
i'm doing a day there which i believe is the full GP layout all day, though i believe Javelin do coastal in the morning, and then GP in the afternoon, since its as easy as moving a few cones.
i'm doing a day there which i believe is the full GP layout all day, though i believe Javelin do coastal in the morning, and then GP in the afternoon, since its as easy as moving a few cones.
I'd echo the 'depends on the car' comments.
Running a Stockhatch 90bhp Saxo VTR Lydden Hill was great yet a roadgoing 250bhp VX220 Turbo on Snetterton (200 I think) was a bit dull.
- I love Brands Hatch as a package. Good facilities if you get there earlier and nab a garage, for me it's easy to get to, and it can be fun in even lower powered cars. It's one you can play with lines within a relatively small margin and find more and more pace.
- Donnington is similar to be honest in facilities and the circuit layout not needing many hundreds of bhp to be entertaining.
- Lydden was chaos when last went, overtaking both sides without consent and lots of bellends - but it's the most fun I've had ever on a trackday. As said above I was in a VTR and spent the sessions playing with very similar spec cars and letting the 300bhp BMWs do their own thing.
There are a couple of circuits I don't think offer great experiences if that helps.
- The original Anglesey circuit was a blast but doing a trackday on the 'new' layout it felt more suited to racing, being wide and more about throttle control than anything else (not that I've raced there).
- Thruxton felt really special but I simply didn't have enough power (was in a track prepped Corsa VXR). I don't think I would go back unless went in something with serious grunt yet still agile enough to dab through the chicane.
- Snetterton 200 was only fun as was with friends, the circuit again wanted a lot of power and wasn't that interesting bar some of the infield.
Running a Stockhatch 90bhp Saxo VTR Lydden Hill was great yet a roadgoing 250bhp VX220 Turbo on Snetterton (200 I think) was a bit dull.
- I love Brands Hatch as a package. Good facilities if you get there earlier and nab a garage, for me it's easy to get to, and it can be fun in even lower powered cars. It's one you can play with lines within a relatively small margin and find more and more pace.
- Donnington is similar to be honest in facilities and the circuit layout not needing many hundreds of bhp to be entertaining.
- Lydden was chaos when last went, overtaking both sides without consent and lots of bellends - but it's the most fun I've had ever on a trackday. As said above I was in a VTR and spent the sessions playing with very similar spec cars and letting the 300bhp BMWs do their own thing.
There are a couple of circuits I don't think offer great experiences if that helps.
- The original Anglesey circuit was a blast but doing a trackday on the 'new' layout it felt more suited to racing, being wide and more about throttle control than anything else (not that I've raced there).
- Thruxton felt really special but I simply didn't have enough power (was in a track prepped Corsa VXR). I don't think I would go back unless went in something with serious grunt yet still agile enough to dab through the chicane.
- Snetterton 200 was only fun as was with friends, the circuit again wanted a lot of power and wasn't that interesting bar some of the infield.
Snetterton and Bedford are my closest tracks, and while they have many good points (wide, lots of run off, lots of garage space) they can be a bit dull. At Brands I've only driven the indy circuit, in which every corner is great, but it's very short.
My favourite track I've been on is Cadwell. Really challenging, lots of variation in corners, elevation changes, camber angles etc.
I've not been yet, but Oulton, Donnington and Anglesey are all on the bucket list.
To be honest, the best times I've had on track is when I've been there as part of a group, or there's been a good atmosphere in the pits. For me, that's what makes a good day out. I've been at Cadwell in the sunshine when it was mainly very expensive cars and the paddock was not a very friendly place. I've been at Bedford in the cold and wet where it seemed like everyone was interested in every car, and it made all the difference.
My favourite track I've been on is Cadwell. Really challenging, lots of variation in corners, elevation changes, camber angles etc.
I've not been yet, but Oulton, Donnington and Anglesey are all on the bucket list.
To be honest, the best times I've had on track is when I've been there as part of a group, or there's been a good atmosphere in the pits. For me, that's what makes a good day out. I've been at Cadwell in the sunshine when it was mainly very expensive cars and the paddock was not a very friendly place. I've been at Bedford in the cold and wet where it seemed like everyone was interested in every car, and it made all the difference.
I second that Cambs Stuart.
I try always to go on track days where my TVR friends are going. it's just so much more fun.
There used to be about 10 of us, and those days were magic.
Great memories of Hethel (the Lotus test track), Cadwell park of course, Snetterton, Rockingham (we organised a Cerbera track day there).
And then the time all 10 of us made it to a Snetterton track day. Jonathan Palmer dropped in by helicopter and came straight down to the pits to join in the fun and ask about the cars.
On the odd occasion I wasn't with the TVR gang at Cadwell (my local track) I just parked in the middle of the MX5s and made the effort to make friends.
I try always to go on track days where my TVR friends are going. it's just so much more fun.
There used to be about 10 of us, and those days were magic.
Great memories of Hethel (the Lotus test track), Cadwell park of course, Snetterton, Rockingham (we organised a Cerbera track day there).
And then the time all 10 of us made it to a Snetterton track day. Jonathan Palmer dropped in by helicopter and came straight down to the pits to join in the fun and ask about the cars.
On the odd occasion I wasn't with the TVR gang at Cadwell (my local track) I just parked in the middle of the MX5s and made the effort to make friends.
I've done Oulton, Donington, Anglesey, Cadwell, Blyton.
Oulton is my favourite; not just the circuit (which is excellent and quite pretty to boot) but the paddock is spacious, facilities are good, cafe is decent and it's just a nice place to be on a trackday.
Only done Anglesey once and day was split between GT & coastal; GT kinda reminded me of twin-ring Motegi on Gran Turismo, with the straights and hairpins. Coastal layout is epic with the chicane, but a little short. Love the fast run up to rocket, requires both bravery and skill!
Always struggled at Donington. I love the track, been there many times. But for some reason, my pace there puts me somewhere where I'm forever either overtaking or being overtaken so find it hard to get into a rhythm. Wide, fast track I guess where the corners aren't the leveller they are at places like Oulton and Blyton.
Blyton - underrated. Easy to learn, hard to master. Just perfect for vehicle familiarisation and driver training.
Cadwell - not done since 2006. Need to go back!
Oulton is my favourite; not just the circuit (which is excellent and quite pretty to boot) but the paddock is spacious, facilities are good, cafe is decent and it's just a nice place to be on a trackday.
Only done Anglesey once and day was split between GT & coastal; GT kinda reminded me of twin-ring Motegi on Gran Turismo, with the straights and hairpins. Coastal layout is epic with the chicane, but a little short. Love the fast run up to rocket, requires both bravery and skill!
Always struggled at Donington. I love the track, been there many times. But for some reason, my pace there puts me somewhere where I'm forever either overtaking or being overtaken so find it hard to get into a rhythm. Wide, fast track I guess where the corners aren't the leveller they are at places like Oulton and Blyton.
Blyton - underrated. Easy to learn, hard to master. Just perfect for vehicle familiarisation and driver training.
Cadwell - not done since 2006. Need to go back!
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