Test Days (Open wheel single seaters)

[Manners79]

Does anyone know of any circuits that offer test days, specifically for single seat open wheelers? I know Silverstone do and I know Castle Combe used to (do they still?) but can't find any others. I've spoken to most of the track day companies who have confirmed single seat open wheels can only run at test days not their regular track days. Javelin may organize some for next year but are not sure yet. If there was enough interest I'd be happy to put a group together for a private hire but I'm a bit new to it all and still working out the art of the possible!

Thanks in advance!

Edited by Manners79 on Friday 8th November 14:02

[mike80]

Motorsport Vision testing calendar here - they haven't added many 2025 dates yet, but there will be loads.

https://testing-v1.msv.com/Calendar/List

Mallory Park used to have test days pretty much every week I think, Wednesdays if I recall, but can't see anything obvious on their website.

[Galveston]

My friend has tested his single seater at Llandow.

[Manners79]

That’s great thanks. Mallory would be perfect as it’s really close. I’ll keep an eye on their website.

[BertBert]

Do you mean test days as in having a race car and a race licence? If so, there are loads at all the UK circuits. I'm assuming that's not what you are looking for as you'd have found them!

[ChevronB19]

Spotted this on Facebook…

Personally I’d go for a test day over a track day, lots around, Mallory good and cheap.

[Manners79]

Vast majority of track days don't allow single seater / open wheels anyway so it is definitely 'test days' I'm after. I think the issue is that the circuits haven't yet published dates for next year apart form a select few. I'd have assumed there would be quite a few in Jan / Feb as people want to shake down pre-season but maybe I'm wrong in that.

That Anglesey one looks great but sadly I can't make the date, maybe i need to bite the bullet and get on facebook as well as monitoring the circuit websites. Come on Mallory Park - put your dates out please!

[WombleCate]

I feel the same. It is much harder to find test days than track days, even though there are plenty of them.

One challenge is I've never found a compiler of test days (like track days), the other, I wonder if many test days are organized by clubs (750 or CSCC) ahead of a race meeting.

So, you can only hear about these test days through the club, even, though they may not be exclusive.

[Manners79]

WombleCate said:

I feel the same. It is much harder to find test days than track days, even though there are plenty of them.

One challenge is I've never found a compiler of test days (like track days), the other, I wonder if many test days are organized by clubs (750 or CSCC) ahead of a race meeting.

So, you can only hear about these test days through the club, even, though they may not be exclusive.

So far as I can make out you have to stay across all the circuit websites, all the various club websites and a few others! Maybe worth a thread on its own but unless it's a sticky or regularly updated I'm not sure it would be of use.

I do know that there are indeed test days in the lead up to race weekends but I'm not yet sure if it is possible to do the testing without committing to (and paying for) a race you may not yet be ready for. But hey, it will be fun finding out and you're only a rookie once!

Oh and FWIW it is Formula Vee in my case but I'm sure same applies to several other series, FF1600, FF classic and so on

[ChevronB19]

Manners79 said:

WombleCate said:

I feel the same. It is much harder to find test days than track days, even though there are plenty of them.

One challenge is I've never found a compiler of test days (like track days), the other, I wonder if many test days are organized by clubs (750 or CSCC) ahead of a race meeting.

So, you can only hear about these test days through the club, even, though they may not be exclusive.

So far as I can make out you have to stay across all the circuit websites, all the various club websites and a few others! Maybe worth a thread on its own but unless it's a sticky or regularly updated I'm not sure it would be of use.

I do know that there are indeed test days in the lead up to race weekends but I'm not yet sure if it is possible to do the testing without committing to (and paying for) a race you may not yet be ready for. But hey, it will be fun finding out and you're only a rookie once!

Oh and FWIW it is Formula Vee in my case but I'm sure same applies to several other series, FF1600, FF classic and so on

There are plenty of test days available for open wheelers without committing to a race. Mallory certainly used to do them for about 100 quid on Wednesdays. And even for testing before a race weekend I’ve never see one that commits you to an entry, unless it is full. It’s more money for them (circuit and club), just give them a ring. You did confuse when you asked about track days though.

[geeks]

Worth noting clubs (such as 750, BRSCC etc) dont actually get any money from test days and they are all run by the circuit themselves

[WombleCate]

Manners79 said:

I do know that there are indeed test days in the lead up to race weekends but I'm not yet sure if it is possible to do the testing without committing to (and paying for) a race you may not yet be ready for. But hey, it will be fun finding out and you're only a rookie once!

As I have a Caterham I don't know specifics on Open Wheel. Though a Formula Ford really appeals, maybe in '26.

I did a test day before the CSCC meeting at Snetterton and there were many cars testing on the day that were not racing at the meeting.

CSCC also have a track day (not certain if that is a Test or Track day) in February at Silverstone which isn't mentioned on Silverstone's website.

Maybe this thread should be on UK Motorsport rather than Track Days.

[EddyP]

It's certainly a lot harder and more expensive to go testing that it used to be. Noise limits are strict, days are expensive compared to track days and unless you pay mega money they'll be sessioned rather an open pit lane.

The best value we found last year was Castle Coombe, Mallory is a bit small for us and we'll always struggle with their noise limit.

But there's always days advertised for Silverstone, Snet, Donington, Oulton, Anglesey, Mallory etc
If you don't mind the travel and risk of rubbish weather Anglesey is great!