test days - etiquette vs track days
Discussion
Hi
In preparation for my first race in mid Oct I've got a test day next Friday.
Have done a fair few track days, but no testing yet. I'm aware of the mechanical differences (race license holers only, race prepped cars only, no passengers, timing is allowed).
but what else is different? overtaking on corners and on both sides perhaps?
My car isn't the fastest (Mk1 MR2), so I'm expecting to be fairly off the average pace - but just interested what sort of thing to expect?
I've searched the forums but can't see a lot about test days at all.....which I found surprising...!?!
cheers
Shane
In preparation for my first race in mid Oct I've got a test day next Friday.
Have done a fair few track days, but no testing yet. I'm aware of the mechanical differences (race license holers only, race prepped cars only, no passengers, timing is allowed).
but what else is different? overtaking on corners and on both sides perhaps?
My car isn't the fastest (Mk1 MR2), so I'm expecting to be fairly off the average pace - but just interested what sort of thing to expect?
I've searched the forums but can't see a lot about test days at all.....which I found surprising...!?!
cheers
Shane
You can generally expect a better quality of driving i.e. slightly fewer schumachers in evo's!
But you should definately expect alot of faster cars in your mirrors overtaking everywhere on the circuit - thats into bends on the inside and outside and also mid corner.
Most people on test days are competant drivers, so just keep an eye on the mirrors, stay on line and don't do anything unexpected like trying to dive out of the way. Then just let them drive around you.
Also watch out for caterham racers, they are the only two cars I've ever had contact with on test days! no offence caterham drivers!
But you should definately expect alot of faster cars in your mirrors overtaking everywhere on the circuit - thats into bends on the inside and outside and also mid corner.
Most people on test days are competant drivers, so just keep an eye on the mirrors, stay on line and don't do anything unexpected like trying to dive out of the way. Then just let them drive around you.
Also watch out for caterham racers, they are the only two cars I've ever had contact with on test days! no offence caterham drivers!
agree with those comments above.
Standard of driving will be much higher, just don't do anything out of ordinary and they will go around you.
You have paid your money too, and so you don't have to leap out of the way. Its a test day, not a race - so no one has the right to bully you out of the way.
Surely you will be split into groups so you won't be on track at the same time as really quick stuff like Radicals etc.
On the Caterham note - there are usually much more of them around, and often they aren't as good in a straight line as they are in corners - so sometimes they will do a slightly late dive on the brakes to get into corner. Check your mirrors you'll be fine.
Standard of driving will be much higher, just don't do anything out of ordinary and they will go around you.
You have paid your money too, and so you don't have to leap out of the way. Its a test day, not a race - so no one has the right to bully you out of the way.
Surely you will be split into groups so you won't be on track at the same time as really quick stuff like Radicals etc.
On the Caterham note - there are usually much more of them around, and often they aren't as good in a straight line as they are in corners - so sometimes they will do a slightly late dive on the brakes to get into corner. Check your mirrors you'll be fine.
nice
I'm looking forward to getting some real experience of driving/racing in traffic...sounds good!!
yeah won't be diving out the way, if anything trying to be fast enough to stay ahead (within the realms of reasonableness obviously...)
Hybrids - sounds good, should be somewhere local on Sat, not quite sure where yet - you staying at the circuit?
S
RacerMDR said:
agree with those comments above.
Standard of driving will be much higher, just don't do anything out of ordinary and they will go around you.
You have paid your money too, and so you don't have to leap out of the way. Its a test day, not a race - so no one has the right to bully you out of the way.
Surely you will be split into groups so you won't be on track at the same time as really quick stuff like Radicals etc.
On the Caterham note - there are usually much more of them around, and often they aren't as good in a straight line as they are in corners - so sometimes they will do a slightly late dive on the brakes to get into corner. Check your mirrors you'll be fine.
nice idea, the reality is nothing like that...Standard of driving will be much higher, just don't do anything out of ordinary and they will go around you.
You have paid your money too, and so you don't have to leap out of the way. Its a test day, not a race - so no one has the right to bully you out of the way.
Surely you will be split into groups so you won't be on track at the same time as really quick stuff like Radicals etc.
On the Caterham note - there are usually much more of them around, and often they aren't as good in a straight line as they are in corners - so sometimes they will do a slightly late dive on the brakes to get into corner. Check your mirrors you'll be fine.
some test days are fine, no issues, etc etc, some are horrendus, I have been on test days were they have had vintage stuff out at the same time as group C cars, and trust me, that's terrifing for all concerned.
trick is to pick your day carfully, the friday before a weekend will be domminated by whatever is running that weekend etc.
Good point about picking the Friday before a race meeting. You'll have a reasonable idea of what cars to expect.
The Mallory wednesday mornings often have some pretty huge speed differentials, but are cheap. (I've seen an Aston Martin DBR9 weaving down the straight overtaking mk1 fiestas! Great to watch...not sure how much the Aston team learnt though!).
If you didn't already know, test days are normally split into open-wheeled and close-wheeled sessions (I think this must be a circuit's license requirement).
People often say "Let the quicker cars find their way around you", but I can imagine some may interpret that as, "just stay on the racing line at your own speed and don't worry about faster cars behind", which wouldn't be sensible. This motto certainly holds most true for corners (and long corners at that). I.e. if you're in the middle of a long corner (lets say Gerrards at Mallory or perhaps Clearways at Brands) and a quick car suddenly appears behind you, then don't change your line. You're more likely to go off and the driver behind won't be expecting you to move. Elsewhere, then it's more a case of knowing when and where you're being overtaken. If moving over or indicating makes you sure that you know, then I reckon its a good idea...
The other upside, is that you should have less red flags than a track day.
The Mallory wednesday mornings often have some pretty huge speed differentials, but are cheap. (I've seen an Aston Martin DBR9 weaving down the straight overtaking mk1 fiestas! Great to watch...not sure how much the Aston team learnt though!).
If you didn't already know, test days are normally split into open-wheeled and close-wheeled sessions (I think this must be a circuit's license requirement).
People often say "Let the quicker cars find their way around you", but I can imagine some may interpret that as, "just stay on the racing line at your own speed and don't worry about faster cars behind", which wouldn't be sensible. This motto certainly holds most true for corners (and long corners at that). I.e. if you're in the middle of a long corner (lets say Gerrards at Mallory or perhaps Clearways at Brands) and a quick car suddenly appears behind you, then don't change your line. You're more likely to go off and the driver behind won't be expecting you to move. Elsewhere, then it's more a case of knowing when and where you're being overtaken. If moving over or indicating makes you sure that you know, then I reckon its a good idea...
The other upside, is that you should have less red flags than a track day.
Scuffers said:
trick is to pick your day carfully, the friday before a weekend will be domminated by whatever is running that weekend etc.
hehe excellent, its the MG Car Club race weekend following it! nice!I've love to be on the same track as group C machinery, even if only to watch it disappear into the distance. I dribble on those cars...
RacerMDR said:
Surely you will be split into groups so you won't be on track at the same time as really quick stuff like Radicals etc.
A test day will split out single seater open wheelers (if they are even allowed for that day), but most just mix in all types of closed wheel cars, especially if an open pit lane is being run.Agree with previous comments. You are testing too, so you are not obliged to comprimise your session to yield. No harm in a quick indication to the outside (usually) of the track on the straights to acknowledge that the faster car has been seen, and should pass.
bse said:
If you didn't already know, test days are normally split into open-wheeled and close-wheeled sessions (I think this must be a circuit's license requirement).
but not always. It's better to go on a sessioned test day than a 'open' day because the open wheeled cars are not on the track as the same time as you. I was testing at Donington the other week and it was an open pit lane with everything from old F1 cars, F3's, Formula Fords (REALLY difficult to see coming up to you) through to Ferraris, Ginettas, Caterhams and Beetles! You need your wits about you with that lot on track!shivars said:
hehe I just found out the A1GP guys are testing at the same day...!!
but yes thankfully there are 3 separate types of sessionss.... Saloons, open-wheels, and A1GP!
very much looking forward to it now!!
That's great. Your testing fee has now resulted in you having even less track time for the £.but yes thankfully there are 3 separate types of sessionss.... Saloons, open-wheels, and A1GP!
very much looking forward to it now!!
As has been said, it pays to pick your days carefully. If you just want to get used to your car, pick a day when there isn't anything (big) happening at that circuit on the following weekend. Snetterton is often a good choice, pick the right day and it'll be open pitlane all day, no sessions. All for the same money.
Keep your wits about you, try not to weave about to "avoid" the faster cars, as that puts you and them into danger of a collision. Use your indicators (if you have them on your road based car) to signal where you're going, or at least give others a clue!
Rob.
hehe, it was 'only' an MG racing weekend so should have been quiet - and there were a few MG drivers there on the Friday. I don't think anyone knew the A1GP people were going to be there until the timetables and garage allocations were emailed out a few days beforehand.
There were only 2 cars in the open wheel sessions....
Was a good day though, very very wet but a good day! Maybe there could have been more track time, maybe not. I got just about 2.5 hours of lapping time in, most of which was clear track in front of me, not unhappy about that
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff