PEC Silverstone Tips
Discussion
Been meaning to do this for ages and decided to treat myself for my birthday. Start of September so weather hopefully dry.
I've booked the 'Ultimate Mid-Engine' 90 minute session as it was only slightly more expensive than booking a GT4 or 718 Spyder, so figured it was worth experiencing two different cars. I do wonder how different they'll feel given they are almost identical cars in different bodyshells.
Is it worth a cheeky ask to see if it's possible to swap one of them to a 911T or GTS?
Am I likely to be (very) pleasantly surprised to find myself given the keys to a GT4RS/Spyder RS given they are now the 'utlimate mid-engined' Porsches??
Any tips for the actual driving part? Are the skid pan/kick plate/ice hill type sections a bit gimmicky and artificial or is it worth spending some time on them? From reading Tripadvisor/Google reviews I think the handling circuit will appeal to me most.
I've booked the 'Ultimate Mid-Engine' 90 minute session as it was only slightly more expensive than booking a GT4 or 718 Spyder, so figured it was worth experiencing two different cars. I do wonder how different they'll feel given they are almost identical cars in different bodyshells.
Is it worth a cheeky ask to see if it's possible to swap one of them to a 911T or GTS?
Am I likely to be (very) pleasantly surprised to find myself given the keys to a GT4RS/Spyder RS given they are now the 'utlimate mid-engined' Porsches??
Any tips for the actual driving part? Are the skid pan/kick plate/ice hill type sections a bit gimmicky and artificial or is it worth spending some time on them? From reading Tripadvisor/Google reviews I think the handling circuit will appeal to me most.
I did this earlier in the year albeit with the GT cars. I had a 991 GT3, 997 GT2 & 997 GT3 RS. I really enjoyed it albeit it was quite expensive for what it was. That said, I likely won’t get a chance to drive a GT2 or a 997 RS again for a while so worth it from that side.
You can certainly ask about swapping the cars - I did as one of them wasn’t what I’d booked (they had swapped the 997 RS for a 991 RS but I specifically wanted to get experience this as opposed to the newer PDK car).
There are two handling circuits neither is particularly big so you won’t be pushing the dynamic limits of the car, still fun though.
The kick plate is good but at times there were queues and I wouldn’t want to use up my session in a queue. We did a few runs and it is worthwhile to do a few times. Didn’t try the ice hill as I don’t think it was running when I was there.
You can certainly ask about swapping the cars - I did as one of them wasn’t what I’d booked (they had swapped the 997 RS for a 991 RS but I specifically wanted to get experience this as opposed to the newer PDK car).
There are two handling circuits neither is particularly big so you won’t be pushing the dynamic limits of the car, still fun though.
The kick plate is good but at times there were queues and I wouldn’t want to use up my session in a queue. We did a few runs and it is worthwhile to do a few times. Didn’t try the ice hill as I don’t think it was running when I was there.
If you definitely want to switch cars then I would recommend asking the PEC before your day so they can prep the cars you want (sometimes they are booked or not fuelled).
Otherwise take the chances of switching cars on the day.
Think what you want from the day - trying everything or having practical skills you can use in your own car. The kick plate is good but there is often a queue.
Last time I went the instructor said we could delay lunch & have a shorter second session. This meant we effectively got the kick plate to ourselves. Was brilliant.
I wanted to do a lot of technical stuff, getting faster & faster lap times (although they aren't officially timed). Did a few laps & got the instructor to observe me, then we got really technical (car positioning, throttle control, braking), even refining string theory. I loved it but it was tiring due to the concentration levels so was nice to mix it up with the kick plate.
From what I recall, the options are pretty much:
- kick plate
- low friction plate (although doesn't seem to have been well maintained)
- ice hill
- main track
- second (technical) track
- launch control (on the technical track)
There is also the off road course & option to take it out on the country roads nearby
Otherwise take the chances of switching cars on the day.
Think what you want from the day - trying everything or having practical skills you can use in your own car. The kick plate is good but there is often a queue.
Last time I went the instructor said we could delay lunch & have a shorter second session. This meant we effectively got the kick plate to ourselves. Was brilliant.
I wanted to do a lot of technical stuff, getting faster & faster lap times (although they aren't officially timed). Did a few laps & got the instructor to observe me, then we got really technical (car positioning, throttle control, braking), even refining string theory. I loved it but it was tiring due to the concentration levels so was nice to mix it up with the kick plate.
From what I recall, the options are pretty much:
- kick plate
- low friction plate (although doesn't seem to have been well maintained)
- ice hill
- main track
- second (technical) track
- launch control (on the technical track)
There is also the off road course & option to take it out on the country roads nearby
Thanks for the replies. I've owned a few 300bhp-plus cars but I haven't got much experience with mid or rear engined cars, so I just want to explore the handling and have a bit of fun. If I learn a bit as well then it's a bonus but I'm not looking to become a racing driver.
Has anyone driven a GT4 and a Spyder? If they feel very similar to drive I'd probably try and drop the GT4 and try get some time in a 911. Would a GTS be the one to try go for? I'd love a GT3 but not likely given the value difference to a GT4.
Has anyone driven a GT4 and a Spyder? If they feel very similar to drive I'd probably try and drop the GT4 and try get some time in a 911. Would a GTS be the one to try go for? I'd love a GT3 but not likely given the value difference to a GT4.
resolve10 said:
Thanks for the replies. I've owned a few 300bhp-plus cars but I haven't got much experience with mid or rear engined cars, so I just want to explore the handling and have a bit of fun. If I learn a bit as well then it's a bonus but I'm not looking to become a racing driver.
Has anyone driven a GT4 and a Spyder? If they feel very similar to drive I'd probably try and drop the GT4 and try get some time in a 911. Would a GTS be the one to try go for? I'd love a GT3 but not likely given the value difference to a GT4.
No point in driving a GT4 and a Spyder at PEC. They are very similar in that environment and I have driven both there and owned multiple examples of both. Go for the GT4 to get the mid engine fix, although to be fair any Cayman would do that at PEC as its a low speed circuit. Then get a 911 for the rear engine fix. Once again it doesn’t need to be an ultra high spec 911 (GT or Turbo for example) you will have as much fun in a lower spec car.Has anyone driven a GT4 and a Spyder? If they feel very similar to drive I'd probably try and drop the GT4 and try get some time in a 911. Would a GTS be the one to try go for? I'd love a GT3 but not likely given the value difference to a GT4.
Definately try the kick plate, it's a lot of fun.
The circuits are short and tight, you can snatch 3rd briefly if short shifting, but 2nd is virtually all need when pushing on.
Worth trying a 911 as well if you can. You'll find the mid engine cars much easier to control on the low friction surfaces.
The circuits are short and tight, you can snatch 3rd briefly if short shifting, but 2nd is virtually all need when pushing on.
Worth trying a 911 as well if you can. You'll find the mid engine cars much easier to control on the low friction surfaces.
bigmowley said:
No point in driving a GT4 and a Spyder at PEC. They are very similar in that environment and I have driven both there and owned multiple examples of both. Go for the GT4 to get the mid engine fix, although to be fair any Cayman would do that at PEC as its a low speed circuit. Then get a 911 for the rear engine fix. Once again it doesn’t need to be an ultra high spec 911 (GT or Turbo for example) you will have as much fun in a lower spec car.
It's interesting that Porsche offer this pair as an experience package given they are, as I suspected, very similar cars.What would be your reasoning for keeping the GT4 over the Spyder? My thinking is having the open top would add a bit more to the experience, assuming the weather plays ball. That's if they actually run them with the roof off? Now I think about it that might not make a lot of sense for the bits with the sprinklers.
I take your point about it being a low speed circuit but realistically I'm not going to own any of the more 'exotic' models anytime soon so just to get behind the wheel of a GT Porsche is worth paying a slight bit more for, even if it could be ultimately a bit frustrating not to be able to really stretch its legs.
Initially I really wanted to try and drive a 992 911 GT3 or GT3 RS, but they're not listed anywhere on the website. They definitely have a Gold RS on the fleet. Invitation only I'm guessing,
Edited by resolve10 on Monday 22 July 23:28
I was there in May - the kick plate was out of order, but the low friction track and the ice hill were really good.
We did a half day (to make the trip down from Scotland more worthwhile) but the launch control/emergency braking part and the technical track would be two i'd be less keen to do - although was feeling slightly nauseous by the time we got onto the technical track so maybe that's why I enjoyed it less than the main track.
I'm also not sure there's much point in going for the crazy fast cars on that track - like the other poster said, even in a Cayman S you barely even got out of second gear so there's definitely diminishing returns.
We did a half day (to make the trip down from Scotland more worthwhile) but the launch control/emergency braking part and the technical track would be two i'd be less keen to do - although was feeling slightly nauseous by the time we got onto the technical track so maybe that's why I enjoyed it less than the main track.
I'm also not sure there's much point in going for the crazy fast cars on that track - like the other poster said, even in a Cayman S you barely even got out of second gear so there's definitely diminishing returns.
I did a Carrera T experience earlier this year and I highly recommend doing all activities. The ice hill and low friction might seem like a gimmick but its fun to see how the car behaves in the different modes on different friction surfaces. We ended up doing everything and still had 20 minutes of free time left, I opted to finish the day by just lap the larger handling track until my time ran out.
TheOctaneAddict said:
I did a Carrera T experience earlier this year and I highly recommend doing all activities. The ice hill and low friction might seem like a gimmick but its fun to see how the car behaves in the different modes on different friction surfaces. We ended up doing everything and still had 20 minutes of free time left, I opted to finish the day by just lap the larger handling track until my time ran out.
That's what I did when I went too. Great funSpoke to them yesterday but were not very forthcoming with alternatives. Was told the 'ultimate mid-engine' experience I'd booked is a package and can't be substituted. Out of interest I also asked what the booking situation was with other cars such as current gen GT3 RS and Spyder RS but told these were invitation only exclusively for Porsche customers.
I get that it's primarily a marketing tool and they'd be inundated if they made the top tier cars available to everyone, but it did leave a slightly sour taste that the people getting freebies get more options than the people who are paying out of their own pocket. I only wanted to swap the GT4 for a base 911, which is actually cheaper to book seperately!
I cancelled the pack and re-booked just the 718 Spyder, I can't see the value in an additional £70 to drive the GT4 and waste some of my 90 minute session changing cars, waiting for fluids to warm up etc.
Still looking forward to it but that conversation did leave me a bit cold.
I get that it's primarily a marketing tool and they'd be inundated if they made the top tier cars available to everyone, but it did leave a slightly sour taste that the people getting freebies get more options than the people who are paying out of their own pocket. I only wanted to swap the GT4 for a base 911, which is actually cheaper to book seperately!
I cancelled the pack and re-booked just the 718 Spyder, I can't see the value in an additional £70 to drive the GT4 and waste some of my 90 minute session changing cars, waiting for fluids to warm up etc.
Still looking forward to it but that conversation did leave me a bit cold.
TBH, the mid engined experience is a bit of an odd one as the cars are so similar in performance and handling. I got this experience as a gift and it did give the chance to experience the cars in different specs, one had PDK & comforts, the other buckets, PCCBs & manual.
So perhaps as an experience it’s a bit outdated and you’ve done the right thing by ‘downgrading’ it to just the one car, it will make the best use of the time.
I’m not surprised they were not keen on swapping the car out for something else, it is what it is.
So perhaps as an experience it’s a bit outdated and you’ve done the right thing by ‘downgrading’ it to just the one car, it will make the best use of the time.
I’m not surprised they were not keen on swapping the car out for something else, it is what it is.
It is what it is and it's their prerogative to set the packages as they wish, I just think it's a bit of a wasted opportunity.
You can book a very specific model as an individual experience - for example the whole 911 range seems to be available in Coupe, Convertible or Targa should you wish. Theoretically some of these will be very niche and therefore sat doing nothing, so wouldn't it make sense to make these available? Both from a booking and marketing perspective.
If it were available, I'd have been happy to pay a bit more for a 90 minute session in 2 to 3 different cars of my choice. I'd probably have tried a Taycan as well seeing as I'm looking to get into one in the near future.
Most of the what I would consider 'lower-end' driving experiences promote things like 'Ferarri vs Lambo' or 'Triple Supercar Thrill', yet Porsche have this amazing facility all of their own and they don't even have a basic Cayman x 911 combination, just seems a bit odd to me.
You can book a very specific model as an individual experience - for example the whole 911 range seems to be available in Coupe, Convertible or Targa should you wish. Theoretically some of these will be very niche and therefore sat doing nothing, so wouldn't it make sense to make these available? Both from a booking and marketing perspective.
If it were available, I'd have been happy to pay a bit more for a 90 minute session in 2 to 3 different cars of my choice. I'd probably have tried a Taycan as well seeing as I'm looking to get into one in the near future.
Most of the what I would consider 'lower-end' driving experiences promote things like 'Ferarri vs Lambo' or 'Triple Supercar Thrill', yet Porsche have this amazing facility all of their own and they don't even have a basic Cayman x 911 combination, just seems a bit odd to me.
Edited by resolve10 on Thursday 25th July 14:10
resolve10 said:
It is what it is and it's their prerogative to set the packages as they wish, I just think it's a bit of a wasted opportunity.
You can book a very specific model as an individual experience - for example the whole 911 range seems to be available in Coupe, Convertible or Targa should you wish. Theoretically some of these will be very niche and therefore sat doing nothing, so wouldn't it make sense to make these available? Both from a booking and marketing perspective.
If it were available, I'd have been happy to pay a bit more for a 90 minute session in 2 to 3 different cars of my choice. I'd probably have tried a Taycan as well seeing as I'm looking to get into one in the near future.
Most of the what I would consider 'lower-end' driving experiences promote things like 'Ferarri vs Lambo' or 'Triple Supercar Thrill', yet Porsche have this amazing facility all of their own and they don't even have a basic Cayman x 911 combination, just seems a bit odd to me.
i agree it would be nice, but from their side the logistics and costs involved in prepping multiple cars for a single session probably don't make it worthwhile. presumably also then people would want to focus on the main track to test the cars, rather than spending a bit of time in each area (like no point spending 20 mins on the track in a cayman, then doing the low friction surface and launch control in a 911, which would reduce the numbers who could go out at any one time.You can book a very specific model as an individual experience - for example the whole 911 range seems to be available in Coupe, Convertible or Targa should you wish. Theoretically some of these will be very niche and therefore sat doing nothing, so wouldn't it make sense to make these available? Both from a booking and marketing perspective.
If it were available, I'd have been happy to pay a bit more for a 90 minute session in 2 to 3 different cars of my choice. I'd probably have tried a Taycan as well seeing as I'm looking to get into one in the near future.
Most of the what I would consider 'lower-end' driving experiences promote things like 'Ferarri vs Lambo' or 'Triple Supercar Thrill', yet Porsche have this amazing facility all of their own and they don't even have a basic Cayman x 911 combination, just seems a bit odd to me.
Edited by resolve10 on Thursday 25th July 14:10
resolve10 said:
Spoke to them yesterday but were not very forthcoming with alternatives. Was told the 'ultimate mid-engine' experience I'd booked is a package and can't be substituted. Out of interest I also asked what the booking situation was with other cars such as current gen GT3 RS and Spyder RS but told these were invitation only exclusively for Porsche customers.
I get that it's primarily a marketing tool and they'd be inundated if they made the top tier cars available to everyone, but it did leave a slightly sour taste that the people getting freebies get more options than the people who are paying out of their own pocket. I only wanted to swap the GT4 for a base 911, which is actually cheaper to book seperately!
I cancelled the pack and re-booked just the 718 Spyder, I can't see the value in an additional £70 to drive the GT4 and waste some of my 90 minute session changing cars, waiting for fluids to warm up etc.
Still looking forward to it but that conversation did leave me a bit cold.
It’s hardly a freebie… those Porsche customers getting to drive a GT3 RS or Spyder RS will have ordered one. So I would say you got a bargain, it could have cost you 250k I get that it's primarily a marketing tool and they'd be inundated if they made the top tier cars available to everyone, but it did leave a slightly sour taste that the people getting freebies get more options than the people who are paying out of their own pocket. I only wanted to swap the GT4 for a base 911, which is actually cheaper to book seperately!
I cancelled the pack and re-booked just the 718 Spyder, I can't see the value in an additional £70 to drive the GT4 and waste some of my 90 minute session changing cars, waiting for fluids to warm up etc.
Still looking forward to it but that conversation did leave me a bit cold.
Had a bit of an idiot moment - booked a last minute family holiday for this Sunday and only just realised I arrive back into Glasgow airport at 2330 the following Sunday. My PEC booking is at 11am the day after.
They won't let me cancel or amend at this notice without paying half the cost of the booking, but they would let me transfer it to another customer.
I'm not sure if this is against the forum rules but if anyone would be interested in taking the booking from me at a reduced rate, get in touch. Booking is a 90 minute session on Monday 2nd September @ 11am in a 718 Spyder.
They won't let me cancel or amend at this notice without paying half the cost of the booking, but they would let me transfer it to another customer.
I'm not sure if this is against the forum rules but if anyone would be interested in taking the booking from me at a reduced rate, get in touch. Booking is a 90 minute session on Monday 2nd September @ 11am in a 718 Spyder.
resolve10 said:
Had a bit of an idiot moment - booked a last minute family holiday for this Sunday and only just realised I arrive back into Glasgow airport at 2330 the following Sunday. My PEC booking is at 11am the day after.
They won't let me cancel or amend at this notice without paying half the cost of the booking, but they would let me transfer it to another customer.
I'm not sure if this is against the forum rules but if anyone would be interested in taking the booking from me at a reduced rate, get in touch. Booking is a 90 minute session on Monday 2nd September @ 11am in a 718 Spyder.
I had to change my booking at last moment (last autumn) and initially by phone they said what you quoted above. However I also sent an email, and I guess it was a different person , because they let me change. Worth a try? They won't let me cancel or amend at this notice without paying half the cost of the booking, but they would let me transfer it to another customer.
I'm not sure if this is against the forum rules but if anyone would be interested in taking the booking from me at a reduced rate, get in touch. Booking is a 90 minute session on Monday 2nd September @ 11am in a 718 Spyder.
resolve10 said:
Had a bit of an idiot moment - booked a last minute family holiday for this Sunday and only just realised I arrive back into Glasgow airport at 2330 the following Sunday. My PEC booking is at 11am the day after.
They won't let me cancel or amend at this notice without paying half the cost of the booking, but they would let me transfer it to another customer.
I'm not sure if this is against the forum rules but if anyone would be interested in taking the booking from me at a reduced rate, get in touch. Booking is a 90 minute session on Monday 2nd September @ 11am in a 718 Spyder.
Allow messaging or send me a message please.They won't let me cancel or amend at this notice without paying half the cost of the booking, but they would let me transfer it to another customer.
I'm not sure if this is against the forum rules but if anyone would be interested in taking the booking from me at a reduced rate, get in touch. Booking is a 90 minute session on Monday 2nd September @ 11am in a 718 Spyder.
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