Favourite track day?

[Francelise]

Last Saturday I did 'Val de Vienne' near Poitier in France.

It is a technical track, quite fast but the corners are hard to work out. Some of the corners are doubles which you kind of have to sacifice the first to make the second. The last corner before the finish is very tight, actually too tight as they are making it bigger for next year.

Been on a high all week really. Although it is my second time on this track I felt this time, I had good track tyres, a S1 111S and the bit between my teeth!

I was not out to win, just wanted to push it hard. I got some praise from 4 guys who wanted to be a passenger with me. I think I still have lots of room for improvement.

The link to the Circuit is as follows: http://www.circuit-valdevienne.fr/

So, which circuit do you recommend?

[S Works]

In France, I like Abbeville, mainly because it's fun and you can really play with the car at relatively low speeds.

In the UK I think Donington or Brands GP (not managed to drive it yet, but have pax'd) are superb.

[Cuzza]

In no particular order Donington Park, Castle Combe and Spa

If I had to pick one to do in a low powered car (Elise, Caterfield etc.) it'd be Dony

Edited by Cuzza on Friday 20th June 17:23

[clanger]

Cadwell Park - full circuit

[Francelise]

I would love to do Cadwell, especially as it is only 40 miles from where I used to live. I have been there to see bikes but didn't have an Elise back then.



MAS-DU-CLOS - Best track ever!!!
I took part in another trackday two years ago; this was the best trackday ever! for the small powered elise. It was funny watching 911's and TVR's going around-they just didn't stand a chance on this circuit against the Elise.

It hasn't been available since then, as it dosen't meet all the safty requirements; god knows why not!

If I ever hear it is open again, I will put another post on here.

Roy

Take a look! http://www.mas-du-clos.com/circuit.htm

[subaqua]

Spa, Cadwell, Brands GP... although in a 130ish bhp Elise, there's plenty of time on the straights at Spa and Brands to check ur email etc;)

Edited by subaqua on Friday 20th June 18:17

[hbaumhardt]

www.rmatrackdays.com have done events at Mas-du-clos and apparently it really is one to do.

[Redlake27]

In my experience an Elise is best at flowing circuits. Circuits with chicanes and hairpins may seem like ideal territory for a nimble Lotus, but you will often be 'outgrunted' out of the 2nd gear bends by Jap-turbos and then get held up in the fast stuff. Therefore, I ignore Silverstone GP, Rockingham, Mallory but find the Lotus perfect for Bedford, Donington, Anglesey - and best of all Cadwell Park.

[VTECMatt]

Dijon in France is superb

[RobM77]

Oulton, Cadwell and Donington are my favaourite UK tracks. Favourite track abroad is the Nurburgring. If I'm in my road car though, I'd choose Bedford Autodrome every time - nice corners but loads of run off!

[lagrange]

Only tried Franch tracks (as a french guy) and here are my favourites :
- Mas du clos : A good track for Lotus with a slow conrnering part and a few fast corners for the thrill.
- Le Mans Bugatti : not the best (also not the worst either) but the magic of passing in the pit straight and under the "passerelle" Dunlop is priceless.
- Croix en Ternois : maybe the closest for English trackers, funny.
- Montlhéry : closed for the time but the banking is really impressive.

i'll give you my feelings about Dijon in september but hoping it will be as good as it seems.

[alicrozier]

Last year did Dijon, Lurcy-Lévis and Charade.
http://www.circuit-dijon-prenois.com
http://www.circuit-lurcy-levis.com
http://www.charade.fr

I think Charade was my fave so far - most challenging/scary*, although had a ball at Lurcy-Lévis as it was wet and hence a drift fest! (* delete as appropriate)

This year at the end of August will be at Dijon again and plus Ledenon and Ales.
http://www.ledenon.com
http://www.pole-mecanique.com/circuit-vitesse.html

Edited by alicrozier on Tuesday 1st July 09:38

[lagrange]

Lurcy isn't very interesting for anything but his safetyness. Without any obstacle all around it's a good track for pushing the limit. Otherwise it has nothing charming.

[alicrozier]

lagrange said:

Lurcy isn't very interesting for anything but his safetyness. Without any obstacle all around it's a good track for pushing the limit. Otherwise it has nothing charming.

Agreed.

[G7 Rye]

In the UK Cadwell has to be my fave, but off to Croft on Saturday for the first time so you never know. Donington is great but a lot less challenging, apart from Craners, but yes, best track has to be Nurburgring, even had a blast on the Nurb GP Circuit this year!

[The Pits]

My personal favourite UK track is Brands GP, a real roller coaster for undulations and an endless challenge. Sadly I've yet to do Cadwell but will hopefully fix that this year. Silverstone GP is very underrated and watching the F1 in car footage afterwards is transformed having been round there yourself, but a few ponies are helpful there. The national circuit at Donington is one of the few that's better than the GP version.

Spa is the only circuit I've been on where my seven could use more power and the usual supercar scalps are harder to come by as outright power comes into play down the endless uphill kemmel straight. Everyone should do it at least once though but you'll be wanting to supercharge your honda engine if you have one, when you get back.

However the daddy is still the Nurburgring. All it lacks is the ability to learn it quickly and the niggling worry about committing to a blind bend and finding a 911 or worse, a bike pointing the wrong way. You'll never push your car as hard as you will a UK track that you can get the gist of in a full day but, especially for a narrow, nimble car like a Caterham, it's a breathtaking lap that inspires joy and awe in equal measure. Bloody good fun in a TVR Sagaris in the wet but in the dry it's 7 heaven. Can't wait to take the Elise there someday for a few topless laps.

[RobM77]

The Pits said:

However the daddy is still the Nurburgring. All it lacks is the ability to learn it quickly and the niggling worry about committing to a blind bend and finding a 911 or worse, a bike pointing the wrong way. You'll never push your car as hard as you will a UK track that you can get the gist of in a full day but, especially for a narrow, nimble car like a Caterham, it's a breathtaking lap that inspires joy and awe in equal measure. Bloody good fun in a TVR Sagaris in the wet but in the dry it's 7 heaven. Can't wait to take the Elise there someday for a few topless laps.

The problem is if you're like me and just don't think about the risk! I hired a Caterham to drive round there a couple of months ago, and the reality of how dangerous it was only struck me afterwards! The only thing that slowed me down was having passengers all the time, which as you know make a Caterham handle like a Barn door!

[lagrange]

Still too shy for a ride on the Nurburgring. But one day I'll go, for sure!