Thruxton race track

[Mr_Freeze]

I know its not RS3 related, but thought you may find this of interest.

I did a Vauxhall VXR track experience today. An absolutely brilliant morning out.

A full hour on track driving the Corsa VXR Nurburgring and the Astra VXR. The Insignia VXR was available, but i didn't fancy it.

An instructor was always at your side giving you tips and pointers on how to get the best out of the cars and the track.

Had an absolute blast and would definately recomend it to anyone if its on again next year.

£35 all in and you even get a breakfast as well.

Didn't take many pictures, but here's what i did.






And look what i spotted in the car park!

 

[Audi Dynamik]

Looks like you had a great day out there. Just as long as you enjoyed yourself and the weather was good :thumbsup:
The Corsa VXR is quite quick and nimble to get around a track so i bet that was good fun, No matter what the car is even if its the Top Gear car if you have chance to go round a track then go for it !
Love that GTR but not a fan of that ironing board on the back though

 

[monkeyboy_marcus]

Sounds like a lotta fun mate and amazing price!

Just booked up on this for September Road Car Only Evening - Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 - anyone else up for it, Brands Hatch...?

Not been on a track before and don't want to be a numpty so have a couple of sessions booked in with a trainer and because it's road cars only, reckon the RS3 should be a winner! Need to change the front tyres before this though as they're borderline now.

Nice looking GTR but nowhere to stash the kids (mine that is!)

 

[L1ARR]

Sounds like a lotta fun mate and amazing price!

Just booked up on this for September Road Car Only Evening - Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 - anyone else up for it, Brands Hatch...?

Not been on a track before and don't want to be a numpty so have a couple of sessions booked in with a trainer and because it's road cars only, reckon the RS3 should be a winner! Need to change the front tyres before this though as they're borderline now.

Nice looking GTR but nowhere to stash the kids (mine that is!)

Brands is a great little circuit if you haven't done a track day before, it's handy as its local to you. I might pop in to say hi as it's close for me too.

 

[CarrG]

Nice one! Great track Thruxton!

Great price.

Did a Ferrari track day there when I was 18.

 

[MBK]

Nice one Neil, any track time for £35 is a bargain! I always have a soft spot for the Corsa, it was my first quickish car.

What did you think of the Astra VXr, they look good these days, how did it compare to the RS3?

Looks like the owner of that GTR likes his track time, that spoiler is all about downforce, it doesn't look pretty but it would certainly be effective!

 

[MBK]

Sounds like a lotta fun mate and amazing price!

Just booked up on this for September Road Car Only Evening - Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 - anyone else up for it, Brands Hatch...?

Not been on a track before and don't want to be a numpty so have a couple of sessions booked in with a trainer and because it's road cars only, reckon the RS3 should be a winner! Need to change the front tyres before this though as they're borderline now.

Nice looking GTR but nowhere to stash the kids (mine that is!)

Great stuff Marcus, you'll enjoy the track time. I think you're doing exactly the right thing, book an instructor and you will be fine. Use the sighting laps to orient yourself on the circuit and follow the instructors lines. Just build up your speed steadily over the session, with a couple of instructors sessions you will be amazed how much faster you are going by the end of the evening. The RS3 is great on track, fast, fun and safe. Give the brakes a cool down lap after each run to avoid warping the front discs. Other than that enjoy!

I'd happily join you but it's too far from me.

 

[Mr_Freeze]

Nice one Neil, any track time for £35 is a bargain! I always have a soft spot for the Corsa, it was my first quickish car.

What did you think of the Astra VXr, they look good these days, how did it compare to the RS3?

I started with the Corsa and was very impressed as to its limits, never once did it break away.

Then when i jumped in the Astra it wasn't too much different to what we have with the RS3. By this time i was getting my eye in so the extra weight was hardly noticed as i was piling on the power.

Obviously Lightning would destroy it in a one on one, but once you are out of the pits you never feel the difference in acceleration and it is been pushed to the absolute limit whereas i would never do that to Lightning. All in all i was very impressed, you could have easily thought it was a RS3 rather than a VXR, other than the gears!

Couple of interesting things i would like to share. I was never overtaken by any other drivers other than the 2 x touring car drivers who were doing hot laps in Corsa's with anyone who wanted to see how its supposed to be done. i was proud of that as there were a lot of younger kids there, but no one "did" me and i did overtake plenty. One particular high speed section is Church and just after this the instructor had me go 3 abreast overtaking an overtaker at 100+ (exhilarating comes to mind).

The 2 x guys doing the hot laps were very good, one was Paul O'Neil from touring cars, and the other was Jason (forgot his surname) they flew round together with willing passengers just blowing everything away, but still only in Corsa Nurburgrings. I finished off by getting my hot lap at the end with Jason and he was handy. At one point going through a fast left hander, where i thought we were at the limit, he just whacked the steering and threw the tail out into a controlled high speed drift. Very clever driving.

Great experiance and one i will defo do again if its on net year.

 

[MBK]

Overtaking on track is a great feeling isn't it! It's all about getting the corners right then overtaking is easy. Love the write up, you enjoyed that morning out.

It is amazing what the race drivers can do with standard cars, those laps are always worth doing. That's why I let Ed and his instructors take me round in the RS3 - it's good to know where the limit is - then coach me to get as close to that as possible.

The little Corsa, especially the 'ring edition is way under rated. I thought the Astra VXR would be good, I had a lot of fun chasing the previous model Thorney Motorsport VXR around Pembrey, it was seriously quick, a bit of a monster for torque steer but searingly fast on the straights - I reckon they will make a stunning track car out of the latest one.

A Corsa VXR 'ring on R888s would make a fun cheap track car, if you've got the track bug I'll go halves with you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[kwistof]

Just booked up on this for September Road Car Only Evening - Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 - anyone else up for it, Brands Hatch...?

Not been on a track before and don't want to be a numpty so have a couple of sessions booked in with a trainer and because it's road cars only, reckon the RS3 should be a winner!

May have to pop along and see an RS3 on a track....or may have a little taster session myself

 

[monkeyboy_marcus]

May have to pop along and see an RS3 on a track....or may have a little taster session myself

18" BBS RSII with Michelin PS3s, 20mm H&R adapters, Relentless 3" DP and Sports cat, B5 V1 induction kit, cone filter+heat shield, Forge 007P, Awesome GTI SMF, AP coilovers, Facelift rear lights, Full Powerflex poly bush kit, R32 Rear ARB, SAI delete, N249 by-pass, Upgraded Engine mounts with Polytek, Stage 1 CC at Badger 5.

I'd like to see you on the track too mate - would love to see how we compare!