Just got back from my first trackday!

"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228) 09/18/2013 at 14:30 • Filed to: None

3

2

Our closest circuit is Brands Hatch, and Peugeot was doing a promotional trackday for their new models. What that meant was cheap entry and a chance to drive the new 208 GTi, albeit on the shorter Indy circuit.

Our trusty steed was my friend's Mk2 MR2 2.0l, with her dad as main driver and me and her as £25 extra drivers.

After the sighting laps, I was first out in the car with my friend riding shotgun. First time driving the car. First time on a trackday. In the wet. Needless to say, I span on the 3rd lap. I was feeling pressured by a very quick Vauxhall VX220 (Elise chassied, Vauxhall engined rocketships), payed more attention to getting out of the way than what speed I was taking Paddock Hill Bend (a humongously steep, off camber right-hander), took a tighter line to get to the inside to let him pass and around I went. Wound up in the gravel, but was able to drive myself out.

The offending Vauxhall.

Once I'd come in and had the car checked over, it started to dry out. We were rotating between the three of us while leaving the car to cool down a bit between stints. After a couple of goes, you stop worrying about the faster cars behind you. There's no overtaking in the corners, so they just have to wait until the straights, you pull to the right off the racing line and they go past. Easy.

All in all it's great fun, and I'd recommend it to anyone who fancies driving their car a bit faster than the law allows. Eventually, I was nudging over 100mph on the longest straight (not bad going apparently), and carrying a good deal of speed through the corners (as were my compatriots).

Plenty of other interesting machinery out on track during the day too. Lots of R35 GT-Rs. If you saw one of them entering a straight, and you were less than halfway along it, you'd better pull to the right and let them pass. Those things are bonkers quick.

Lots of E46 M3s as well, including this M3 CSL. Great noise this thing made.

Most jalop track car of the day went to this BMW 330d Touring. Diesel, I6, RWD, manual estate (wagon). Doesn't get more jalop than that. Lasted most of the day but konked out in the last few hours. Glow-plug light went on and he lost all power. Had to have it towed to the paddock.

Also running was a bright blue 968...

...this monster of a Caterham (BIG diffuser, lots of turbo wastegate noise)...

...and this 458 that was howling around the track...

Arriving, but sadly not driving, was this gorgeous little Alfa Giulietta Ti. Not sure why they didn't venture out, but it was pretty while it was there.

The rest of the field was made up of a combination of Caterhams, little hot hatches (most highly modified), a Skoda and an Audi estate, MX-5s, Evos/Imprezas and the Peugeot press cars.

You could book a ride in the 208 GTi with one of the Peugeot works drivers for the Nurburgring 24h (his name was Bradley), as well as a drive yourself. Naturally, we did both.

The works driver was utterly insane. He was absolutely hurling this little thing around the corners, cocking the inside rear and keeping up with a Caterham 260CSR through the corners for about 3/4 of a lap. All the while, chatting with me about the MR2 he had as a first car, how the 208 is better on the twistier Nordschliefe than the sweeping Brands circuit, and what made it over from the stock car to the N24 racer (just the bodyshell and the block).

The 208 GTi itself was very interesting too. Initially it felt a bit like you were sitting in front of a video game screen. The windscreen's really far away from you so it doesn't quite look real and the controls (especially the steering) don't seem to have much connection with the outside world.

All of that disappears when you start driving the thing.

It's by far and away the most encouraging little thing I've ever driven. It thrives on being aggressively chucked into corners. The steering, while non-communicative, is sharp as a pin. Front end grip is better than any car I've driven (including the E36, the MR2 and my mate's modified 106 GTi), and brushing the brake mid corner will get a beautiful little wiggle from the rear end that is just plain fun. Meaty little engine too, even if it does run out of puff at 6500rpm, a little before the 7000rpm redline. Pulls very nicely up to that point though.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/18/2013 at 14:46

0

I was in Dartford for a month and I'm annoyed that I didn't get time to go to Brands Hatch.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 09/18/2013 at 14:50

0

It's a great track. Tons of elevation change, and a much more club racer atmosphere than Silverstone. Lots of places to laze around on the grass in the sun watching the fast cars go past if you're watching a race.