While we were visiting the green hell on our recent trip someone spotted a new event, well it wasn't their last time we went. Anyway someone spotted that for 38 Euro's you could do a 20 minute session of the GP circuit.
We planned to do it then the weather turned out to be very unpredictable so we sort of said it's not worth it. But thanks to Nathan at the last minute we thought fook it lets have a go, it was spitting and cold but we chanced it.
So we drove round paid our moniez and lined up in the pit lane along side the straight and waited for our session to start. Their was only 4 cars in total waiting to go on 3 out of our lot. I am not sure why but i got so excited listening to the cars flying down the straight on our left and looking around at all the stands towering over us. The adrenaline was rushing through my body like never before, not sure why, the few track days i had done previous were very adrenaline fuelled but nothing like this feeling.
So we watched the chequred flag being waved to our left, closing the session before us and before we knew it we were off.
The circuit was very short but very very technical, super smooth tarmac lots of run offs and cones to help with the apexes.
The first 2 or 3 laps we were all over the shop, especially me i nearly went up Nathan's chuff twice.
the track is so wide, on some of the bends at the start we were sliding all over like a police chase.
The main straight is amazing flying past the grid at full chat then a mega tight right hand first corner. Nearly over cooked it their on at least 4 occasions and did, on lap 6, and had to give up on the turn in as i had out braked myself so it was a detour through the cones.
Once again i cant explain the adrenelin rush, it was almost like taking hi-grade amphetamines, ( though i am only guessing
) There were no marshals and no rules, you could overtake wherever you wanted and i figured out early on that it was completely safe on 99% of the circuit. The only danger was out braking yourself and taking out the car in front. And because there was only 4 cars this was not likely.
It didnt take long to learn the circuit, but mastering it was another matter, JPC ( MR Sparkles ) helped me out so much as a co-pilot he knew every bend and told me where and when i could keep the pedal to the metal. This meant i had to completely trust him as we were taking a right hand bend at over 140 MPH on the clock without lifting off.
( need to get myself a playstation i think.
)
After 6 laps Jay said do you fancy trying with the traction control off, i was hesitant but there was only one other car on track at the time so thought lets try it. This was a revelation, not only was it much quicker with it off, it was also so much easier, the bends were so much smoother and a chunk of understeer disappeared. I could not believe the difference, the car was most definitley quicker and more than 2 seconds a lap faster. But more importantly and very suprising to me the car was so much easier to control making it safer.
( well fook me sideway's ) No more traction control for me on track.
Overall this was probably one of the best experiance's of my life, i would have happily paid 4 times what i did as i drove off track. The adreneline was still rushing 30 minutes later.
Anyone going to the ring, i strongly recommend a session on the GP cicuit if the session's are on when you are their. If you enjoy it half as much as i did you will remember it for the rest of your life.
