Driving a Formula Renault at the Michelin Pilot Experience, Sepang!

Neel · 24th August 2010, 17:04

Two words....
Awesome....congrats!!!

sachinj12 · 24th August 2010, 20:34

Chanced upon this thread now. Just one word for it-mind numbing. Lovely pics with a detailed report = bindaas.

OT: Did you puke after the two seater lap?

PlatzdaTurbo · 25th August 2010, 09:41

absolutely speechless....way to go man !!

nkrishnap · 25th August 2010, 09:55

One lucky guy you are indeed!. Congrats and thank you for sharing what it is like to be around a formula one track.

Keep em coming! A five star rating for this thread.

ac 427 · 25th August 2010, 10:30

haven't been more jealous in my life...

Anyways i would looking forward to the michelin pe experience contest next year.

good report, looks like you had great fun. By the way, other than Hiranandani are there other places in Mumbai which have a decent Go-Kart Track and decent karts ?

cheers,
ac

GTO · 25th August 2010, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by godfreydesylva

I went back the next day as you know and took some photographs.

Lucky you! Did you drive any cars on the 2nd day?

Quote:

and also the Golf GTI which was pressed into service when the Audi TT's brakes could not manage the pace.

Red or Black?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac 427

By the way, other than Hiranandani are there other places in Mumbai which have a decent Go-Kart Track and decent karts ?

Acres Club at Chembur, though Hakone track is more fun

ganeshtvpm · 26th August 2010, 23:26

@GTO. One question. Are f1 drivers skilled or rally drivers? What do you think now?. There is a thread on the forum about that topic and lot of folks have answered rally drivers. Now that you have tested the open wheeled car which is about 1/4 performance of an f1 car you might be in a better position to tell us about that?

Technocrat · 27th August 2010, 00:52

Oh Boy you seemed to have had one heck of an experience there & the details made me feel as if I was there too

Great narration & wonderful Pics

Slick · 27th August 2010, 12:39

Wow GTO, So now you have formula experience under your belt.
Your writeup made me feel like wanting to do it as well, Though I dont think I have the necessary skills.
5 Stars for the Article and 5 starts to Team-bhp.

tanwaramit · 27th August 2010, 12:54

thats an impressive experience and very well captured till the trophy.

I think Michelin doesnt supply tyres for Formula1, maybe for other championships they are providing tyres.

Also GTO, does this car has a reverse gear ?

issigonis · 27th August 2010, 13:35

>>> GTO,

A once in a lifetime experience, splendidly captured in words and pictures. Terrific.

Did you take all of the snaps? The two snaps taken -of the cars and the racers seems to have been taken very rapidly- one after the other.

I have to re-read the section on your drives in the morning and the afternoon for the entire experience to sink in.

Is it possible to have similar experiences in and around Bombay? If Michelin ( or any tyre or car manufacturer with a strong interest in motorsport) could arrange such events, maybe even once a year in our major metros, it would give an impetus to motorsport and an appreciation of the sport in our country.

We are one of the fastest growing auto markets globally and it surely is time for a VW/BMW/Ford/Michelin/Bridgestone to start these.

A great experience and a great performance GTO.

Am hoping that many of us get such experiences in the near future.

godfreydesylva · 27th August 2010, 14:25

Hi Rush,

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Lucky you! Did you drive any cars on the 2nd day?

No.Only got driven around.It was a awesome learning experience.
Phillipe was easily the best driver there.Followed by the guy from Macau-Rodolfo and then the Malaysian driver-Lim.

Quote:

Red or Black?

Black-It was not as quick through the turns as the other cars though.The Audi TT RS was the most comforable. We had the AC going and it was a cool drive.
Drive safe.So boring to be back to normal life!!
Godfrey

Hatari · 27th August 2010, 18:03

Well done! must have been a helluva ride!
The open to all karting circuit at sepang is pretty awesome too..
tons of grip and lots of speed

raajks · 28th August 2010, 01:01

Awesome narration, the pictures are an icing on the cake.
Every petrol head's dream has become your reality.

Its impressive to see the way you have handled the single seater formula Renault.
Kudos for your trophy!!

lancersfx · 28th August 2010, 06:36

First of all. Congratulations GTO, on the win !! Reading the post felt like i was in the backseat while you were driving. It is obvious that one can never experience what you felt unless it is tried. But as you spoke about the Go-Kart, I truly can understand and feel the adrenaline rush you've been through. Now that you have fired my senses, I'm headed to the Go-Kart zone.

24th August 2010, 17:04	#61
Neel BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 178 Thanked: 35 Times	Two words.... Awesome....congrats!!!
	() Thanks

24th August 2010, 20:34	#62
sachinj12 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,187 Thanked: 168 Times	Chanced upon this thread now. Just one word for it-mind numbing. Lovely pics with a detailed report = bindaas. OT: Did you puke after the two seater lap?
	() Thanks

25th August 2010, 09:41	#63
PlatzdaTurbo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,304 Thanked: 327 Times View My Garage	absolutely speechless....way to go man !! Last edited by GTO : 25th August 2010 at 14:41. Reason: STRICTLY no SMS language on Team-BHP please
	() Thanks

25th August 2010, 09:55	#64
nkrishnap Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,983 Thanked: 7,425 Times View My Garage	One lucky guy you are indeed!. Congrats and thank you for sharing what it is like to be around a formula one track. Keep em coming! A five star rating for this thread.
	() Thanks

25th August 2010, 10:30	#65
ac 427 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,413 Thanked: 285 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (5)	haven't been more jealous in my life... Anyways i would looking forward to the michelin pe experience contest next year. good report, looks like you had great fun. By the way, other than Hiranandani are there other places in Mumbai which have a decent Go-Kart Track and decent karts ? cheers, ac
	() Thanks

26th August 2010, 23:26	#67
ganeshtvpm BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: trivandrum Posts: 69 Thanked: 15 Times	@GTO. One question. Are f1 drivers skilled or rally drivers? What do you think now?. There is a thread on the forum about that topic and lot of folks have answered rally drivers. Now that you have tested the open wheeled car which is about 1/4 performance of an f1 car you might be in a better position to tell us about that?
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 00:52	#68
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,815 Thanked: 2,702 Times	Oh Boy you seemed to have had one heck of an experience there & the details made me feel as if I was there too Great narration & wonderful Pics
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 12:39	#69
Slick BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 385 Thanked: 619 Times	Wow GTO, So now you have formula experience under your belt. Your writeup made me feel like wanting to do it as well, Though I dont think I have the necessary skills. 5 Stars for the Article and 5 starts to Team-bhp.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 12:54	#70
tanwaramit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dilwalon ki Dilli Posts: 1,932 Thanked: 497 Times	thats an impressive experience and very well captured till the trophy. I think Michelin doesnt supply tyres for Formula1, maybe for other championships they are providing tyres. Also GTO, does this car has a reverse gear ?
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 13:35	#71
issigonis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 956 Thanked: 95 Times	>>> GTO, A once in a lifetime experience, splendidly captured in words and pictures. Terrific. Did you take all of the snaps? The two snaps taken -of the cars and the racers seems to have been taken very rapidly- one after the other. I have to re-read the section on your drives in the morning and the afternoon for the entire experience to sink in. Is it possible to have similar experiences in and around Bombay? If Michelin ( or any tyre or car manufacturer with a strong interest in motorsport) could arrange such events, maybe even once a year in our major metros, it would give an impetus to motorsport and an appreciation of the sport in our country. We are one of the fastest growing auto markets globally and it surely is time for a VW/BMW/Ford/Michelin/Bridgestone to start these. A great experience and a great performance GTO. Am hoping that many of us get such experiences in the near future.
	() Thanks

27th August 2010, 18:03	#73
Hatari Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calcutta Posts: 1,879 Thanked: 881 Times	Well done! must have been a helluva ride! The open to all karting circuit at sepang is pretty awesome too.. tons of grip and lots of speed
	() Thanks

28th August 2010, 01:01	#74
raajks BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: BLR Posts: 578 Thanked: 119 Times View My Garage	Awesome narration, the pictures are an icing on the cake. Every petrol head's dream has become your reality. Its impressive to see the way you have handled the single seater formula Renault. Kudos for your trophy!!
	() Thanks

28th August 2010, 06:36	#75
lancersfx BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 225 Thanked: 44 Times View My Garage	First of all. Congratulations GTO, on the win !! Reading the post felt like i was in the backseat while you were driving. It is obvious that one can never experience what you felt unless it is tried. But as you spoke about the Go-Kart, I truly can understand and feel the adrenaline rush you've been through. Now that you have fired my senses, I'm headed to the Go-Kart zone.
	() Thanks