This is something that I did a couple of years ago june 2002 in the UK. I enrolled for an afternoon track course at Thruxton Uk. The deal - 6 laps in an MG saloon car, 3 laps in a Porsche Boxter or an SLK , 4 laps in the Ferrari and six laps in a formula renault singe seater followed by a high speed ride in an MG touring car...here goes
MG ZR - sweet car - main purpose was to supervise you going around the track and ensuring that you got familiar with the line. Amazing how important it is, if you get one thing wrong, it all goes for a six especially at chicanes.
Porsche Boxter - Then moved to a boxster, was offered an SLK but after having driven Mercs, it was a no brainer which to decide. This is one perfectly balanced car, I really liked this car, it was as if you are totally in harmony. The car really went hard.
Ferrari 360 M - They originally had planned to put me in a rhd 360 F1 but the car blew a connection and some one dropped a screw inside and no one dared turn the engine. I was switched to an lhd manual, no problem for me. The car is wide, got a detailed briefling and then engine on - boy what a sound, first lap was uneventful, more to get familier, by the third lap I was allowed to get the car upto 200km/h on a straight. Loved the shove as you put you foot down. What amazed me was the cornering power at a chicane, I for got to brake in time so I took a risk and went in fast and powered out. AWESOME, did not miss a beat (but my heart did). BTW, in all the above cars, you had an instructor sitting shot gun. There were some idiiots - saw a ferrari brake in a corner - so stupid! To sum up, thrilling but the car is really an exotic road car, lacks the raw pleasure of a Porsche 993. You are aware that the car costs a bomb so be careful!!!!
Formula Renault - boy, you feel every vibration, every bump. It is not easy, no power brakes etc. Took a lap to get used to it. Suddenly you realise that you were on your own, so I began to push harder, boy it was fun, again the challenge was at the curves, boy it held on.
Got out and into the MG touring car - boy we were hitting corners at 120kmph, the driver slid the car into corners, it was around 5.30 and I was the last person so he could push hard.
Boy, it was an experience worth all the 290 pounds that was spent. I had a great big grin on my face. The kind that you have after a great honeymoon
WOrth a look -
www.thruxtonracing.co.uk, they now have a Porsche 996 turbo and a lambo is on order. Next time ? I would like to return and push an Elise around for 14 laps or go to ROckingham and spend a day with thr Lotus handling team pushing an elise to its limits - but that costs 500 pounds
My life amibition - a BMW M3 around the Nurburgring