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-   -   Drove a Mercedes E-Class on the F1 Circuit! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/super-cars-imports-india/111762-drove-mercedes-e-class-f1-circuit.html)

Ask yourself this question - How often do you get a chance to drive on a race track let alone the Buddh International F1 Circuit?

On 15th November I received a letter in my mail from Mercedes Benz inviting me for a drive on the F1 circuit in Greater Noida. My first thoughts: NO WAY! This is stuff that most people have dreams about. The Date was set for 24th November and the time slot - 3.30 p.m.

Mercedes Benz had organized a track day event for new owners of the E class as promised going by the advertisements that were being published in Newspapers centering around the F1 hype. So I RSVP'ed the same evening and thus begins the long wait for the 24th.

24th afternoon right as the clock struck 2 pm, i raced towards my car to reach the track from my office Connaught Place which even during lunch hours would be a long journey. Pulled into the Paddock parking at 3.10 and right at the entrace we were greeted by an executive from Merc who gave us Pit Passes along with a parking sticker. Few minutes later I see my self walking the pitlane with 10 new E 200 CGI's parked right after the SLS AMG safety car, an SL 63 AMG and the G55 AMG. The thought that kept crossing my head- forget the E class try for the AMG's!

I say this because I myself have the E250 petrol and knowing that Mercedes very well has the capability of using the E350's , they organize a trackday with 4pot E200's. No v6's?:Frustrati

This is the part where it gets interesting. So within a few minutes we were taken on a pit walk by the Merc Execs feeling the nostalgia surround Pitlanes while hearing screeching tires and roaring engines on the track. A safety AV demonstration later, we were alloted an E 200 CGI along with a driving instructor. The mandatory speed limit on the Pitlane meant crawling till the exit when the instructor slammed the throttle. Here is where the 4pot surprised us. Massive low-end torque and acceleration and then hard braking. The instructor then proceeded to give us a safety demonstration of the ESP, ABS and other things. After a lap of being explained all the safety features (which I pretty well knew about already), I politely asked the instructor to switch of the ESP, traction control and other safety aids and then take us for a lap. And boy did he oblige. Hard acceleration, harder breaking and even harder cornering. This guy knew the racing line perfectly.

And then came my turn to take over the steering. Lucky for you guys I had someone in the backseat record 1 of the 3 laps I did. Hope you guys enjoy.

Driving on the Buddh International F1 Circuit - YouTube

Mods : Please move thread if required. Thanks

Awesome is the word, you are a lucky soul to have driven on the race track. The cabin is so silent, i could only hear a slight engine roar and tyres screeching on turns.

What speeds were you able to do?

Truly amazing! I envy you soo much. :thumbs up

Could you please elaborate more on the track, how was it, how are the elevations ,how does it feel like to drive over there, challenging corners and how was the E ,being the least track oriented car, coping up with the track.

That should be a fun event. Is the circuit open for public? if yes what is the cost, rules, regulations?

Wish it was open to general public, would love to track my car. And anyway what are they gonna do there, the other 362 days of the year :)

BTW pictures of the Merc event are up on the Buddh International Circuit facebook page

Lucky you. Really nice to hear the engine roar on acceleration.

That's just AWESOME Sparkiplug. It would have been such a pleasure to drive across the BIC. Were you able to lay your hands on the AMG?

Wow!! You are one lucky guy I would say!!
Congratulations!! It sure must be awesome.

Kudos to Mercedese.

I was expecting sych kind of events on the track.
I am praying to God that these management of the track goes one step further and opens it for public on a Pay and Use basis.
I am desparate to take my bike out there and experience Track Riding..

That is one hell of a chance, must be the first on T-BHP. The merc is really silent, were you driving with the AC on ?

You are one lucky guy sparkplug:D Do let us know the max speed you could touch. I'd also like the mention that I enjoyed the purr of the exhaustclap:

Lucky! What was the max speed that you touched in the straights?

Supercool! You are one lucky chap Sparkiplug!
Top speed? Fastest lap time?

Any video from the stands? Would have loved to see how the E200 cornered.

Boy you are one lucky BHPian to get an opportunity to burn rubber on the F1 Circuit. clap:

What was the top speed you attained and little more on the driving and instructions passed on would be great.

Pics are always welcome!!

Congratulations to the luckiest chap here! clap:
What a feeling this must have been for Sparkiplug, I'm sure that he's finding it difficult to express it in to words for us.
But yeah, would like to know the kind of speed that you do on the track.

Does anyone think that they'll use to the track more often like this?

I envy you Sparkiplug. You lived my dream (actually dream of all mercedes and F1 enthusiastsstupid:). These opportunities are rare. Hope you enjoyed it to the fullest.