My second trackday in the VX (three if you count the Palmersport day).
What a great facility Rockingham is. Very, very impressive.
The day was with Bookatrack.com and used the International Long circuit. This is about 2.6 miles and uses some of the infield and some of the banking (Turn 4 and Turn 1). The circuit suits most cars since there's a mix between power/bravery (that'll be the banking) and nimbleness/finesse (that'll be the infield then).
It was open pit lane, and most of the cars were 911s of various incarnations ranging from standard 996s through several 964 RS cars, at least four 996 GT3s, a 993 Turbo, a 996 Turbo, plus several racing 911s including a Carrera Cup car on slicks and something that looked more like a 917 than a 911 complete with Le Mans-style wing and a mental anti-lag system!
The other participants included Superlight Rs, a tuned Escort Cossie on slicks, a VW Vento race car, etc etc. And a Toyota Corolla T-Sport which understeered epically but was clearly being driven with much gusto! So you get the idea - a fairly serious array of machinery and drivers and some massive speed differentials.
The standard of driving and courtesy was very good though, and I didn't feel intimidated (well maybe once or twice
). The VXT was very much at home, staying with most of the 911s round the infield at least - with smoothness being very much the way to go.
There were a few Elises - the Rockingham driving school Elises were being used, plus there were three or four trackdayers including a chap with a Honda-engined S1 Elise with trackday tyres, brake upgrade etc. Very quick. I took him out for some passenger laps in my VXT later in the day and he said that he was pretty impressed with how it felt, although slightly bouncy in the corners compared to his car. Praise indeed, I thought
The banking is a novel experience and the concrete wall on your right does concentrate the mind a little. Nothing to worry about though, at least in the dry like today.
All in all, thoroughly recommended. Great venue, nice and wide, good mix of corners and a challenge on the banking for the brave.
There was a company there taking very good photos - I bought five on a CD but I have no webspace so probably can't post them. Their site is called www.picman.co.uk if anyone wants to check out the pics of these mad 911s that I hope they will put up later today!
Stunters
