Toyota MR2 - On Track

Well, I joined the On Track club, which run track days at many of the UK's race circuits, and some famous European ones too.

This is me pictured on the left at speed!

I chose to take the MR2 to the track rather than the Fiat for several reasons:

1. The MR2 is slower than the Fiat, and I figured this would give me more chance to learn (relatively) slowly.
2. Being mid-engined, and rear-drive, the MR2 has wonderful balance, I thought that this would be in my favour on the track.
3. It's not worth as much as the Fiat, so any mistakes would be less costly!

Brands Hatch

My first outing was Brands Hatch, home of the British Grand Prix for many years.

The circuit map on the left shows the basic layout, but what it fails to give away is the amount of gradient that the track has.  Some of the names give a hint to the nature of the beast, Hailwood Hill, Pilgrims Drop and Paddock Hill Bend, but even the names don't prepare you for what it feels like.

You approach Pilgrims Drop quite steeply uphill, there is a bridge across the road, however, it seems that the bridge is ON the road, until you crest the hill, and drop down sharply.  Remembering not to lift for a second.

We drove the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, there is also a shorter version, called the Indy circuit which cuts from Surtees to Clearways.

There was another MR2 present, a white mk.1 like mine, driven by a very plucky lady who was there on her own surrounded by so many men.

Anyway, my choice of taking the MR2 was vindicated, as apart from the fact I had a thoroughly good day, at one point I had to wrestle the controls of the car back from an Instructor, who was having so much fun driving my car that he didn't want to let me have a go!

On the right you can see a Lamborghini Diablo on track. In fact there were many interesting cars to see at the track that day apart from the Diablos, of which there were 2, such as a Ferrari F50, Lamborghini Countach, 2 Ferrari F355s, Light Car Company Rocket, more Caterham 7s and Lotus Elises than you could possibly shake a stick at, Porsche 911s, TVRs, and several race prepared cars including a Mini Cooper, and a Dodge Viper GT.

Kathy timed my best lap at 2:12, the fastest other car we timed on the day was a Ferrari F50 which did a 1:49.

Snetterton

My next outing, and probably the MR2's last was at Snetterton, which is an old airfield circuit.

Though generally flat the circuit has some gradient, down the dip at the Bomb Hole, and up to the highest point at Coram Curve.

Revett Straight is very fast, and followed by the difficult tightening of the Esses.   Best point is Coram Curve, very fast, off camber and if you don't keep well tight on the right it's grass cutting time.

Left is me in the MR2 passing the pits, on Senna Straight, mine was the only MR2 present at Snetterton. Tim Harvey was the chief instructor present, he instructed a few laps with me in the MR2 (good lines, heel and toe needs practice), and he also drove it for some laps.  Just think a past winner of the British Touring Car Championship has driven my little car!

On the right you can see a brace of Ferrari F355s, the first one is the Track car, in which fast-lap rides are sold. Not as many exotics turned up as at Brands, though many Caterhams and Westfields showed up, also several BMWs. Best times were a 1:49 for me, and a 1:25 for a practising sports prototype racer.

Cars | Toyota MR2