A first nervous taste of true single seaters at the home of British motorsport.
Say ‘driving experience’ and two thoughts pop into my head, high end, high cost corporate days such as Palmersport or the Porsche Experience centre at Silverstone where your every motoring urge in indulged, and lower cost sessions with two laps in something interesting across a cone-ridden airfield. As a result, I’ve always looked upon the racks of boxed, carefully priced ‘experiences’ at Debenhams with a sense that they might not offer the best value.
Then there’s single seaters. Yes, Palmersport has the rather delicious Formula Palmer Audis which I’ve wanted to drive before Justin Wilson first turned a wheel in anger, and there’s somewhat vintage F1 machinery if your pockets are deep enough. For the more ordinary wallet, the single seater experiences are somewhat baggy Formula Fords and Vauxhall Lotus’s (if they’ve got wings) snapped up for a few shillings a piece, right?
As the calendar clicked over to indicate 30 years of my existence, I was presented with a Silverstone Single Seater Experience voucher. I was happy as I knew Silverstone had recently updated their cars to something a bit fun looking, plus for any motorsport fan it’s certainly hallowed turf. Ok, it’s not the F1 track, but even the Stowe circuit has seen it’s fair share of Grand Prix rubber!
Early on a Sunday morning I made my way to Northamptonshire, with a sense of excitement not really felt since, well, the last time I drove to Northamptonshire to thrash some expensive metal thanks to Porsche… Entering the circuit, and following the perimeter road round, stopping briefly to admire the sheer number of Porsche Boxster Spyders lined up for what I’m guessing was either a launch event or press hoon.
I crossed the hangar straight to a surprisingly busy carpark for a Sunday morning! The Silverstone Experience Centre was busy, and full of things to do. Themed almost as though it’s an Alton Towers attraction, drivers were signing up, there was seating, a café, a GT5 machine (probably left behind by Nissan from when they pitched up with their Race Academy), and stands selling DVDs and photos.
All signed up, and having shelled out for the DVD because how often do you get to play in racing cars, we went into our briefing room. The instructor was somewhat brusque, but then our briefing was important. We were going to be on our own from the first second to the last. Going through the circuit corner by corner, then trying to learn the lines, braking points, then trying to teach vehicle dynamics in about 6 minutes. There’s a lot to take in, especially if you’re not well versed in such things already. The important lessons though were; don’t spin or you’re out, don’t hold each other up, enjoy it.
Fully briefed the drivers, along with friends and family, all jumped into our road cars, and made our way down to the temporary paddock as the pit buildings for the Stowe circuit seemed to be undergoing a large scale renovation and expansion. There was also a large track being carved into the dirt too, either for Rage buggies or motorcross bikes! Now that’ll be tempted to try out!
Into a portacabin for helmet fitting – many still with GT5 branding, as well as names and flags of Academy competitors – before making our way out to the cars. Instructors are often racing drivers themselves, so the painted helmet in the cabin was no surprise. I’d love to display my dazzling knowledge, but all I could work out was that one of his names was Leighton, he was in the BRDC Rising Stars programme, he drove something for 888 Racing, and judging by the square of Velcro on top, he did some sort of endurance racing. And judging by his grubby Alpinestars gloves and Prada sunglasses, he was a racing driver.
The cars are roughly set for different heights, and only a limited number have recording facilities. I was allocated blue 1, so I made my way over before jumping in and being belted up. My first impressions were that it was cosy, but not overly tight, even for someone of my height and broad shoulders. The pedals were at quite a steep angle and somewhat uncomfortable. Another click back on the seat would have helped there. Also a four point belt meant I’d come out with both testicles in the normal position.
I’d read a few posts and comments about getting used to the controls. The brake pedal was almost solid, and the clutch incredibly highly sprung. There was little movement in the clutch pedal, and even trying to let it out slowly was difficult as the spring was so strong. The biggest challenge I had all day was the gearbox. A proper, old school, racing Hewland four-speed with a linkage under my left arm, and a lever which moved no more than about an inch in any direction. It was also a dog box. This’ll be fun! With the car rocked back and forth by an instructor, I slotted each gear into place. Even without the engine running, it took a few goes. Gulp. It's not unlike trying to undo a bra; you can't see what you're doing, it's an unfamiliar action, and when it goes wrong there's a horrible noise.
One of the Renault pace cars (a hot Megane, with a sparkly RS badge on the grill) made it’s way to the track edge, and one by one we were waved off. The throttle squeezed further than expected, revs upto 3k-4k, and trying my best to let the clutch out slowly was rewarded by the clutch spring flinging my foot towards the bodywork, and a jerky getaway without stalling.
First couple of sessions is following a pace car. You can’t let the car build up too much speed, but you do get a feel for the unassisted brakes and the line – not to mention the frozen puddle to avoid. At slow speeds you can’t really get used to the gear change though. Without really punching the lever and stamping on the clutch, it’s just too hard to balance all the elements to make a smooth change. Linger on the clutch and suddenly all your revs have gone, followed by a graunchy noise somewhere behind you.
Finally we were allowed out for real. Out the pits, through the first couple of corners, then hard on the gas. It’s got some poke! It’s not the same surge I got in the 911 Carrera S, but with each change slotting home, and brakes that really haul, it was such a visceral experience. The steering heavy, but not like a kart. More movement at the wheel, but still incredibly direct. A lot more sensation through the thin steering wheel too. The brakes were barely tested, but needed real attack on the pedal to get good stopping effort. They felt very proportional, the direct hydraulic connection making it easy to feel the pad working. The biggest challenge was the gearbox though. Fast shifts, when landed, were such a heroic feeling. The gearing too through 3rd and into 4th was so short, you barely held 3rd for more than 6 seconds. You really banged through the box. Coming down, an unconscious heel and toe again made a good shift feel amazing, but any mis-timings were brutally, nakedly, obvious. The grip was immense, and I only had two moments where either end of the car felt overwhelmed. Partly the cold temperature (Someone had seen minus five on their car dash on the way to the track) I think as the tyres still had plenty to give through the faster West corner.
The car was sensational for sure, but all was not perfect. I was in a fully booked session so there were 15 cars out on track. The range of experience went from the keen to those wanting to try something new. Given the layout of the track (including the new esses and long right onto the main straight) overtaking is only allowed on the two straights, as a result bunches of cars soon form through the slower corners which take time to clear over a couple of laps. The freezing cold also made for painful hands as only thin gloves were provided, despite them being right in the airflow from time to time. I had a problem to, as my visor seemed to frost up. I’d open it a click to get air in, but then at speed it’d snap shut, and a couple of laps later the fog and frost would set in meaning I’d be trying to open it again. I also found the gear change a real challenge. Not being used to it a fluffed change from third to fourth, trying to slot second instead, would leave me lost, searching for a gear, and scrubbing off speed quickly. Not a fault of the car mind, just an indicator of the challenge involved.
So out the car, a cursory debrief, then back to reception to pick up photos and DVDs. I reflected on the day. The amount of time I had in the car, I was happy with. After 15 mins behind the safety car and 20 mins of free lapping, my shoulders were starting to struggle. My overriding memories though were the sensations from the car. The surge of acceleration paled against the texture of every control surface, the precision required, and the feeling of joy when everything came together just so. It’s a real treat for drivers who really relish a driving challenge.