First Track Day Thursday Tips??

[Ironman]

Well first trackday in the R8 on Thursday, but I am not a newbie to this with 2 Vipers both tracked so the etiquette for the day is fully understood and compared to the SRT/10 and Viper GTS/R which are both a handfull I am expecting an easier time.......

But at present it is cold and wet in the Uk and a few tips on tire pressures and T/C off or on in the wet??

Track is Goodwood.....no run offs and no kitty litter.

So any tips would be more than helpful.

[Garyhun]

Take it easy would be my tip and build your speed over a few laps to get an idea of adhesion limits.

That said, the R8 is awesome in the wet so I'd twank it about a bit and have some fun too

I lost my Porsche a few times in the wet but it was at Bedford Autodrome so massive run off areas.

Pressures? Possibly a little lower but tbh unless you're really gunning it I would not have thought you'd really need to do much.

[Ironman]

Thanks a lot for the advice, got to be easier then tooling a Viper around, but to be honest it has sort of ruined the Viper experience....until the foot goes down to the floor and the 530 bhp kicks in, but in the wet no fun at all.

[Garyhun]

Thanks a lot for the advice, got to be easier then tooling a Viper around, but to be honest it has sort of ruined the Viper experience....until the foot goes down to the floor and the 530 bhp kicks in, but in the wet no fun at all.

The R8 will be a doddle after the Viper - and more fun for it as you should be able to get some seriously good laps in.

Have a great time!

[Bodhii]

I would keep the T/C on all of the time during the wet, and also for all of the first full dry day you drive your car on a track. The T/C is invasive,.. but in a good, protective way. Get a few easy miles on the track before you try extending your limits.

And remember that although the R8 is AWD,.. it is NOT a great car in the wet. But it should be much more forgiving than the Viper.


On this day I set a personal record for the longest "straight"... ( keeping the front tires ahead of the rear,) hydroplaning, I have ever done. Well over a 1/4 mile. I was able to use a couple of rumble strips to keep me on the track. All VERY stupid!


Personally, I would pass on tracking the R8 in the wet again, no matter what tires are available. Especially on a track with walls. The R8 is no miracle car when it comes to the wet.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otc-NGu6mUY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otc-NGu6mUY[/ame]

[Ironman]

Cool love the colour combination of the steel grey and the silver blades, my friend has carbon on his and they sort of get lost in the grey.

Love the silver on my white one.

[London Lad]

I have done Goodwood in the wet a few times (not in the R8)

IMHO Keep the TC on and tyres at standard pressures,

Have a great day !

[dailydriver]

Thanks a lot for the advice, got to be easier then tooling a Viper around, but to be honest it has sort of ruined the Viper experience....until the foot goes down to the floor and the 530 bhp kicks in, but in the wet no fun at all.

Amen to that. I have only had my Viper on the track a few times and it is handful for sure. It is really fun - right up to the limits but anything past that there is no forgiveness. I have an older model and have added metallic pads with racing brake fluid but the pedal will still get soft after too many laps and that does not inspire a lot of confidence around the track.

[ianerrid]

I think Harry said it on another thread, keep the shiny side up and the grippy side down and you'll be OK. And I concur with the others, keep the electronics on at first, but when you turn them off, build up gradually - you'll be amazed at how much they have helped you while you thought you were a driving god with them on ;-)

[Ironman]

Thanks for all the advice, looking forward to the day.........