On Friday
September 15th, I went to Thruxton to partake of the Lotus Exige
One-2-One Experience. This was the 189 bhp Lotus Exige based on the Lotus
Elise S2 (really an Elise S2 with a roof scoop and wing).
The day
started with registration, then a briefing at 11:10. The Exige is shared (there
were two of us doing the experience), so I waited whilst the first driver did
the 2 instructors laps, and their 6 laps, did my laps, waited whilst the first
driver did their second 6 laps and the final high-speed instructor lap, and did
mine. I hadn’t expected the waiting, this is okay though, gives you a change to
look around at the other cars, and in the break, a chance to grab some food
and drink and reflect.
I’d done
a driving Experience at Thruxton back in 2003 - the star attraction being
driving a Ferrari. One thing I remember was the final few laps in the
single-seater was my favourite bit. It was great to drive the Lotus Exige, and
being someone elses car, no worries about giving the car too much punishment.
The instruction was great, but I did finish the experience thinking I’d love to
have done some solo laps by myself (I guess that’s where track days are best.)
Also, Thruxton is a very fast circuit, perhaps not the most interesting though
(mostly fast corners), so I’d love to try another circuit, and I’ve had Castle
Coombe highly recommended.
Whilst I
was waiting for my videos to be developed (I will upload to YouTube in the
future, just need to edit out my full name) I went on the Tiff Needell BMW
M4 Experience. At £150 for 3 high-speed laps, I’d have to say it’s not
value for money; I would have regretted not experiencing Tiff though, and it
was a great experience, even though Tiff’s commentary on the 3 laps is very
scripted and not something I’d been expecting (I should have expected it
though.)
Finally,
whilst waiting for my Tiff video to be developed (I might upload that too), I
had fish and chips with baked beans in the Thruxton restaurant, to end a great
day.
My route
to Thurxton and back in my Lotus Elise was a more boring route when compared to
Thursday, still the A34 and A303 really aren’t bad roads. Car mileage up
another 60 miles from 920 to 980. Now I’m close to my 1000-mile service!
Some
images from the day:
Image 01: The Red Lotus Exige experience car
Image 02: A selection of supercars in the Thruxton
pit lane - Part 1
Image 03: A selection of supercars in the Thruxton
pit lane - Part 2
Image 04: Another view of the Red Lotus Exige
experience car
Image 05: Fish and chips with beans at Thruxton
Image 06: 30-mile route to Thruxton (same back)
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