NEWS: RMA Track Days 2014 Are Go!

Established in 1989, loaded with great cars and people and offering overtaking either side, expert tuition, race car rental, stella special guests/new car events and the best circuits to lap on, we think RMA days are definitely the best track days we've ever been on. 

And very soon, their packed 2014 track day season gets underway at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on February 4th, from just £150. But we're particularly looking forward to Spa-Francorchamps, 26-27th May, which is always a very special event – showcasing RMA's European track day pedigree to perfection. Put simply… these Euro-events are the best track days you can have.  
RMA Boss Graham Clarke says: "With the Christmas and New Year holidays well behind us, people's thoughts are now turning towards this years track day season. With bookings are beginning to pour in thick and fast, Spa in May is already half full already. Some of the initial 'early bird' booking prices have started to increase, although there are still substantial savings to be made. For example, the Brands event above started at £99, it's now at £150 with the final price set to be at least £225 if not more! The noisy day at Donington in March is up £50 on it's starting price but still a bargain at £225, although it won't stay like that for long either! There are other examples and whilst the uptake is encouraging, we would much prefer to see our regular supporters taking advantage of these early booking prices, so if you are in a position to commit early, please do so and book now!"
And talking about the Spa with Audi event in 2013, Graham added: "Those who joined us at Spa last September will no doubt remember Audi joined us in force with a fleet of their supercars comprising of three fabulous R8 V10 Plus, a pair of RS6's and an RS4 all available for our regular customers to drive round the awesome Spa circuit. They also brought a film crew with them and produced a lot of high quality footage, both in and out of the car. Take a look here."

We recommend RMA events as highly as is humanly possible and urge you to give them a try. You'll never look back – as their heady mixture of low numbers, open pit lane, overtaking either side, amazing retro and modern cars to battle with, slick operation, excellent facilities, great staff and jolly nice attendees is unsurpassed… in our quite vast track day experience. 

Get involved! 

The first wave of RMA events includes:

Brands Hatch Indy
4th February 2014
from £150 - 105 dB(A)
Book your place at Brands now!

Donington Park
4th March 2014
from £225 - UNRESTRICTED dB(A)!
Book your place at Donington now!

Snetterton
20th March 2014 & May 8th
from £125 - 105 dB(A)
Book your place at Snetterton now!

Silverstone GP
15th April 2014 & 19th May
£349-£450 - 105 dB(A)
Book your place at Silverstone now!

NEWS: RMA Autumn Track Days

Our pals at RMA track days still have some superb dates for Indian Summer track day hooning for 2013. Book any of the dates below via their website. The pick of the bunch has to be the two days for the price of one at Belgium's uber-circuit, Spa-Francorchamps, with a great off season bargain price wand ZERO financial risk through bad weather cancelation.
RMA Dates left in 2013:
1. Donington Park (revised 2013 layout), 14th October 2013, from £225 - 98 dB(A)
2. Goodwood Exclusive, 23rd October 2013, from £525 - 105 dB(A)
3. Donington Park, 8th November 2013, from £195 - 98 dB(A)
4. Spa Francorchamps, 23rd and 24th Nov. 2013, £395 - 98 dB(A). 

Get involved! 

NEWS: RMA Offer Chance To Drive an Audi R8 V10 Plus On Track

Our good friends at RMA Track Days are offering invited drivers attending their Silverstone GP event on 17th April the chance to drive Audi's mighty R8 V10 Plus. Cool! If you've not seen one already, check out this short TV commercial. 

The R8 V10 Plus costs £127,575 and features a tuned-up, 542bhp, 398lbft 5.2-litre V10 engine delivering 0-62mph in 3.5-seconds and a 197mph v-max. It also has fixed rate (not magnetic damping) suspension, carbon fibre brakes and the S-tronic semi-automatic transmission. It's a track-orientated R8, akin to the GT3 911.   

And RMA has arranged for Audi to show off three of the new R8 V10 Plus' at the Silverstone event. RMA says: "At just £399, it's a very reasonably priced day and we are confident it will be fully subscribed so book it now or miss out!"

Other 'must-do' 2013 RMA dates include: 

Donington Park - £275 – 98 dB(A), 29th April 2013
Book your place now!
&

Spa-Francorchamps
13th, 14th & 15th May 2013: Road, track and race car dates.
Book your place now!

NEWS: 2013 Time Attack Championship

Less than a week to go until the start of the 2013 Time Attack UK Championship – with the first round at Cadwell Park, on April 1st bank holiday Monday. You going?
To help get you in the mood, here's a great video from Togethia TV from the 2012 Cadwell event – a wet old affair, most likely as this year will be. At least the turbo cars will enjoy all the cold air there is at the moment.
This year features some new tyre regulations and the usual multiple classes for Club Challenge and Pro entries, in FWD, RWD and 4WD groups – so plenty of silverware to play for.
And the 2013 dates and venues are well spread across the UK at a good range of superb fast and flowing and tight and technical circuits, for a fair fight:
Round 1 – 1st April, Cadwell Park
Round 2 – 11th May, Croft
Round 3 – 9th June, Snetterton
Round 4 – 20th July, Oulton Park
Round 5 (Pro class) – 8th September, Silverstone
Round 5 (Club class) – 14th September, Donington
Round 6 Finale – 29th September, Brands Hatch
The series created in 2005 is looking like developing on another notch this year – so expect plenty of close competition and some really great sprint cars and (some race) drivers in all classes. We're particularly looking forward to seeing if Simon Deaton's Porsche GT3 R factory-fettled race ace can compete against the big power 'point and squirt' turbo nutters in the Pro class, even with 'only' 500bhp against some cars with nigh-on 1,000bhp. But there's many a battle to enjoy. So, check out a round near you – Time Attack is a great sprint series that deserves your support. You'll have a great day spectating. Or, why not enter your car as a OHW (One Hit Wonder)? It's great value and great fun racing, with less risk of damage and a super friendly paddock of new friends in the making. Get involved!
Find out more at the Time Attack website. Good luck everyone!

NEWS: Donington Historic Festival An Ayrton Senna-fest

Plans to celebrate Ayrton Senna at the 2013 Donington Historic Festival (May 3rd, 4th, 5th) are well underway – with a mixture of static F3 to F1 and even odd-ball classic rally car displays in the Paddock and on-track demonstrations of cars which played a significant role in the career of the late triple World Champion already confirmed for the event.
Organisers are working on appearances of further Senna cars, along with a selection of memorabilia and Keith Sutton’s personal collection of photographs from Senna’s early career.
In addition to the F1 and F3 cars, also on display will be the 1986 JPS Lotus Renault Turbo in which Senna won the US GP at Detroit. The young Brazilian started the race in pole position, but tyre problems saw him initially fall back to eighth place, with the race lead changing hands six times between five drivers before – equipped with fresh tyres – Senna carved his way through the field to take victory.
And there will also be two unusual ‘Senna cars’ on display – an MG Metro 6R4 and the Brooklyn Motorsport Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. These were among five rally cars that Ayrton Senna test-drove in a Welsh forest in November 1986, for a feature that appeared in Car and Car Conversions magazine. At the end of the day, Senna summed up his experience of these very different type of competition cars: “I think, overall, it has been much more exciting than I expected. Much more involving. I didn’t feel the time going by. It went so fast because I was finding out, and learning more and going harder and harder. Having some moments… it was very exciting. Feeling the car in the air and then bottoming. Something I have never experienced before in a road car. In a road car you go easy, eh?” The Cosworth will form part of the live rally demonstration on the Melbourne Loop.
The Senna tribute will be one of the highlights of a spectacular weekend of historic motorsport, with over 400 race cars spanning seven decades battling it out on the track, plus live historic rally car demos on the Melbourne Loop. And Senna fans can see even more of their hero’s racing machinery if they pay a visit to the Donington Collection over the weekend, where they will find a McLaren MP4/5/B-1 that Senna drove during his World Championship-winning 1990 season.
Advance ticket prices for the Festival start at £12 for the Friday, £20 for Saturday or Sunday and just £36 for a three-day weekend ticket. On-the-gate prices will be £15 for Friday, £25 for Saturday or Sunday and £45 for the three-day weekend, with Festival tickets also giving two-for-one entry to the Donington Collection. Children aged under 16 are admitted for free.
Tickets can be bought via www.doningtonhistoric.com and through the 24-hour ticket hotline 0844 873 7355.

Senna 1980s CV

In 1982 Ayrton Senna won the British and European F2000 Championships, and was rewarded with a drive in the season-end F3 race in a Ralt RT3. He famously won the race, and that very RT3 will be demonstrated on the track at the Donington Historic Festival.
During his F3 Championship-winning season in 1983, Senna enjoyed his first-ever drive in an F1 car, testing Keke Rosberg’s Monaco GP-winning Williams-Cosworth FW08C at Donington Park. That very same FW08C (pictured) is now a star feature of the Donington Collection, and this important machine is coming out of the museum for the Festival.
As a result of his impressive F1 tests in 1983, Senna moved into Grand Prix racing full-time in 1984, and his first Formula One race car - the famous 1984 Toleman TG-184-02 Hart turbo - will also be displayed at the Festival. This is the car that Senna drove to a spectacular second place in the 1984 Monaco GP, overtaking Alain Prost for the lead but being robbed of his first Grand Prix win when heavy rain stopped the race the following lap. 

NEWS: RMA Track Day Diary 2013

Having been involved in the Oulton Park filming of 'Racing Legends - Colin McRae' with Sir Chris Hoy, good pals and Road track day operating buddies, RMA Track Days, are back to their bread and butter now – running first class track days in the UK and Europe. If you want to know what one looks like, check out our Tim Schrick special at Donington Park. They are incredible – open pit lane, overtaking either side, great camaraderie and the best cars imaginable on track. Do one this year! You will not regret spending the extra cash, if only for the amount of track time and space you get, let alone the machinery (and media!) you get to mix with. Expect to see Team Road at some of these events, as usual, in a cracking press car or pasting folk in our old, but not to be underestimated Project S4! The RMA Track Days 2013 dates so far include: 

• Guadix, Spain: 10th & 11th February 2013: Very limited amount of space remaining on this event which is principally designed for those looking for some pre-season testing in decent weather. Book your place now!
• Donington Park - £240: 'Noisy' day: 118 dB(A), 7th March 2013. Make full use of this amazing track in cars that struggle to pass usual 110 dB(A) or lower sound regs. Always an amazing line up on track at this event. 
• Brands Indy - £199: 105 dB(A), 27th March 2013. Just before the first British Touring Car Championship meeting, so expect this event to sell out well beforehand & the track to be full of BTCC stars. Book your place now!
• Silverstone GP - £399: 105 dB(A), 17th April 2013. Home of British Motorsport... need we say more? 
• Spa-Francorchamps, 13th, 14th & 15th May (13th is for cars on road tyres only, 14th is for road and track shod cars and the 15th is for track prepared and seriously quick cars only). Great format on one of the best circuits in the world. 
• Other dates include: Dijon 16th July, Brands Hatch GP 25th July, Le Mans 18th August & Spa 23rd & 24th Sept.

NEWS: Donington Park "Thunder In The Park" Christmas Track Days

Christmas is approaching – love it or loathe it! And we all know things can get a bit stressful at this time of year, so why not counter-act that stress with some classic track day action at one of the UK's best circuits, Donington Park, and blow off some seasonal steam? 

Donington Park are running their popular "Thunder in the Park Track Days" during December – with two quiet days (98db limit)* on December 15th and 16th and a special unsilenced day on December 28th. The track days are sessioned into six 20 minute rotation sessions throughout the day, with professional instructors available for those looking to brush up on their racing skills.
Gemma Toogood, Head of Commercial Sales & Marketing at Donington Park, said: "We’ve had a fantastic year here at Donington in 2012, so we thought it would be only fitting to let motoring fans get up close and personal with the circuit and drive their own beloved cars round the track. With Christmas coming up it’s the perfect present for the petrol heads among us – and we even have an option to hire cars, particularly if you fancy a spin in a Caterham 7 Superlight.”
Prices for the Thunder in the Park Track Days begin at £99, booked in advance.
* For more details about the track days, noise limits and vehicle hire, please visit the Donington Park website at: http://www.donington-park.co.uk/experiences/thunder-in-the-park-track-days/

Treat yourself, or why not even make it a Christmas present for someone you love? Work off some of that turkey, lapping the Craner Curves at pace... perfect Christmas pass time to us...

See how much fun Donington Park can be in our Tim Schrick special of Road Magazine here: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_17 

NEWS: Donington Park Multi-million £ Investment

Great news if you, like us are big fans of Donington Park Circuit – they have just started a huge multi-million pound re-investment to reinstate, re-shape and landscape the infield spectator and outdoor exhibition areas of its world-class race track. The two-year project will see new spectator banks created on the infield overlooking the Old Hairpin, Starkeys Bridge and McLeans. When complete, this work will also greatly improve the viewing areas around Coppice, along the main Straight, and into both the Fogarty Esses (Grand Prix circuit) and the newly-named Roberts chicane on the National track layout, which format is much used by BTCC and all historic racing. Bob Adams, Donington Park Circuit Manager, commented: "This is a major project for the Park and will create a fantastic viewing area for all the fans. We’ll be shaping 250,000 tons of material with topsoil and new grass lawns, right across these 24 acres, to make sure they will work well as our new spectator banks. We are also taking the opportunity to construct new roads to improve access to the infield area, both for show cars at major events to reach display areas, but more importantly for the many manufacturer displays and the traders who enjoy the advantages of the infield."
The original Donington Park infield was excavated by contractors working for the previous operator’s ill-fated Formula 1 circuit rebuild in 2009. Now placing that whole episode firmly into the history books, the new Donington ownership and management has, following a successful council planning application this summer, now committed to transform the circuit over the next two winters.
Phase one of the infield restoration will be completed by the end of March 2013. This will see the eastern half of the infield restored. Phase two will take place during the 2013-2014 winter circuit closed period, thereby ensuring that all the new spectator banks are completed and ready for the significant growth plans for the 2014 racing season.
In 2012, Donington Park has hosted its busiest racing schedule ever, with more than 30 events of the very best in World, European and British motor sport, including the World and British Superbikes, the British Touring Car Championship, the British Truck Grand Prix, and the European Le Mans Series. In addition,Donington Park will this weekend (29th and 30th September) host the concluding round of the FIA GT1 World Championship.
Christopher Tate, Managing Director at Donington Park, added: "We’ve had an amazing year of dramatic racing and a return of the crowds, for both the two and the four wheel events at the circuit. Now, with the infield work already fully underway, Donington Park continues its rebirth as the heart and soul of British motorsport."
For further information on events at Donington Park, visit the website at www.donington-park.co.uk.

NEWS: Donington Landmarks Up For Charity Sale

Donington Parks’s iconic Dunlop Bridge (and other famous landmarks) are to go under the hammer at Bonham's for Hope Against Cancer on Saturday, 15th September. The four Donington Park landmarks, to be sold ‘in situ’, are:
1. The individual sections of the fibreglass bridge, each as big as a large garden pond. Buyers can choose whether they want the individual letters or the whole bridge to spell out Dunlop, along with side supports.
2. The Dunlop advertising signage which hung below the bridge until its demolition in 2009.
3. The old timing clock once branded to Pirelli, which currently sits on the Old Hairpin bridge.
4. The wind tunnel model, from the 1970’s, of the World Land Speed Record car, Project Blue Star, which also sits on the Old Hairpin bridge.
World famous tyre company, Dunlop originally paid for the bridge to be erected over the Donington track 30 years ago, but during the previous operator’s ill-fated 2009 attempt to rebuild the circuit layout, the steel structure was knocked down and the metalwork was sold for scrap. The Dunlop tyre profile fibreglass lettered sections have recently been recovered and are now to be sold by Bonham’s.
Christopher Tate, Managing Director at Donington Park, said: "These iconic items will mean a great deal to thousands of racers, bikers, spectators – and all the staff and officials who have worked at Donington Park since 1977. The time has come when the Dunlop panels need to make space for new developments in the paddock area. The famous clock and the LSR car model – which is nine metres long – were to be moved this winter as our programme of track refurbishment continues. The lots aren’t going anywhere until after they are sold though – a good sized crane will be needed for that!"
Money raised from the auction will be donated to Leicestershire-based Hope Against Cancer, a charity passionately supported by the late owner of Donington Park, Tom Wheatcroft. Tom’s son and now circuit owner and chairman, Kevin, is keen to see this excellent cause benefit from the sale.
The auction is being held at the Goodwood Revival race meeting on September 14th, 15th and 16th in Sussex. Any likely bidders keen to secure a piece of Donington Park’s fabled racing history can inspect the items prior to the auction by arrangement with the circuit management.
Christopher added: "In working with Bonham’s, the leading car and automobilia auction house, we decided the time had come to offer these motoring landmarks to the market – and to support Tom and Kevin Wheatcroft’s favourite charity in doing so. We think there will be some strong interest and we hope that they will all find enthusiastic new homes!"
Donington Park is one of the UK’s most popular racing circuits and hosts the very best in World, European and British motor racing including the British Touring Car Championship, FIA British Truck Grand Prix, European Le Mans Series and the World and British Superbike Championships.
For further information about Donington Park and its history, visit the website at www.donington-park.co.uk.

NEWS: RMA 2012 Track Day Dates

Our good track day pals at RMA (www.rmatrackdays.com) – The Track Day Kings – have some cracking dates for 2012 – including Silverstone International next week, Thursday 26th, from just £99! MD Graham Clarke says: "With forecasters promising a significant improvement in the weather we are looking forward to blue skies and sunshine at Silverstone next week! We will be operating from the new Silverstone Wing using the same paddock, garages and pit lane that was occupied by the F1 teams for the British Grand Prix just a couple of weeks ago. There is still plenty of space on this event although both Snetterton and Le Mans in August are just about full, so if you want a nice quiet day on a good circuit with very few race cars book yourself on to next weeks event."
The remaining dates and exciting calendar for 2012, all open pit lane and wall-to-wal great cars, include:
* Silverstone International - from just £99!
105 dB(A), 26th July
* Snetterton 300 - nearly full (pre-BTCC race weekend)

105 dB(A), 8th August
* Le Mans Bugatti - nearly full

107 dB(A), 18th and 19th August
*Brands Hatch GP - from £395

102 dB(A), 17th September
* Donington Park - from £275
Unrestricted, 18th September
* Silverstone GP - from £375
105 dB(A), 19th September
* Spa - 2 days from £595
106 dB(A), 24th and 25 September
Tel: +44 (0)1628 779 000 or email: enquiries@rmatrackdays.com for more information. We'll see you there soon, testing out the new suspension mods on Road Magazine's Project S4: http://www.roadmagazine.co.uk/project-cars/ 

NEWS: One-make Atom Cup UK is Go!

Ariel Motor Company has announced exciting plans for its one-make Atom Cup UK race series in 2013 – featuring a 245bhp, 510Kg, 'Cup' spec Atom, with a roll cage, two-litre i-VTEC engine with six-speed gearbox, Alcon brakes (adjustable bias), Yokohama A048 tyres, Ohlins adjustable suspension, Race Technology dash and safety gear. The new series – which will bring first rate hospitality with professional levels of catering and entertainment, be highly social and make it the sort of place you can bring your family too happily – will run alongside other motorsport, as part of the MSVR package run by Motorsportvision. It will take place at eight premier UK tracks: Brands Indy & GP, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Donington Park and Silverstone GP and National. There will be three packages available – Bronze (car, entry fees & hospitality) at £53,195 + VAT, Silver (as Bronze, plus tyres & fuel and track assist) at £59,995 + VAT and Gold (as silver, plus transportation and storage), at £69,652 + VAT. The new Cup Atom will be capable of 145mph, thanks to its 480bhp per ton power to weight figure, and the racing should be dead close. But there's enough adjustability left in the car to make set-up all important, as well as driver skill. It looks bloody ace! Like everything Ariel do. Bravo to them for pulling it off. Can't wait to report on the first race next year. Find out more on Facebook: www.facebook.com/atomcupuk and @atomcup on Twitter.

VIDEO: How to Drive Donington Park National Circuit

Our very good track day organising pals, RMA (http://www.rmatrackdays.com/), run by "Track Day King," Graham Clarke sent us this video of his son, racer and ARDS/RMA Chief instructor, Leyton Clarke (http://www.leytonclarke.co.uk/) showing off the right (wet) lines around Donington Park National Circuit, with commentary, in a Porsche Carrera GTS. So, there's no excuse for bottling it at Cranner now! Seen Leyton go a lot quicker here, but that's not the point. Watch and learn track day hounds...

NEWS: RMA Track Club Get Porsche Cayman S Tuition Car

Road track day buddies, RMA (http://www.rmatrackdays.com/) have added another reason to join them on their exciting 2012 track day forays – a Porsche Cayman S tuition vehicle. The 170mph, stable, quick, mid-engined, rear wheel-drive Porsche with 320bhp is a fabulous track tool, and great fun to learn in – especially fitted with super grippy Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tyres and equipped with Racelogic's Video VBOX data logging video tool, to see where you are going wrong, or getting it right. RMA boss, Graham Clarke said: "The car will principally be used by Leyton (his son & ARDS instructor, http://leytonclarke.com/) but will occasionally be available for hot laps, track day hire and corporate use." Looks like another great reason to get involved... along with the overtaking either side, low numbers, great cars, fabulous atmosphere RMA philosophy. See their dates at many UK and European circuits here: http://www.rmatrackdays.com/trackdays/events.asp, starting at Brands Hatch, March 28th. We'll see you there...

VIDEO: Donington Park 2012

One of our favourite tracks in the UK – for track days or to enjoy a race meet – is Donington Park, near Derby. There's not a lot that tops taking the Cranner Curves at flat chat here in Britain. Here's a promo video from http://www.donington-park.co.uk/. Great footage and shows the eclectic mix of what they get up... just ignore the breathy, dirty phone call style commentary at the beginning! A true British gem – "the heart of British motorsport."