So exactly what are track-days?

Track-days are simply non-competitive use of a racing circuit.

An event organiser books a venue such as an airfield or racing circuit for a fixed fee, complete with marshals and staff to operate the circuit. The event organiser then organises how many cars will attend the day, and in what order they will go out on the race track.

Because cars are not racing, there is little chance for damage to cars – instead drivers can use the time to drive as fast as they choose and learn car handling techniques which would not be possible or legal on a public road.

In our experience, track-days offer far better value than entering competitive events. Sprints, for example cost less than the average track-day but you might only get 10 laps of the circuit in total, compared to over an hour of free track time at a track-day.

Pricing
4 major factors control the price of a track-day

Cost of the venue
Venues charge the market rate for their track – depending on popularity, overheads and season.

Costs of event organiser
Most track-days are organised by profit making companies, these companies normally pay their organisational staff and aim to make a profit from the day – this is added to the total cost. Some track-days are organised by enthusiasts or car clubs on a voluntary basis. These groups are normally only seeking to cover their costs and get enough people to make an event viable.

Number of cars attending
Most tracks have a restriction on the number of cars using a track at any time. Therefore, the fewer cars attending the track-day, the more time each car will get on the track. As the total event cost will be split between the number of cars attending, few cars means each car pays more.

Additions
Some organisers charge supplements for additional drivers or passengers, so it is worth checking before you book.

Types of events
Track-days are normally offered as ‘sessioned' or ‘open pit lane' events.

Sessioned events - you are allocated a group (e.g. 1-3) and each group will take it in turn to spend 20 minutes on the track. These events work better with larger track-days as drivers and cars can be matched into groups and each group can be allocated a fair amount of track time.

Open pit lane events – There is still a restriction on the number of cars on the track at a given time. When you want to use the track, you wait in the pit lane until someone leaves the track, at which point the marshals will allow you to join. There is no restriction to the amount of track time. These events only work well with smaller track-days otherwise the pit lane would get too busy.