Donington and winter Z4 track day advice

[JSz4]

I've got a track day booked at Donington next week and it's my first winter track day in the Z4 and just looking for a bit of advice re both the car and circuit please.

Is there anything I should be particularly aware of when tracking the Z4 this time of year when it's cold and potentially wet? Running a 3.0i with B12 kit,M3 CSL alignment, Eagle F1 front asymmetrics / rear supersports, front yellowstuff / rear blue stuff pads and performance fluid and braided lines. The brakes overheated on previous summer track days at Bedford but hoping won't be as much of an issue given temperature and layout.

On summer track days I've gone out with standard pressures (F33/R36), checked as soon as I've come in after each session and dropped them back down to F33/R36. I'm assuming the pressures will increase significantly less given the temperature but is this still correct practice and is there anything I should do differently if wet? I'm intending to start with the TC/DSC on but switch it off if/when I get more confident as don't want it eating rear pads.

I've watched track guides of Donington and have two sessions of tuition but would welcome advice from anyone with experience of it, such as curbs to avoid, gears, particular risks etc?

Cheers Jeremy

 

[brillomaster]

nothing particular of note... only thing i can say is donington is a great circuit, one of my most enjoyable trackdays i've ever done was donington in february when it was about 2 degrees. though it was dry and sunny, no problem getting heat into the tyres.

if you've got an early E85, you can easily remove the front fog lights and access panel to get some air into the front wheel wells to help with brake temps, though, EBC pads arent the best - though they're probably about in line with the more road biased tyres you're running.

errm... i like to slightly short shift to 4th before the craners, otherwise i'd be doing an awkward gearshift just as the car goes light over the crest of the left. Then drop back to third before the old hairpin, which you can take a lot of inside kerb on and really carry speed all the way up the hill. and depending on the layout you're doing, the esses at the end of the lap are just slightly too fast for 2nd gear - i do use second, but am changing up to third almost immediately on the exit. though again, thats with warm track tyres, second gear might last longer if you're going a tad slower.

other than that, standard trackday stuff. build the speed up over the day, do decent warm up and cool down laps, keep an eye on temps and tyre pressures. have fun!

 

[Phoenixboy]

Just be aware that Donnington is a bit slippery in the wet.
Its directly under the flight path to and from east midlands airport, so seems to pick up a certain amount of aircraft fuel deposits.
Have done numerous track days there on bikes, and its worth being cautious in damp conditions, unless your going to run wets.

 

[Ed Doe]

Sounds like you've got the bases covered relatively speaking.

I'd say your rear tyre pressures are on the high side - I'd be aiming for 30-32 hot personally both at front and rear.

You have fixed dampers so you have nothing to tweak really - if you had adjustable you'd be wanting to go soft as you can.

Like any day, I'd just start slowly and build into it. You're doing the right thing if you're unsure getting some tuition booked, it'll do wonders for your confidence and also you'll start out by learning the lines properly etc.

As has been said above, there's a little crest just before the turn-in for the last left of Craners (the corner marked '3' on the track map below) - be careful of big throttle adjustments there, a lift or dab of brakes can really unsettle the car.



Donington is a cracking circuit, I've done several days there in the wet and dry - you'll have a blast!

Pic of my last wet day at Donny, just because :roll:

 

[1536Z4]

if you had adjustable you'd be wanting to go soft as you can.

Hope OP doesn`t mind me hijacking this post but Ed can you explain to a novice ( me ) why to go soft . Is this specific to Donington ? I`m running BC Coilovers . The tracks I have been planning to do are Donington and Anglesey but still havn`t got round to it :roll:

Thanks

 

[AndyBeech]

if you had adjustable you'd be wanting to go soft as you can.

Hope OP doesn`t mind me hijacking this post but Ed can you explain to a novice ( me ) why to go soft . Is this specific to Donington ? I`m running BC Coilovers . The tracks I have been planning to do are Donington and Anglesey but still havn`t got round to it :roll:

Thanks

As I’ve been told a few times, soft in wet / low grip, hard in the dry. Basically the softer the suspension the more of the tyre stays in contact with the road, a bigger contact patch essentially which in the wet or lower grip scenarios is obviously beneficial. There’s a lot more to it than just that, but that’s a fairly basic mantra for casual track day go’ers!

 

[1536Z4]

As I’ve been told a few times, soft in wet / low grip, hard in the dry

Ahh right . I misunderstood . I was wondering why to run soft around Donington !! but see now that Ed was relating to just running in the wet .Thanks Andy .

 

[AndyBeech]

As I’ve been told a few times, soft in wet / low grip, hard in the dry

Ahh right . I misunderstood . I was wondering why to run soft around Donington !! but see now that Ed was relating to just running in the wet .Thanks Andy .

Not just wet, lot less grip in winter for obvious reasons even if its dry so softer beneficial. Ed might be referring to something specific with the track tbh, I’ve not done Donington before so can’t comment on that but the rule of thumb still stands.

 

[mmm-five]

If it's the same as previous years, then be aware that they may delay the start of the session if the track is very cold/icy...until about 11 o'clock in my last trip there (albeit over 5 years ago).

But they shortened the lunch break to make up for it a bit and it dried out nicely for a couple of hours in the afternoon after some left early, which left it very quiet for the obstinate amongst us who stayed.

 

[Ed Doe]

if you had adjustable you'd be wanting to go soft as you can.

Hope OP doesn`t mind me hijacking this post but Ed can you explain to a novice ( me ) why to go soft . Is this specific to Donington ? I`m running BC Coilovers . The tracks I have been planning to do are Donington and Anglesey but still haven't got round to it :roll:

Thanks

Basically what everyone else has said my comments weren't specific to Donington at all

For a lower grip surface, you want softer suspension and more roll so you maintain maximum wheel contact with the ground, and also you end up loading up the suspension and tyres more smoothly. All helps use as much of the available grip

I've been meaning to do Anglesey for years, maybe 2024!

 

[brillomaster]

If it's the same as previous years, then be aware that they may delay the start of the session if the track is very cold/icy...until about 11 o'clock in my last trip there (albeit over 5 years ago).

But they shortened the lunch break to make up for it a bit and it dried out nicely for a couple of hours in the afternoon after some left early, which left it very quiet for the obstinate amongst us who stayed.

i don't understand people who leave trackdays early... i normally have to be dragged kicking and screaming off the circuit, i take great pride in seeing the chequered flag at the end of the day. and the track is normally running best just before the close, its likely the warmest its been all day, and its got the most rubber down - and yet some people leave at 3pm?

even if i had a 4 hour drive home, i'd still stay until 5pm. I've paid my moneys, and since i'm not racing anyone i'm quite happy being out on circuit on my own, nice to have some laps with no traffic!

 

[Ed Doe]

i don't understand people who leave trackdays early... i normally have to be dragged kicking and screaming off the circuit, i take great pride in seeing the chequered flag at the end of the day. and the track is normally running best just before the close, its likely the warmest its been all day, and its got the most rubber down - and yet some people leave at 3pm?

even if i had a 4 hour drive home, i'd still stay until 5pm. I've paid my moneys, and since i'm not racing anyone i'm quite happy being out on circuit on my own, nice to have some laps with no traffic!

THIS! Totally agree!

 

[mmm-five]

The only 3 times I've left early were:

1. when I lost my rear pads at Oulton Park at 3pm
2. when I almost ran out of fuel and they'd shut the on-site fuel at Oulton Park
3. when I realised the metal cords in my tyres where shooting sparks at an airfield event (had the road tyres I'd come on to get back home).

 

[1536Z4]

I've been meaning to do Anglesey for years, maybe 2024!

 

[1536Z4]

when I realised the metal cords in my tyres where shooting sparks at an airfield event

Thats a great reason

 

[JSz4]

Sounds like you've got the bases covered relatively speaking.

I'd say your rear tyre pressures are on the high side - I'd be aiming for 30-32 hot personally both at front and rear.

You have fixed dampers so you have nothing to tweak really - if you had adjustable you'd be wanting to go soft as you can.

Like any day, I'd just start slowly and build into it. You're doing the right thing if you're unsure getting some tuition booked, it'll do wonders for your confidence and also you'll start out by learning the lines properly etc.

As has been said above, there's a little crest just before the turn-in for the last left of Craners (the corner marked '3' on the track map below) - be careful of big throttle adjustments there, a lift or dab of brakes can really unsettle the car.

donington-park-track-map.jpg

Donington is a cracking circuit, I've done several days there in the wet and dry - you'll have a blast!

Pic of my last wet day at Donny, just because :roll:

PR_210707_MSVT_DP_EVE_0632.jpg

Thanks everyone for replies, really helpful

I'm hoping the brake temps will be ok but might try the fog light solution for the next warmer track day. Appreciate gear advice Brillomaster, will try short shifting before the left Craner curve and 3rd for the old hair pin, were the curbs slippery? I understand you should ideally use plenty of curb for Redgate, Old Hairpin, McLeans and Coppice, but not the Goddard chicane as they're aggressive (I'm doing the national configuration).

Cheers Pheonixboy, will anticipate it being slippery, saw on the touring cars and British GTs that it was resurfaced at the start of the year so hopefully that'll help.

Thanks mmm-five, sounds sensible if they delay start, did Brands in Feb 8yrs ago and icy Paddock Hill bend was pretty entertaining. Completely agree, don't get people disappearing early but nearly ran out of fuel before too, I'm assuming they have pumps there?

Thanks for advice Ed Doe, will try and book first tuition as early as possible and build speed slowly, being as smooth as possible with inputs through Craner left. I imagine traffic can be challenging through that section. Re tyre pressures, do you mean I should start off 30/33 and check them as soon as I come in after each session and drop them to that? Great pic, can't beat coupe profile!

 

[Ed Doe]

Have a blast mate, it really is a cracking circuit to drive - once they've released the spring dates (and I've got the various bits of essential maintenance sorted on mine over winter) I'll be booking in a day there too

Yeah I'd aim for 30-32psi to start, do a few laps, come in check them, adjust and repeat. I would suggest you'd want to aim for 32psi hot both front and rear.

One word of warning if you've not clocked it already - be VERY careful of taking too much kerb - I can't recall which corners (keep an eye out on your sighting laps), but they've fitted metal 'speedbumps' (see pic below) inside of the kerbstones certainly on the right hander of the Esses, and I think at Coppice too. Basically be effing careful of taking too much kerb, if you hit one of those at 50-60mph you'll likely knacker a tyre, they look awful!

 

[Phoenixboy]

Regarding fuel, you can normally buy fuel at the circuit, but you will pay a premium.
we usually brought jerry cans of fuel, and arrived with a full tank.
if its your road car, remove your number plates before going on circuit, trust me, its a good idea.....

 

[mmm-five]

There's an unmanned / card only fuel station on site...but it'll be about 25% more expensive than a normal garage and 10% more expensive than going to the local Donington services for fuel.

Currently (for normal unleaded):

• Moto Donington: £1.71
• National average of £1.49
• Donington £1.90-£2.00 (estimate)

 

[AndyBeech]

if its your road car, remove your number plates before going on circuit, trust me, its a good idea.....

Why? I thought only people on car finance / HP or similar did this?