Thought I’d share with you the most recent Atom journey/Track day....... The Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Without doubt the best track experience I’ve had, Disneyland for Petrol Heads! The 14mile track is awesome, I’ve done a few track days over the years in the Atom, Dax Rush and road cars, but the first 6 miles of the 1st lap or to be honest the whole 1st lap I was £$%&*£! myself, You Tube vid’s and the PS3 don’t come close to the sensations you get from this place. I spent more time pulling over on that lap and looking in my mirrors than I’ve done in my whole life!
The 2nd lap was far better the nervous had gone but the air of caution was still in my mind, you just don’t know where the corners go and most of them are blind crests even the straights in the stiffly sprung Atom shook a few fillings. Looking back at the footage it’s easy to say should have been flat out there or didn’t need to lift there, but to be honest I was happier for a slower lap time and to bring the car back to the UK in one piece and not a tow truck.
The banking of the carousel was great fun to drive round; I did feel sorry putting the car through it as its bloody rough as you fling the car in at speed. Zero mechanical sympathy for the whole lap to be truthful – Christmas car service please Santa or Simon!!
I did 4 laps in total with the last one being respectable, I spotted a Blue 911 GT3 in the distance and thought I’d do my best to catch it after a few corners I was close behind and having now dealt with traffic Nurburgring style I hovered in his mirrors till he moved over. In total the best 56 miles I’ve experienced behind the wheel not taking anything away from other UK tracks but the ring is something special.
I clocked the time on my last lap to be 9:12 which is slow but there were three Yellow flags to slow down for so I think a 8:12 would have been on the cards with a clear run on the last lap, happy with that
If you love cars and driving (and let’s face it if you’re on this forum you probably do) then treat yourself to the road trip and put the ring at the top of the to do list – its a real must and one to tick off the bucket list!
And to top off the road trip we called into Spa on the way home, the Monday after the GP. Spotted an access road onto the track and managed to get in a sneaky lap..... Happy Day’s.....
Also had to spend a day in Belgium to keep the girlfriend happy but that’s the dull bit and not worth typing about, but it goes to show that Wife’s/Girlfriends or the bit on the side can enjoy a motorsport road trip.
Ariel Atom Nurburgring Nordschleife
Got a bit wet on the way down!
Perfect sign post
This corner needs no introduction
