Thruxton Skid Pan Review
Thruxton Skid Pan
Reviewed by Kerri Chard
The shiny new Skid Pan facilities at Thruxton race circuit opened in January 2014. We went along in April to try out our driving skills and to get some tuition from the pro’s.
The new Skid Pan offers drivers a real life experience in a safe and controlled environment. That means that the cars are not sat in cradles which is often the case and was indeed the case with the old skid pan experience at Thruxton so you can really get to grips with how a car performs in dangerous conditions that may well be encountered on public roads, as well as how a car behaves to certain driver reactions. The course is laid out to allow drivers to tackle a number of hazards but predominantly it is designed to replicate and exaggerate very wet, slippery conditions in order to help you develop the skills needed to correct and control a sliding car. The surface you drive on is a highly polished concrete which is contributed to by a sprinkler system controlled by the professional instructor. (We were informed that the sprinkler system uses a very efficient water recycling system).
The reception building is as shiny new as they come, with a welcoming clean layout that is not only relaxing for visitors and spectators but also lends itself to corporate functions. On arrival we were taken through a series of safety guidelines and our instructor, Josh Tuersley, a highly skilled and experienced professional driver, took the time to explain the differences between the cars we would be driving and the main proceedings of the experience. Two cars are used on the Skid Pan which are particularly modified to provide the ultimate experience: The Toyota GT (rear wheel drive), and a Mini Cooper (front wheel drive). Both cars perform differently which enables drivers to have two very different trials on one course. Also, drivers are helped to understand and feel how the electronic safety systems, fitted as standard to most modern cars, will help in adverse conditions but also how to control a sliding car when all the systems are switched off replying on pure driver skills. This is managed by the instructor via a specially designed control system within the cars glove box.
There are many Skid Pan courses available. A one hour course is the standard option. A two hour advanced course is also offered for those that want a more tailored session to perfect specific skills. Also available; a Skid Pan experience in your own car, a drifting experience, a junior Skid Pan and exclusive hire. Many visitors of the Skid Pan go to find out why they have had an accident and rebuild their driving confidence – indeed Josh believes that a quick Skid Pan course would be a beneficial addition to a driving test. Others, including group booking such as stag parties, enjoy the Skid Pan for less serious reasons and simply enjoy the fun, competitive nature of the experience.
The Skid Pan course is managed by your instructor via radio communication. From the instructors vantage points he is able to deliver commands and advice according to how you drive. This enables up to 4 people to enjoy the course together. A driver and a passenger are allocated to each of the two cars, and switch half way through.
On our visit first up was the Toyota GT, a fantastic looking car with an appetite to perform. We were directed through the first part of the course which is a cone slalom that is designed to test a driver’s reactions and to demonstrate a cars weight distribution and transfer which has an effect on how a car performs during breaking and accelerating. At this stage the car’s electronic safety systems were switched on yet the car was hard to manage with our untrained skills on the slippery surface. With the safety systems turned off this was even more so but after a few attempts and some very useful guidance from Josh, our reactions quickened and the car became more manageable and the cones more negotiable. With a little more confidence we picked up some speed. Alas, with speed comes mistakes, thankfully we found that making the mistakes and some tuition from the pro helped us to eventually get it right. It is a very rewarding feeling to be able to control a car whilst it is skidding – although we were driving at a snail’s pace to get it perfectly right.
The course also has a large circle of cones laid out which we were directed to navigate. This part of the course clearly demonstrates the effects of over and under steer whilst testing and teaching throttle control. We found this the most frustrating part of the course mostly because we trying so hard to get right. The pros make it look so easy! Lastly the course uses a sprinkler to act as a wall of water hazard in order to test breaking and manoeuvre reactions. This is probably the most challenging obstacle as timing has to be absolutely perfect for you to succeed, the ultimate goal being to break and swerve the hazard without losing control.
Jumping into the Mini Cooper following the Toyota is a surreal experience. On the one hand it feels as though you have more control as it feels easier to drive and is somewhat less erratic, yet despite this we found the Mini to be less responsive and harder to perfect. We certainly had more fun in the Toyota.
If you are looking for a driving challenge then this is for you. The Skid Pan is a true test of a driver’s skills that will increase the confidence of the novice driver but trial the more daring and confident. Whether for fun or for skills practice the Skid Pan delivers with abundance.
A fantastic experience, only slightly lacking in speed. We would have also have liked to experience being a passenger whilst a pro gave us a taste of how it is done.
Rating: 4/5
Info:
Course 1 – 1 hour Standard £99
Advanced – 2 hours with tailored tuition £185
Junior Skid Pan – drivers between the ag of 12 and 17 £99
Drifting experience – 1 hour, two rear wheel drive cars £125
Skid Pan in your own car – £99
Exclusive hire also available
Visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk or telephone 01264 882 222
Thruxton Motorsport Centre. Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hampshire SP11 8PW
