Took the RS4 to Brands
Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:47 pm
Finally got time to take the RS4 on it's maiden track outing.....
What a fantastic day...Couldnt beleive how well the car did. Was nervous at first..THinking first time at Brands, only my third trackday and driving a car that was nearly twice the horsepower to my old TT.
Thought it prudent to book an instructor. Cost £25 for about 20 minutes....But those 20 minutes were totally invaluable. It wasnt so much the lines i needed to take or where the Apex was etc as cones and boards were out on the track to help. But what was a massive help to me...Was him showing me what my car was capable off....Even though when he told me to floor it off the apex at Paddick hill caused me to raise an eyebrow as it seemed it looked like i was destined to go into the Gravel trap. But trusting him i did what he said and the car just pushed me round....What a RUSH. Turns out the instructor had done alot off testing on both the RS6 and RS4 before they were launched. So he gave me a quick tutorial off how the Quattro system works and helped show me how to use it to it's full benefit.
As the day went on i got quicker and smoother. (Not that i was timing...But i didnt realise the lap timer was on in the car...Honest). But at the start off the day i was lapping around 106ish then down to 103ish then by the end off the day 101ish and broke the one minute mark with a best off 59.5. Probably not the wuickest lap ever but there was alot off traffic and trying to find a clear run was quite hard. Also had aibt off ass end fun going through Surtees into McLaren on the odd occasion. But i found all i hadt to do is keep the steering wheel pointed in the direction i wanted to go and the car took care off the rest....It was actually quite flattering.
Not much in the way off incidents i saw...Was Red flagged a few times...Though only down to people breaking down on the track. From what i could see.
Also a massive difference in Cars from stripped out Novas to a couple off GT3's(Which i might add. For the few laps i came across either off them. Neither could get close enough on the straights to be able to over take. And through the bends there was never much in it)..Plus an added treat off half a dozen or so RS200...Now those things were quick went past everything on the track as though we were having a Sunday afternoon cruise. Also had a few laps playing with a Lotus...Through the straits i would just power past it...Get a good lead going into the bend...Then only to look in the mirror on the way out to see it firmly planted right up my rear end again. In the end i moved over for it...So i could follow...Seeing if he could give me a better indication off how quick to go through some off the corners. But there was no way it would have been possible to brake as late as it was....I'm even sure he was just giving a little dab off the brakes. Those things really know how to hold the road.
What a fantastic day...Couldnt beleive how well the car did. Was nervous at first..THinking first time at Brands, only my third trackday and driving a car that was nearly twice the horsepower to my old TT.
Thought it prudent to book an instructor. Cost £25 for about 20 minutes....But those 20 minutes were totally invaluable. It wasnt so much the lines i needed to take or where the Apex was etc as cones and boards were out on the track to help. But what was a massive help to me...Was him showing me what my car was capable off....Even though when he told me to floor it off the apex at Paddick hill caused me to raise an eyebrow as it seemed it looked like i was destined to go into the Gravel trap. But trusting him i did what he said and the car just pushed me round....What a RUSH. Turns out the instructor had done alot off testing on both the RS6 and RS4 before they were launched. So he gave me a quick tutorial off how the Quattro system works and helped show me how to use it to it's full benefit.
As the day went on i got quicker and smoother. (Not that i was timing...But i didnt realise the lap timer was on in the car...Honest). But at the start off the day i was lapping around 106ish then down to 103ish then by the end off the day 101ish and broke the one minute mark with a best off 59.5. Probably not the wuickest lap ever but there was alot off traffic and trying to find a clear run was quite hard. Also had aibt off ass end fun going through Surtees into McLaren on the odd occasion. But i found all i hadt to do is keep the steering wheel pointed in the direction i wanted to go and the car took care off the rest....It was actually quite flattering.
Not much in the way off incidents i saw...Was Red flagged a few times...Though only down to people breaking down on the track. From what i could see.
Also a massive difference in Cars from stripped out Novas to a couple off GT3's(Which i might add. For the few laps i came across either off them. Neither could get close enough on the straights to be able to over take. And through the bends there was never much in it)..Plus an added treat off half a dozen or so RS200...Now those things were quick went past everything on the track as though we were having a Sunday afternoon cruise. Also had a few laps playing with a Lotus...Through the straits i would just power past it...Get a good lead going into the bend...Then only to look in the mirror on the way out to see it firmly planted right up my rear end again. In the end i moved over for it...So i could follow...Seeing if he could give me a better indication off how quick to go through some off the corners. But there was no way it would have been possible to brake as late as it was....I'm even sure he was just giving a little dab off the brakes. Those things really know how to hold the road.
