Today I've been at Oulton Park, doing one of Vauxhall's VXR track experience sessions. For the princely sum of £35 you get a half hour briefing, then an hour on track with an instructor sat beside you in a choice of Corsa, Astra or Insignia VXRs.

If you get the chance to do one, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's an absolute blast, and unlike a lot of driving experiences they do encourage you to make the most of the cars performance.

There were about 26 cars and 29 guests so you weren't sat around for long. I did five three lap drives (actually one was 2 because of low fuel) and stuck to the larger cars. The insignia was my favourite, being far more planted and novice friendly with 4wd, but I was warming to the Astra as I got used to it. It felt a bit twitchy in comparison but never in danger of heading towards the grass.

There was also a chance of a quick lap with one of two professional racing drivers in Corsa Nurburgrings which was a real eye opener. The way they went round the bends was stunning though mine did have a minor mishap at the chicane that meant we only had one wheel steering.

Oh, and you got a nice meal included too.

I saw two Octavia VRSs in the car park. Anyone here?

how did u find out about this would be good to go on one sometime

I saw it mentioned on hot uk deals.

They are all sold out now, but there may be others later this year.

http://www.vxrpowerevents.co.uk/

For £35? That's a bargain and a half that is!

Only up the road from me too, will have to look in to this :-)

Which circuit layout did they take you around?

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We got to use the full circuit right down to the banked curve past the lake.

Was looking at this a few months back. Looked a cracking bargain.

They've been doing this for a few years now. I went on one back in 2007 at Thruxton. Drove the Corsa VXR,Astra VXR,Vectra VXR and the VXR8. Wasn't particularly interested in driving the Meriva VXR so passed on that. 

I was there today, ragging corsa, Astra x 3 and insignia barge (cooked the brakes after 2 laps ). Was in the green session this morning. 3rd one I've been to and the cheapest yet. No waiting, out of 1 car into another. Also spotted a couple of Octavias in car park (got a lift in mates Beemer).

Cracking day, excellent value, over too quickly, want more!

That's the same time as me then. What was the Corsa like compared to the others?

That's the same time as me then. What was the Corsa like compared to the others?

The Corsa was the most fun and responsive, then the Astra then the Insignia (which was a bit of a barge and not great to be honest).

Would have gone for more goes in the Corsa but just wanted as many sessions as possible so jumped into whatever was there.

 

Now seriously thinking of a track-day car...

Photos are up.

http://buyvxrpowerevents.co.uk/photos/

Photos are up.

http://buyvxrpowerevents.co.uk/photos/

Cool, the first pic is me with Paul O'Neill, Sporty Spice's brother and touring car driver

There's no decent ones of me. My red and white shirt is visible in a few, but that's it.

If anyone is interested, the last few tickets are available for Thruxton this year.

Cracking value for money.

http://www.vxrpowerevents.co.uk

all the spaces are gone now maybe next year 

:(

Was there today, and as before it was F***ing awesome fun.

 

Got three laps as a passenger with one of the instructors (a stunningly attractive young lady with huge driving talent), 18 laps driving with various instructors sat beside you  (3 Corsa, 3 Insignia, 12 Astra) and one as a passenger with Paul O'Neil driving.
You wouldn't believe how quick and sideways those cars can go with someone who really knows what they are doing at the wheel. Through the corners flat out, drifting a couple of feet from each other.

 

All the Vauxhalls impressed - I think the Corsa was potentially the most fun if really pushed but I felt most at home in the Astra which just gripped and gripped round the bends. The Insignia wasn't as good here as it's just too heavy a car for high speed corners but damn quick in a straight line.

As before, if you ever get a chance to go on one of these days it's a bargain.

That does look an awesome bargain! Any idea roughly when new dates are released?

I think they only do one set a year, so it's likely to be around April next year.

I did a similar thing only with V8 Vantage   then a lap with a pro in a Fiat 500 Abarth (now that was surprising !!)