Updated: 21/12/03

Aldershot Track
TrackRating *****Comments
Layout****Good
Surface****Improved
Grip****Improved
Facilities*****Very Good
Pit Area***Tarmac/Grass
Driveability*****Challenging
Club**See below
MembershipFeesWeb Sites
Adults£40AMCC
Juniors£30Local Weather
I joined the Aldershot Club 2 months before the track closed for improvement works. The original track had a sharp chicane section after the start/finish line, this led onto a reasonable length main straight followed by two challenging right hand sweepers into a tight right hand hairpin corner, then into two left hand bends onto a short straight followed by a left/right hairpin combination back over the start/finish line.

The best sections of the track for me were the two 90° right hand sweepers off the main straight, if you had the right line into the first sweeper you could keep the power on and double apex both corners braking hard for the right hand hairpin, accelerating out of the hairpin again with the right line and courage you could double apex the next two 90° left hand bends on the infield section, this would run you very close to the outside track dividing curb, if you had the right line through these two sections of track it was very satisfying to drive. My worst section was the chicane after the start/finish line which I never had the courage to push the car through because I just couldn't find the right line.

The refurbished track retains most of the features of the original with the exception that the main straight has been extended and now leads into a single banked 180° sweeper which brings you back into the first right hand hairpin, the two left hand sweepers have been replaced with a single long 180° bend. The rest of the track remains the same but has been totally re-tarmaced and some new curb stones installed. The worst feature from the old track that has been carried over to the new is the plastic grid that has been imbedded in the dirt in some areas on the outside edge of the track, if your unfortunate enough to come off on this it can cut your tyres to shreds, it would be nice to see that replaced with a tarmac run off or paving slabs.

Conclusion:

For me the two best sections of the track have been modified but still remain challenging to drive, car setup has probably become more critical because of the extra forces impossed by the banked section. The new tarmac is a big improvement offering more grip and a smoother finish with the exception of a bumpy section coming off the banked curve. Some of the curb stones are quite frightening and could lead to some serious damage to the car, there's no doubt that you do need to be fairly courageous and committed to chase the fast laps, if you are then the track is very rewarding to drive.

Since writing this review I have had the opportunity to race at this track and took along my young nephew as a guest to race for the very first time in the 27T Stock electric class. Unfortunately I will not make the effort to travel down again to race or rejoin the club at renewal time. There is a small element within the club that have very big mouths and believe it is their right to verbally abuse the marshalls, when those marshalls are young kids it is a very poor indictment on the club when they do nothing to stamp this behaviour out, even when they are fully aware of what is happening, I know this wasn't a one off incident because I've witnessed these same individuals behaving the same way at the BRCA meetings, I wonder how many potential new members have decided against joining when witnessing the same thing, I know my nephew will be one of them!

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