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My spa and nurburgring trip (beware huge thread)



  Nimbus R26r
Well here is my writeup from a mad week or so. Put the kettle on because I have condensed this as much as I can. Thought I would share on here as it's a trip definately worth doing.

The week before the car had oil change (2k since the last) full fluid flush and new fluid in and new gearbox oil. Also popped the compomotives on which are wearing Michelin pilot sport cups and had been freshly refurbed in gloss black.

I got to spa afew days before the trackday and just wanted to relax and take some time out. Drive down to spa was good, didn’t seem to take long at all, hit some rain storm near spa which got alittle bit hairy as I was running the michelin’s but got through it carefully. The Radisson came recommended to me by a meganesport member and im really glad I took his advice, the other hotels were in the centre of town and had limited parking etc so was glad when the one we stayed at had lots of parking.

Onto the trackday, met the meganesport lot in the breakfast room in the morning, had breakfast I then dusted the car down and drove down to the shell garage. Got to the track just in time for signing on. Noticed a lot of r26r’s parked up and when signing on noticed the lovely clio cup racers. Parked up and over comes Jeremy from renaultsport, chatted for abit then signed on. Quick look around the cars in the car park then onto briefing, was gutted when they said we weren’t taking any cars out but what replaced it wasn’t too bad, a passenger ride in a clio cup racer.

Came out and put the towing eye in and took some snaps of the cars parked up.
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Then me and some friends went out on our first few laps behind the safety car and first few laps of the legendary spa.
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came back in buzzing from the first session, checked the wheel bolts and adjusted the pressures, went out for another session, then lined up for a ride in the clio cup. The guy was insane, he asked what car I drove in his limited English I replied and his face got very serious and said ok (I knew I was in trouble at this point) selected 1st on the sequential box and off we went down the pits, no brakes and threw it out the hairpin exit of the pitlane, rapidly down to eau rouge obviously flat and then screamed out the top, it was gutless down the straight if im honest, this is obviously down to gearing and exit speed from eau rouge. The brakes on it were amazing and the grip levels very very impressive, sithing through the traffic, he looked over asked ok? I gave him the crazy sign and the last sections of the track were flat then back into the pits. Amazing experience.

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Then back to the trackday did another session, then we all stopped for lunch, and the meganesport members made there way to the local pub, (thanks to ado for the lift)
Big thanks has to go to Dave from meganesport for sorting all the food etc out the guys face was classic when he asked for 10 burger and chip order’s. Good banter over some lunch then it was back to the track.

Afternoon session and started out with a friend taking me out in his 250. Very impressed with the car, loads of pull from it and was reaching some good speeds down the straights. Chassis wise felt impressive from the passenger seat , good feedback and seemed easy to keep on the limit, with some very nice driving too.
 
  Nimbus R26r
Then got the Renault van upto eau rouge for viewing and some pictures.
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Then came back into the paddock and went out with Jeremy in the 200 for afew laps. Not sure what I was more impressed with the clio or Jeremy’s driving but it was great fun right on the limit, then Jeremy moved over and the guy from autocar came past and it was on with the little clio being pushed right to it’s limits the megane just getting away on the straights so much fun.

I then took a friend out in mine for afew laps, was good fun inc the slight sideways action at the top of eau rouge courtesy of some cold rears.

Came in had alittle break from it all viewing from the top of the pits, also afew other photos.
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Then out for the final session
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Overall had an amazing time, spa is an amazing track with so many memorable corners. Huge thanks must go to Renault who really went to any lengths to make the day as good as could be, Jean ragnotti in attendance, free posters inc signing, tea, coffee, coke, water, food, sweets you name it in the pit area, a very enjoyable time. Brilliant atmosphere and loads of laughs with all the meganesport members.

Being completely honest I didn’t get very settled with the car, first time I’ve done a trackday in my car on the pilot sport cups and just couldn’t get the pressures right.

Then we all drove back to the hotel.

Next morning we went down for breakfast met afew members then made our way onto the nurburgring early to try and beat the forecast rain.
 
  Nimbus R26r
Then got the Renault van upto eau rouge for viewing and some pictures.
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Then came back into the paddock and went out with Jeremy in the 200 for afew laps. Not sure what I was more impressed with the clio or Jeremy’s driving but it was great fun right on the limit, then Jeremy moved over and the guy from autocar came past and it was on with the little clio being pushed right to it’s limits the megane just getting away on the straights so much fun.

I then took a friend out in mine for afew laps, was good fun inc the slight sideways action at the top of eau rouge courtesy of some cold rears.

Came in had alittle break from it all viewing from the top of the pits, also afew other photos.
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Then out for the final session
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Overall had an amazing time, spa is an amazing track with so many memorable corners. Huge thanks must go to Renault who really went to any lengths to make the day as good as could be, Jean ragnotti in attendance, free posters inc signing, tea, coffee, coke, water, food, sweets you name it in the pit area, a very enjoyable time. Brilliant atmosphere and loads of laughs with all the meganesport members.

Being completely honest I didn’t get very settled with the car, first time I’ve done a trackday in my car on the pilot sport cups and just couldn’t get the pressures right.

Then we all drove back to the hotel.

Next morning we went down for breakfast met afew members then made our way onto the nurburgring early to try and beat the forecast rain.
 
  Nimbus R26r
Got half way there and the sat nav just lost signal, great luckily I packed my evo track guide and it has directions in. Getting closer managed to latch onto no less than 6 gt3rs and followed to the circuit.
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We were staying at the dorint hotel which is located on the gp circuit. The weather was awful driving in wet and foggy and I was alittle sceptical about how well this part of the trip was going to go. This faded though when I pulled off the road into the dorint, just before the underground car park I was greeted by this view.
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I soon realised there must have been an event on and pulling into the carpark futher confirmed this.
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Decided to sod checking in and have a wander round the outside car park, it got even better.
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Then thought I would check in but got stopped again.
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Then we checked in and went to the room. Lovely hotel it really is the view when you come out of the lift.
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Then into the room and out onto the balcony to check out the view (foggy)
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  Nimbus R26r
So went out for a wander and down to the
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Greeted by
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and into the museum
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Then with some puzzled looks we went into the 4d cinema. It’s a display of the 24 hour race by bmw good video great 3d clips and it spits with rain in the cinema and smells of fire aswell.

Back onto the tour
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Then moved onto the other part
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A great 1st day. Onto the second woke up and went for breakfast afew of the supercar owners heading out to their private trackday, I decided to follow some out. I have great respect for these guys the track was soaking wet and a lot of these cars were on semi slicks and were hammering down the straights.
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At this point it wasn’t looking to great for a trip out and some laps for later, didn’t want to run the car in the wet with the tyres and there were constant reminders around the circuit of how the ring can bite hard.
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Also a damaged 911 gt3rs and 430 challenge car.

Luckily the weather brightened up and I moved into one of the viewing area’s for some more shots.
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I was absolutely loving the trip already such a special place, you would have to travel some miles to get away from the noise of the cars, we could hear them in lidl.

Time had flown by and it was nearly time for the public session. I got the sharpish for the intention of getting out early when hopefully it was quieter. Met the guy in the white r26r and had a chat very nice guy, then went on my way. Took it easy as I wanted to drive home, let afew crazy locals by but kept up a constant pace and loved it, couldn’t believe the track no run off etc, went round in under 10 minutes, not that I was timing just happened to look at the clock when we went out and came in.

If im honest it’s a strange feeling, it’s like going through the Dartford tunnel in a way, you pay your money then just come off and drive back to the hotel if you wish, it’s very easy to see why people get addicted and push more and more. The good news for me was that the grand prix track was also open for 38 euros for a 20 minute session so I booked on as im very keen on the grand prix circuit, from gt1 racing and the vln races.

Adjusted the pressures and went straight out, much more happy with the car and started to put some very quick laps in.
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Coolest thing was my girlfriend could watch me on the tv in the hotel, they have the track camera rigged up to the channels. After an amazing 20 minutes it was back into the hotel and parked up for the night.
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  Nimbus R26r
Had seen some race trucks etc pulling up in the grand prix pitlane and thought something must be on and woke up in the morning to the noise of a vln practice day J

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Had breakfast on the balcony watching them, life couldn’t get much better, went out to the viewing spots later in the day.
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Then after we went into the pistenklause and had the famous steak on a stone. The got up Saturday morning watched the cars out for qualifying and packed up and head back to England.

Can’t believe how lucky I got, the supercars made the first couple of days and the vln racing was great as I was planning to goto the 24 hour race. The megane performed faultlessly the whole trip returning very good mpg and I actually found it better than my r26 for comfort (this is probably a rare case but my lower back used to ache in the recaro’s)

An amazing trip that I will never forget, roll on next year :)
 

withoutabix

ClioSport Club Member
epic dude was that your first time there?

seemed like you picked a perfect week car wise maybe not weather wise tho!

how much was the hotel if you dont mind me asking? always assumed it mega money to stay there>?

This is the same Porsche that got done speeding when i did lol

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  Nimbus R26r
Yeah first time there, wanted to do the spa trackday for couple of years but it's never worked out well time wise.

Hotel was £350 for 3 nights, couldn't get booked in at the others but tbh the hotel was crazy with the supercars and vln track action.
 
Wow!! Great write up, great pics, great tracks, great cars.... Simply epic

Loved the bit about the trip out in the clio cup car :)
 

ado

ClioSport Club Member
  기아 &#4
I wish I went to the ring. Don't wish to pay the hotel bill though.

If you are there next time hopefully we get the right pizza.;)
 
  Clio 172
Epic mate. Looks like you had a fantastic time. Makes me want to go the ring even more now. Spa looked great aswell. Nice write up
 
  Turbos.
Great write up, must have been a fun trip! Been to both places separately and they are awesome. Good call on the Radission in Spa, opposite the casino, right? Remember the car park entrance beign quite narrow in the Range Rover!
 
  Nimbus R26r
Great write up, must have been a fun trip! Been to both places separately and they are awesome. Good call on the Radission in Spa, opposite the casino, right? Remember the car park entrance beign quite narrow in the Range Rover!

That's the one guy got his escalade stuck in there.
 

Craig.M

ClioSport Club Member
  Valver, Octavia vRS
That looked like one hell of a trip, one mahoosive thread bud on one page, lol
 
  Suzuki Jimny
Amazing pictures!

Might look into the Renaultsport trackday at spa next year :)

I'm super excited for my spa/ring trip next week now :D
 


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