First time at Kirkistown
For the last trackday of the year I joined the Lotus boys at Kirkistown Circuit for a full days of fun. With me was a friend doing his first trackday, in a E38 740 no less, crazy I know. Was an early start for the long drive from Dublin to the North, to our supriseit was dry and was looking like we might get away with a full dry day, the cold was another matter.
On arrival at Kirkistown we were treated to a full Irish breakfast, great start to a day and would be a welcome addition to Mondello trackdays. We headed off for a few sighter laps withresident guru finner in the 740. Not too technical a track, short but very fast at points. The first few laps I was treading with caution, straights were well into 4th gear and breaking down into second for tight corners. The corner of the circuit was Debtors, a 120mph butt clenching corner. Just as I was getting the hang of the circuit when it was lunchtime, steak and chips no less, all included in the €160 trackday price I might add.
After lunch I got to drive Louise’s Mini Cooper S, have to say I always hear people harp on about what great fun they are and it is not until I had a go did I understand. It was a hoot, very forgiving and you can really throw the car into the corners. After I had a go in her car I thought it only fair she got a go in my M3, what a bad idea. Seriously, most people you would think would take it easy with someone elses car but not Louise. She got it in her head that traction control will save her from anything, she demonstrated this while going into debtors at regular corner speed but on completely the wrong line. You can hear in the video my girly giggle as I was touching cloth when she entered the corner.
All in all a great day and it was refreshing to drive a new track. It is a short track though and I can see it being less fun as you drive it more, the drive to the track is a nit of a trek as well. I will be back for sure though.