On Saturday 3rd June we took two groups of eight out to Sandown. It was a day filled with fun and learning – one that allowed each entrant to familiarise themselves with their car, with a mix of corners and straights to test their skills.
Everyone ran eight to ten laps of the track at basic speed to view the circuit. The instructors ran through the principles of brakes and braking and how to use them to maximum efficiency with or without ABS.
The next stage of the day focused on steering. Each entrant drove through a witches hat (cones) course, teaching them to keep their vision up and drive through the cones looking forward and up past the approaching cone.
Following the witches hat test a mid corner braking circuit was set up, allowing each entrant to work with an instructor at 60-90kmph on a wet surface, learning how to under steer (car sliding straight, even though steering wheel is turned in a direction) and over steer (where the rear of the car wants to step out).
After lunch we held a team briefing then moved into advanced corner and advanced car control.
At 80kmph the cars are made to approach the corner in 2nd gear and then to accelerate flat out into a bend in the corner and learn to control the under steer/over steer and slide through the wet corner. Even though it’s a tough one to drive through without experiencing a spin it is always the favourite stage of the day.
The next stage was the advance reaction test, where you head into a wall of witches hats (cones) and are directed left or right at the last minute by the instructor with him blowing a whistle and pointing.
You must avoid the cones and are then directed into a small slalom area where you stop in a garage of cones. Quite tricky and it puts you under a lot of pressure and tests your reaction skills.
The instructors conclude the day with a full briefing session. | 
