HETHEL NOVICE TRACKDAY

Sunday 15th September 2024

THIS EVENT IS BEING SUPPORTED BY ALPHA 7.  www.Alpha7.co.uk

What:            Exclusive Caterham and Lotus 7 Club “Novices Day” – with extended novice-friendly briefing session and extensive (free of charge) one-to-one instruction.

Where:          The Hethel Lotus test circuit is situated alongside the Lotus Cars UK factory, a few miles SW of Norwich and approached by a minor road off the A11 around ten miles South of Norwich off the A11.

As a result of the record numbers of novice drivers attending our Club trackdays in 2023 we are delighted to offer another chance to participate in a Club Novice Trackday at the Lotus Cars test circuit in Hethel. This circuit is great fun in a Seven and as you would imagine provides a good mix of high-speed running and technical sections.

This Club-exclusive event is aimed specifically at members who class themselves as a novice or newcomer, or those who may need a comprehensive refresh after a substantial period away from any track activity.  It will be ideal for those who want to get on track with the Club in a friendly, supportive and structured environment.

This event is limited to just 21 cars, maintaining a superb ‘instructor to driver’ ratio.  Following the extended briefing session, track activity will start with members divided into three groups, with pre-allocated instructor slots.  Later in the day we will move to a controlled Open Pit Lane approach – though still with a limit to the number of cars on track and with plenty of one-to-one instruction being available throughout.

Hethel was originally a working airfield servicing bomber squadrons of the U.S. 8th Air Force during World War 2.  The Lotus Group, founded by Colin Chapman, moved its headquarters to Hethel in 1966, where it remains in residence whilst also running the Lotus Test Track.

An FIA specification purpose-built test circuit with a length of 2.2 miles and a width of 40 feet, the Lotus Test Track combines a variety of technical aspects with a series of bends, hairpin, corners and straights designed to put Lotus’ high-performance cars through their paces.

The circuit went through a complete refurbishment and is now a very modern facility with concrete surfacing and kerbs throughout. The refurbished track was opened by Nigel Mansell in June 2011 when he commented on the new asphalt and larger run off areas being well suited to modern racing and performance car testing.

There are no garages on site, but the paddock offers a large amount of hard standing.

The day is subject to a 95dB(A) drive-by noise limit. 

The cost to participate is set at £215 for a car and main driver; an additional driver (who must be a Club member) will cost £65 and passengers will be welcome at £5 per head.

Definitely a date to book and enjoy! 

Cars will not be permitted onto the circuit unless fitted with an MSA-acceptable rollbar or roll cage. In practice, this normally means the use of the ‘trackday’ or ‘FIA’ rollbars as supplied by Caterham Cars. Please see our Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations document which includes guidance on rollbars.  

Links to Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations (TSSR) and Third Party Insurance are here

Webshop Terms & Conditions can be found here

Signing on will be online and via email before the event as in recent years.

All drivers must be members of the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club, driving Lotus 7 or Caterham cars.

This event incurred non-refundable costs on 14/05/24

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