Since I recently moved down to Texas, I now have easy access (~3 hour drive) to Circuit of the Americas! They do rent the track out to various clubs though it's quite a bit more expensive than others. A typical track day there is $495 per day with some minor discounting available for early registration or multi-day events. I typically paid $300ish back in the Midwest, even for stuff like Road America.
After visiting and running on track, I can see why there's such an uplift in the price: the track is immaculately maintained and the facility itself is beautiful. Amenities are definitely "premium" over any other track I've visited. I wouldn't say the track layout itself commands a higher price, but I did enjoy the elevation change and how technical it is through some sections. There was a feeling that I can't explain when I pulled onto pit lane and then out onto the track, knowing that Formula 1 greats have had this very same view. Just walking by the garages and seeing the thick black tire marks on the pavement from those race cars was amazing.
The videos below are from the final session of the day. I was feeling very comfortable by then but this was still my first time at COTA so I was being a bit conservative. I know there's still a lot more time to be shaved off, as other people in my exact car (also stock) are about a second quicker. Still, for my first outing on a track like this, I was very pleased with how I progressed throughout the day. As you can see in the video, my run group had some pretty serious cars in it including several actual race cars that were practicing for the Blancpain GT Challenge that was happening there the following weekend. It was pretty insane to see one of those cars come roaring up behind you and then absolutely disappear into the distance.
Both videos are from the same run. The first is just an old GoPro mounted to my harness bar with a lapel mic taped to the rear bumper and the second is the car's built-in Performance Data Recorder (PDR). I would suggest jumping ahead to about the halfway mark as that's when I got clear of traffic and started turning some really fast laps.
After visiting and running on track, I can see why there's such an uplift in the price: the track is immaculately maintained and the facility itself is beautiful. Amenities are definitely "premium" over any other track I've visited. I wouldn't say the track layout itself commands a higher price, but I did enjoy the elevation change and how technical it is through some sections. There was a feeling that I can't explain when I pulled onto pit lane and then out onto the track, knowing that Formula 1 greats have had this very same view. Just walking by the garages and seeing the thick black tire marks on the pavement from those race cars was amazing.
The videos below are from the final session of the day. I was feeling very comfortable by then but this was still my first time at COTA so I was being a bit conservative. I know there's still a lot more time to be shaved off, as other people in my exact car (also stock) are about a second quicker. Still, for my first outing on a track like this, I was very pleased with how I progressed throughout the day. As you can see in the video, my run group had some pretty serious cars in it including several actual race cars that were practicing for the Blancpain GT Challenge that was happening there the following weekend. It was pretty insane to see one of those cars come roaring up behind you and then absolutely disappear into the distance.
Both videos are from the same run. The first is just an old GoPro mounted to my harness bar with a lapel mic taped to the rear bumper and the second is the car's built-in Performance Data Recorder (PDR). I would suggest jumping ahead to about the halfway mark as that's when I got clear of traffic and started turning some really fast laps.
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