A test day is a day on a circuit to practise, learn a car or a track, and work on specific parts of your driving, without the pressure of a race. Here's what a typical Karat test day looks like.
Before the day
- Book and prepare online. You choose a day, car and track, and see the full price with VAT before you pay. Before your first day you verify your ID, complete Karat's short online training and sign the declarations. If you're under 18, your parent or guardian approves and signs.
- Seat fit. You're fitted to the car before you drive it, so the seat, pedals and belts are right for you.
- Kit. Bring your own approved race kit, or hire it when you book. See what to bring and wear.
Arrival and briefing
You arrive at the time in your booking, sign in with the circuit and meet your engineer and mechanic. There's usually a circuit briefing for everyone driving that day, then your engineer goes through the plan: what you're working on and how the sessions will run.
The sessions
The day is split into sessions on track, with breaks in between. Your mechanic checks the car out before you drive and back in after each run. Between sessions you sit down with your engineer, look at the data (speed, braking, throttle, lines) and the video, and agree what to try next. That loop of drive, review and adjust is where most of the improvement comes from.
How many laps you get depends on the format of the day (shared or exclusive), the circuit's timetable, the weather and the car.
Weather
Test days usually run in the wet. Driving in the rain teaches a lot, and race days don't wait for the sun. If Karat has to cancel because of the weather, you're refunded or moved free; the cancellation and weather policy has the details.
After the day
Your data and video appear in your account after the day, and your engineer's notes follow. Many drivers book the next test from there, or move up a step on the testing ladder.
Getting the most from it
- Have one or two goals. "Brake later into Turn 1" beats "go faster".
- Sleep, eat and drink water. It's a physical day.
- Ask questions. Your engineer is there to help you understand the data.
- Be honest about how it feels. Feedback about the car helps the setup.
Ready?
- See the cars and the days on sale: cars and series.
- Check what each circuit offers: tracks.
- Something bespoke, such as a pre-season programme: request a quote.