This was the second Touring Car event that I have ever attended, with my friend again who took me to see them up at Oulton Park in 2021. I was invited again to spend some time with a friend and his lovely family before and after the day spent at the Thruxton Track. This was actually not the first time that I had been to Thruxton with my friend, but it is the first time I had been to the track for an actual Racing Event. Thruxton is a big track set in to fields in the countryside, a little like Croft in the sense that you cannot actually get around the whole track to view the racing from wherever you want. At Thruxton you can stand up around the banking of the outside of turn one, and all along the start-finish straight. There are two grandstands on the outside of the final chicane which give excellent views of the starting grid and the run-down in to turn one as well as the pits and the final chicane. But also well down the approach to the final chicane too. I think the corner is called ‘Church’, and it’s not at all straight either.

My friends had organised for us to have Grandstand seats for the day we went to the track, which was great. We were on the left-side of the grandstand and high up – the second row from the back, so the viewpoint was perfect. In fact I think only two or so races into the programme of racing that afternoon we were treated to a crash in the Mini’s which started by bunching up at the chicane exit and resulted in some tyre to tyre knock-on contact which left one driver heading in to the barrier right in front of us on his side then his roof. The driver was fine, exiting the vehicle unattended, but it was still a spectacular moment that happened literally right in front of us! The Touring Car action was as always split into three races over the course of the afternoon. The weather was dry for the most part but the threat of some wetness never seemed that far away. While we were in the grandstand we were fairly well covered by the pure asbestos roofing. But it was hella cold up there. Seemed to have its own microclimate of windburn and chillyness.

When we arrived at the track we walked from the car down to the entrance which was down towards the outside of turn one. From there we walked towards where we would be sitting before deciding to go and get a nice warm drink (and a slice of cake). There was a cafe inside what I guess is a hospitality building, as it had an upstairs with a balcony. Not sure if that was accessible to anybody or just for paying guests etc. I also don’t remember it being there the last time I visited Thruxton. But the tea was nice.. if a little stingy on the milk ;), and the carrot cake was lovely too. From there we started to make our way back towards our grandstand seats as the first touring car race of the three was about to start. We made it in time for the formation lap. I had forgotten how loud these touring cars are, even with the hybrid systems in them for this year. After the first race we decided to go have a walk about around and back up towards turn one. Watching all the people paying £15 for an oversized plastic bottle top of all things.. (Oversized to hang on a wall)… The traders there were lapping it up. We headed back towards the grandstand and proceeded to remain there for the 2nd and 3rd touring car races of the day, and the supporting cast of Formula 4, Ginetta Juniors and G50’s. The Mini racing that had been red flagged following the earlier accident was going to be run again at the end of the schedule if there was time, but thanks to red flags in other races, there was no time for this to happen. We got to see from the grandstand seat some great battles in the Formula 4 single seaters including some dodgy chicane action including some four-wheel-off-the-ground flying action which would have rattled your fillings and some extreme defending from the Ginetta Juniors which resulted in the inevitable punt off into the barriers, bringing out yet another red flag.

Another memory of the day was when we re-took out seats in the grandstand after our tea & cake break… as we sat down some guy behind me said in a not-at-all low voice “oh and now that guys head is right in my shot”, “good job we are at the back”, “i will have to stand up”… Nice welcome back!! My friend did have the thought to offer to take it off for him.. but thankfully, after one race, he decided to leave the seat he was sitting (or standing in front of). He also proceeded to get the guy sitting next to him to get angry as due to his standing up, the guy next to him couldn’t see… We think he had a ticket, but not for those seats as someone else was sat there before and afterwards. Anyway, following the conclusion of the final touring car race of the day – well in fact no, even before some of the drivers had even finished racing, there was a mass exodus of the grandstand as people left to rush back to their cars to get out fast.. Couldn’t believe it, they hadn’t even finished racing let alone completed their cool-down lap or recieved audience applause… Rude! Following that, when the drivers had made it back to the pit lane, we decided to leave our seats for the final time and head back into the infield and hot-foot it over to the podium. We made it with moments to spare and got to see the podium for the final race of the day. We saw the drivers receiving their trophies and spraying each other with the champaign. Unfortunately, we did not get wet (although some lucky kids at the front very much did).

It was a really good fun day out. Good to be back at a racetrack. As I said to my friend, I always feel ‘at home’ somehow at a racetrack. It’s a calm place for me. I feel very much like I belong when at a track. So it was good to be back trackside again and I get to say that next weekend on the 12th June, I will get to do and say it again when I head to Oulton Park for the second year running! It was great to spend time with my friend and his family too, including a new addition. I enjoyed my time away, I always do and so a huge thank you goes out to them and I hope to see them all again soon.