1M at Brands Hatch

[ChrisBuer]

Yesterday I took the 1M to Brands Hatch for an open pit track day and it was FANTASTIC!!

The conditions weren’t the best, with fog and freezing temperatures in the morning and then rain in the afternoon (which did warm it up a bit), but the 1M was just perfect. It’s the first time that I’ve really opened it up and got to feel what the handling was like as well. The chassis balance was extremely good (for what is effectively a saloon car) and there was very little body roll. Also the power on the straights left me really impressed. I knew it was quick but when I passed the race prepared Seat Leon Cupra, I think he must have been wondering was I was running haha!

Sufficed to say that in the corners I was quicker than pretty much everything, including a couple of Caterhams. I put this down to the wet conditions as the big tyres on the 1M just had masses of grip. However, on the straights the only thing faster was a very tasty looking Ginetta. Overall I was left deeply impressed with the 1M!

To clear one other matter up. I was running an OBD gauge that monitored my live intake temperatures. Apparently the intercooler on the 1M is meant to be rubbish? Well I can report that I ran at between 26-28c intercooler temps all day after about 10-15 hard laps a time. Apparently anything over 50c is when the car will start to go into “limp mode”, so I was well under that. Also, I had no problems with my brakes which were strong all day.

I'll try and post some photos up soon when I get them sorted.

[Powerbeast]

Pictures please

[Ky1M]

Originally Posted by Powerbeast

Pictures please

I bet he wishes he had your wing on powerbeast!

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by ChrisBuer

Yesterday I took the 1M to Brands Hatch for an open pit track day and it was FANTASTIC!!

The conditions weren’t the best, with fog and freezing temperatures in the morning and then rain in the afternoon (which did warm it up a bit), but the 1M was just perfect. It’s the first time that I’ve really opened it up and got to feel what the handling was like as well. The chassis balance was extremely good (for what is effectively a saloon car) and there was very little body roll. Also the power on the straights left me really impressed. I knew it was quick but when I passed the race prepared Seat Leon Cupra, I think he must have been wondering was I was running haha!

Sufficed to say that in the corners I was quicker than pretty much everything, including a couple of Caterhams. I put this down to the wet conditions as the big tyres on the 1M just had masses of grip. However, on the straights the only thing faster was a very tasty looking Ginetta. Overall I was left deeply impressed with the 1M!

To clear one other matter up. I was running an OBD gauge that monitored my live intake temperatures. Apparently the intercooler on the 1M is meant to be rubbish? Well I can report that I ran at between 26-28c intercooler temps all day after about 10-15 hard laps a time. Apparently anything over 50c is when the car will start to go into “limp mode”, so I was well under that. Also, I had no problems with my brakes which were strong all day.

I'll try and post some photos up soon when I get them sorted.

[ChrisBuer]

These are some photos from the track photographer hence the water marks.

[b33g33]

Stock shocks? Car looks pretty flat in those corners.

These are nice!!!!

[DrShimmy]

lovely pictures minus the watermark! Glad you had a good day! The power is awesome!

[Aussie_in_London]

Nice one mate, looks well planted in the wet and running standard suspension... Indy or Grand Prix circuit?

See Brands still had some snow hanging about, you done well in those conditions, I got caught out at Brands not long back with a big dumping of snow while running track day rubber, wont be doing that again anytime soon lol



And time to clear out ....

[Mahlzeit]

Lovely. Thanks for sharing!

And - stock suspension?

[ChrisBuer]

Yep I'm on stock suspension and yes it was very well planted in the wet

In fact I was surprised at just how good the standard suspension and geo are. A friend of mine who has a 330d came out with me and was shocked at how balanced the 1M was in the corners. He said that in his car, the rear end would be stepping out but in the 1M it just hunkered down and gripped.

Its a deeply impressive little car this 1M!!

[Luca335]

Were you running in MDM or nanny off mode? Thanks for sharing

[ChrisBuer]

Originally Posted by Luca335

Were you running in MDM or nanny off mode? Thanks for sharing

I ran it in all three modes. Fully off in these conditions however was a bit lively, but MDM worked very well

[///M1]

Nice pics, what AEs are these - LUX?

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by ChrisBuer

I ran it in all three modes. Fully off in these conditions however was a bit lively, but MDM worked very well

So, how does it compare to the Lotus?

[ChrisBuer]

Originally Posted by ///M1

Nice pics, what AEs are these - LUX?

Yep they are LUX Angel Eyes

Originally Posted by b33g33

So, how does it compare to the Lotus?

It's obviously quite different, however I can't say that it's any less fun. The Lotus in these conditions (cold and wet) would have definitely been slower. In fact I drove my friends supercharged Elise and didn't have anywhere near the pace that I had in the 1M.

The Exige in the dry would have been quicker in the bends I'm sure, but on the straights I think it would have been very close. The 1M has so much power that I was pulling away from pretty much everything on the main straights, whereas in the Exige, I think I would have struggled a bit above 100mph.

The balance of the 1M is also superb, much better than I thought it would be. Given the choice on a hot sunny day, I'd take the Exige because that's what it's built for. However, I'd only want it on the track. What's nice about the 1M is that after the track day is over, I can slip it into 6th gear, stick on the heated seats, turn up the HK stereo and waft home. Opposed to having my ears left ringing from the Exige with it's loud exhaust and my back hurting from the hard track suspension.

[Shost]

Chris, let me know next time your heading to Brands. Really need a track day soon as my car is loosening up nicely and I need to get some track action soon!

I too have been to Brands when its a bit cold and icy, definitely an interesting experience.