One week after getting my license, I finally got to do sports driving. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep and woke up early in the morning.
The first session had about 7 cars, and the second session had only three cars, which was perfect conditions for a novice like me. I figured the faster drivers would be setting their times in the first 5-10 minutes, so I waited and entered the course leisurely in the middle of the session.
In the first session, I focused on getting used to the course. I concentrated on completing consecutive laps as smoothly as possible within my comfort zone.
In the second session, since there were fewer cars, I tried different lines and speeds, and pushed a little harder where I could. I didn’t do anything that felt scary and gradually picked up the pace within my limits.
This was my third time driving on a circuit. It was my first time in the DB8, and I was surprised by its durability during continuous driving. In my past experience, continuous driving would quickly wear out the pads, tires, and brake fluid, but even after driving around for about 20 minutes at a similar pace, the pads held up, the brake feel barely changed, and the tire wear was reasonable.
At Sodegaura, they let you drive with all windows open except the driver’s side, so I could enjoy the exhaust sound. The feeling of being one with the car was great.
Should I clip the hairpin at the exit or the entry? Where do I start braking? Where do I stop? Third gear? Second gear? It was fun to think about and try different things. Maybe it was a good thing that there was no timing display at this facility—I’m still far from being ready for that.
As for the car, my impression was that the suspension might be too soft for track driving, or perhaps worn out, so I’m going to think about that. I was able to enjoy driving and made it home safely in the DB8, so personally, I achieved my goal.
