ThomasM
[PuristS]
14331
PuristS drive Formula Renault and Lotus F1 on Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France
Piloting an F1 car is only a pipe dream for most, but not in the world of PuristSPro. Here, we create opportunities to live the dream and cross another line off the bucket list. Near the medieval town Le Castellet, France, a group of PuristS recently got to experience significant seat time in previous season Lotus-Renault F1 cars on the great Circuit Paul Ricard, where speeds can easily reach over 200 mph.
Unotaz will share more details shortly, but here's a preview -
We start the morning nice and early, mustering at 6:30am for breakfast before meeting in the lobby for the transfer to the Circuit Paul Ricard at 7a.
A fam tour of the track in vans allows the instructors to point out braking and turning points in the layout -
the second lap goes a little faster and we start to feel some g-forces...
we were lucky enough to be with an instructor / driver who wasn't afraid to let us experience a little lean, so we got to experience closing speeds and late braking with the van in front. 
Coming back into pit lane after two fam laps, we pass by the tools we'll be using later in the day to carve up the track -
Beautiful vehicles, all lined up in a row. Give it to the French to be aesthetic perfectionists even when it comes to alignment of parked race cars!
The PuristS group starts with the kinesiology module, a nice way to start the day!
Look at that smile...it's great to be a Purist!
As we suited up, the anticipation and excitement were palpable. Look at the intensity in those eyes!
Our chariots await -
and now, over to you, Unotaz...
This message has been edited by ThomasM on 2012-09-21 13:19:06 This message has been edited by ED209 on 2012-09-22 23:50:49 This message has been edited by ThomasM on 2012-09-28 12:52:21
PuristS drive Formula Renault and Lotus F1 on Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France
Piloting an F1 car is only a pipe dream for most, but not in the world of PuristSPro. Here, we create opportunities to live the dream and cross another line off the bucket list. Near the medieval town Le Castellet, France, a group of PuristS recently got ...
Come on Thomas, you leave us on the starting line?
We want to see more! :) Thanks for your comment about the aesthetic sense of the French people, I can't agree more! ;) Fx
Full report: Part 1
So everybody arrived in Nice a few days prior to the event and we were all scheduled to stay at the hotel nearby the Paul Ricard racetrack. This was a great idea, as most of us are still trying to fight out our jet lags! Overall, the event arranged by the...
Full report: Part 2
Basically, the program consisted of 3 main components, split between the Formula Renault cars and the Formula 1 cars. We would start with the technical briefings, driving sessions (2 for Formula Renault and 1 for the F1), telemetry analysis, and then the ...
Full report: Part 3
So here comes the Formula 1 car! The car we are using is the 2003 car with the old V-10 engine. The car has been "detuned" from 900hp to "only" 700hp. Still mighty fast though! Carbon-carbon brakes that only works when it gets hot (~900c) I want one in my...
I can't imagine...
...how anyone can drive and manipulate all those buttons on the steering wheel simultaneously! I thoroughly enjoyed your report! It seems like a great day, and one not soon forgotten! Cheers, Daos
Full report: Part 4
Waiting patiently to step into the F1 Going over last minute instructions on how NOT to stall the car 'I'm not going to crash, I'm NOT going to crash....' Trying to raise the rev to get a clean getaway ...and then I stalled! After a second attempt, I'm fi...
What an amazing experience...
What an amazing experience... Okay, I've typed that twice now. Truly a day to remember, with g-forces felt, and an experience achieved. What an awesome event, wished I could've made it. Sometimes wished I took more short-term risks and twisted my own arm....
Thanks a lot for the great report!
You really seem that all of them had fun! What a breathtaking experience! Fx
FrX you have to join us next time! we also had a breathtaking drive to Sospel and
over the passes in the Maritime Alps. Superb!
Thanks, Unotaz, your pics captured the essence of the experience!
The Bandol area of the country was beautiful and historic, I never realized the whole area was so ancient! And I gotta hand it to you; when the engine stalled, your fellow PuristS all turned to each other and give you a big thumbs up - "taking one for the...
Bandol? You have nice wines there!
But of course, don't drink and drive especially with such cars! Hope you could enjoy this local speciality! Fx
Unfortunately we didn't get a chance! My sister has always liked
Domain Ott, though I 'm not sure if it's because of the beautiful and unusual shape of the bottle... Next time for sure! Cheers, TM
Domaine Ott is a long time favorite of mine.
The bottle just adds to the fun! Cheers, Daos
ROFL
"not sure if it's because of the beautiful and unusual shape of the bottle..." Brothers and sisters love :-) Cheers, Oliver
AndrewD wrote, "PuristS are born, not created"...
he may be right (I'm not sure) but I do know that unlike two arms and two legs and two eyes and one nose and one mouth...and two ears... the DNA inheritance for "being" PuristS is not so consistent... ;-) Prosit, Oliver.
I'm glad to be of service....
to take one for the team! Not that it was my original plan anyways >_<"
So you enjoyed yourself a bit? :-)
Not a bad way tp spend a weekend... :-) How many laps in each car were you allowed? What slicks dod the F1 run? I didn't see any tyrewarmers??
2x 20 min sessions in the Formula Renault, and...
2 laps (really 1.75) in the F1. the F1 sessions were in the afternoon and I did see some tire warmers before the first car went out (two in rotation, one out at a time) but afterwards it was more about keeping the revs up, going fast enough to give the en...
Thanks, TM.
That the F1 times were slower doesn't really surprise me. Intimidation rarely results in fast lap times :-)
You are, of course, absolutely right, BDLJ.
Much of it is psychological, even if it is much more physical than most peopl realize. You gotta join us, BDLJ...I'm working on something in New Zealand for next year...
Wow, what an amazing experience!
Thanks for capturing this, so cool! That steering wheel is like a Xbox controller so neat to see. -MW
Amazing Report :-)
Great to live though these awesome posts, what an amazing experience, AV's smile said it all :-) Thank You for Bringing us Along. HAGWE, S
Glad to see my PuristS friends working to get us
such a great report. Glad to see AV relaxing a little. Thank for the awesome report. JerryW
Amazing for sure ...
the experience and the report. Thanks a lot for sharing with us! Oliver
700 hp and only around 650 kg ...
... to pull :-) .... I bet you guys had fun times ... but .... don't tell me every single Purist at the event was without fear :-) .... having a taste of a Formula one car; and it doesn't matter what year it is .. 2003, 2012 or 1975 .... ; must give you o...
Thanks for the report
I'll have to consider it should the opportunity arise again in the future.
Fantastic photo report, Unotaz. Thank you so much for sharing such an exceptional
Experience <with us, and for taking us with you. Best, Nicolas
WOW...totally jealous..
what an experience.. not that I aspire to be a race car driver and the extent of my driving is on the PS3 and gran tourismo.. but this is beyond awesome!
Great report of a cool event
Wow, thanks TM and unotaz for such a cool report of your F1 trip. Wish I could have joined you guys. Looks like so much fun. Regards, ED-209
Love to see the smile on AV's face!
You guys look ready to rock! What a great experience! Cheers, Daos
Hard not to smile about best ever birthday celebration...
I couldn't ask for more--my lady, super friends, fantastic adventure, and beautiful vistas. Thanks Thomas for suggesting the F1 experience event and a big shout out to new friends, Mike, David, and Luke. What, me happy? One of the beautiful location venue...
Looking forward to you joining us, Don! Anyone who puts up with a Lotus
as a daily driver...you are one of us, my friend! :-)
Lovely chassis
Brilliant feature. My first post on this forum after a lot of lurking and I have to admit a lot of envy on this one! Congratulations. RGH
welcome! looking forward to many more posts from you.
hope you can join one of our events in the future!
Sign me up!
O.K. so which of you guys is a pal of Bernie Eckelstein (sp.)? This has to be an experience of a lifetime!
WOW............
You guys are so lucky !!!!! You got to drive a F1 on THE CASTELLET racetrack !!!! Thank you for sharing the experience it looked amazing !!!
WHAT ???
How does that work ?? I would be ready to fly from Miami to do that !!!! The Castellet is one of the great racetracks ! As well as Spa Francorchamps which i tried with motorcycle, Monza, and Laguna Seca !
please check in regularly. I announced this event over the past 6-8 months...
it was fully booked very quickly but we had a last minute cancellation. Paul Ricard is a great track - safe for beginners, but interesting for intermediate and advanced as well. If you come out of the last turn well you could hit 200 mph on the straight. ...
I only went on Spa
I am just dreaming of triyng Monza, Laguna Seca, castellet and Nurburgring ! Here is a picture of me at Spa. The Raidillon turn is an amazing experience ! I was timed a 2:54 as my best lap and the F1 do the same lap in 1:45 !! 2006 CBR 1000 RR ...
Nice style, Squadra.
2.54 isn't hanging around. Has the place been made more bike-friendly? I'd always thought it as having a lot of armco No Phillip Island on your list? :-)