Track days offer a far more cost-effective way to experience the thrill of motorsport compared to full-blown racing, and with literally hundreds of events held annually in the UK alone, it’s no surprise just how popular they have become.
While dedicated track cars may be tempting, don't underestimate the capability of road-going production models. Some are almost as quick, with the added bonus of being able to be driven to and from the circuit; and in lots of cases being more than refined enough for your daily commutes.
In this article we pick 10 of our favourite track day cars, as voted on by the guys at Tillett. Number 2 may surprise you!
Super light, super fast…. super expensive. Kicking off our top 10 we have Renault’s mighty Megane RS Trophy-R.
If you are able to get past the £50k launch price (£70k with all the option boxes ticked!), you will discover that the RS Trophy-R is a truly awesome track weapon with the ability to humble supercars costing many times that price.
As with lots of the cars on this list, light weight is key. Stripped of all superfluous parts, Renault managed to jettison a staggering 130kg from the regular Megane RS Trophy.
Built around a 1,798cc four-cylinder turbocharged power plant producing just shy of 300bp, the Megane RS Trophy-R comes with Ohlins shock absorbers, Akrapovic exhaust, Brembo brakes and carbon-fibre everywhere.
On launch the Trophy-R set a record-breaking 7m 40.1s Nürburgring lap time, making it the quickest front-wheel-drive production car around the Ring.
As with the Renault, the Honda Civic Type R Limited is the most extreme version of the Type R, but with much less in the way of premium branded component upgrades. Honda’s light-weighting efforts have not quite been as successful either - with 47kg shaved from the overall weight of the GT model.
However this thing is more than a match when it comes to driving quickly around a race track. In fact, with its signature high-revving engine coupled to one of the finest six-speed manual gearboxes ever made, and more refined handling dynamics, it’s actually quicker than the Renault on road and track.
Add in the fact that it was around £10k cheaper to buy at launch, and the Honda Civic Type R Limited beats the Renault in our top 10 to become the best hot hatch in our countdown.
Lotus's final combustion-engined sports car, the Emira is surprisingly slightly heavier than its natural rival the Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0, although by every other performance metric it's pretty much on an even keel.
Whilst quite ‘un-lotus-like’, that added weight is probably a result of the added comfort and refinement - again not historically words you’d associate with a Lotus.
So, does this mean that it’s lost its track capabilities? Absolutely not. The Emira is devastatingly capable on the track, and an absolute joy to hustle through the corners. ‘Adjustable, delicate, responsive, balanced’ were some of the notes we took after our first track experience of the Emira. Superb.
The previous R500 was pretty insane, but clearly not enough for the guys at Caterham, who thought it needed lightening - and supercharging. The resultant 620R sits firmly at the ‘track’ end of the road / track spectrum, but we had to include it as it’s such a blast to drive in anger.
Ok, so there’s no radio, no airbags, no locks, no air-con, and no sound deadening. But there is performance - lots of it. That supercharged 2.0-litre Ford engine has been tuned by Caterham to 310bhp and over 200lb ft torque - in a car that weighs just 545kg. If you’re wondering, that's more than a Bugatti Veyron.
The shape may be over 50 years old, but the driving dynamics and performance on offer here are anything but dated!
The Nissan GT-R is a car that punches well above its weight, offering performance to rival more exotic cars such as the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Mercedes AMG GT and Aston Martin Vantage, for about half the cost.
Whilst the Nissan badge doesn’t have the same cachet as those others, its technology and driving systems can tie those other cars in knots on the right roads. A truly fantastic track day car that is equally comfortable cruising on the motorway.
M2 sales have been very strong for BMW, and it’s little surprise if you’ve ever driven one. The Competition version is totally engaging, to the point it can actually feel borderline a little raw to some. Either way, a few laps around your favourite circuit will certainly wake you up! It's incredibly fast, handles well and sounds fantastic.
We see a lot of these coming in for seat upgrades as the standard seats are a known weak point, so we know the M2 inside and out. Whilst not as razor sharp to drive as some of the other cars on this list, it’s difficult to look past it as a total package - especially considering the price.
As the baby brother to the iconic Porsche 911, many would think the 718 Cayman would live in the 911's shadow, but it is a fantastic track day car in its own right.
We’ve not driven the RS version that is pictured above, so our pick of the range is the GT4. Easy to identify over other 718 models thanks to its large rear wing, the GT4 is built around a naturally aspirated 6-cylinder powertrain which pumps out 414 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque.
That 4.0-litre engine is actually derived from a 911 3.0-litre turbo unit, and sets the GT4 apart from the regular 718's which are now powered by four-cylinder turbo engines.
The one thing that will strike you about the GT4 is just how easy it is to live with. The steering is precise, the gearbox feels refined, the handling flatterers…and that engine! The Porsche Cayman GT4 really is one of those cars that will put a smile on your face - every time you drive it.
No track day car list could be taken seriously without the inclusion of Porsche’s 911, and more specifically one from the GT series which are the Marque’s track oriented versions.
Of the multiple 911 GT cars available, including GT2, GT3, ‘S’ and ‘RS’ editions, we’ve opted for the GT3. Sure, you would probably shave a little off your lap times in a GT2, but the GT3 is still incredibly fast on track, is equally impressive on-road, and both less expensive to buy and run. An amazing car.
You’re probably surprised to see that we’ve placed the Mazda MX-5 in runner-up spot. Let’s just say that it’s no coincidence that you see so many of these things at track days.
Thanks to a lightweight chassis and well-tuned suspension, the MX-5 has exceptional balance, while its rear-wheel-drive, lively engine and precise gearbox all add further to the driving experience.
Relatively affordable to buy and run, and super reliable; the MX-5 represents probably the best bang for your buck track car that money can buy.
We’ll start by saying that in our experience any Exige makes an amazing track car, as does the (only slightly) less hardcore Elise it is based on.
The Exige recipe is very simple: a strong, punchy engine combined with superb chassis and suspension - and critically a super low weight.
The Exige Cup 430 pictured is our pick of the bunch, featuring a 3456cc supercharged V6, six-speed manual box and rear-wheel drive, the Cup 430 pushes out 430bhp, which propels this 1093 kg pocket rocket to 62mph in just 3.3sec, and onto a top speed of 174 mph.
It’s not cheap, but this ruthlessly stripped-out Exige is super engaging to drive, so much so that it can feel like a bit of a workout after a full day out on track.
As we said, you absolutely do not need to stretch to the ultimate version of the Exige to have huge fun on track. Even the entry level models are serious driver cars, and can be picked up used for around £25k at the moment. Go treat yourself!
If you are lucky enough to own any of these vehicles and you are looking to upgrade to a Tillett racing seat, then here’s a rundown of our recommended seat for each car:
Renault Megane RS Trophy-R - B10 or B8
Honda Civic Type R Limited - B10 or B8
Lotus Emira - B10
Caterham 620R - B6
Nissan GT-R - B8, B9 or B10
BMW M2 Competition - B8 or B10
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 - B8 or B10
Porsche 911 GT3 - B7, B9 or B10
Mazda MX5 - B8 or B10
Lotus Exige Cup 430 - B5, B6 or B10
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