Attempting to use a full-blown track car as a city commuter could be a miserable experience,
but luckily there are different levels of track day car - some of which are a little
easier to live with.
Whatever your requirements in a track day car, this round-up should have the perfect
vehicle for you.
We've got high-end supercars tweaked for eye watering performance and lightweight circuit
cars more than capable of embarrassing them in the right hands.
Here are the top 10 best track day cars with the potential to turn you into a circuit driving
legend or at least be lots of fun.
1.
Porsche 911 GT3 - combination of accurate handling, interactive controls and a PDK gearbox
makes it a delight.
Powering the Porsche 911 GT3 is a screaming 4.0-litre flat-six, which when combined with
a well engineered chassis gives a track car which you could easily suffer on a daily basis,
but will still run rings around most of the competition on track.
Not surprising really, when you consider that it has 367kW and 460Nm of torque on tap.
2.
Caterham Seven 160 - enjoy the simple pleasures of driving.
The super-lightweight sports car isn't fast, but its near-telepathic connection with the
road makes it a joy to drive.
It's nowhere near as odd as it sounds, though.
In fact, this tiny engine feels easily up to the job.
At 490kg, the 160 weighs barely anything, so its 59kW engine provides more than enough
power for most situations.
It pulls well from relatively low down in the rev range, and can achieve a thoroughly
respectable 93km/h time of 6.5 seconds.
3.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante - lightweight materials, V10 engine, chassis and aerodynamics.
The Performante is 40kg lighter, 21kW more powerful and 10 per cent stiffer than the
standard car, helping deliver a ferociously fast and surprisingly physical driving experience.
The aerodynamic tweaks generate 750 per cent more downforce than the standard car can.
The highlight of the Huracan is still the naturally aspirated V10, which provides 70
per cent of its 600Nm from just 1,000rpm and keeps on pulling past 8,000rpm.
The noise it makes is incredible.
4.
McLaren 570S Track Pack - a selection of lightweight, high performance features.
Although technically not a separate model, the new McLaren 570S Track Pack will understandably
appeal to those wanting to take their 570S to the circuit.
However, this is no stripped-out, compromised version of the standard car; it's a raft
of lightweight features designed to maximise the McLaren's performance.
Its power stays at 419kW and 96km/h is taken care of in just 3.2 seconds before you accelerate
all the way to 152kW, given a big enough strip of tarmac.
5.
Porsche Cayman GTS - sublime handling balance, communicative controls and a stunning engine.
The Porsche Cayman GTS is a new range-topping model, offering more power, styling updates
and also a stiffer body.
The engine produces 340 hp, and can achieve a 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds with the manual
transmission, 4.7 seconds with PDK and 4.5 seconds with PDK and Sport Plus mode.
The Cayman GTS weighs 1345 kg with the manual transmission can reach a top speed of 285
km/h while the Cayman GTS with PDK can reach 282 km/h and weighs 1375 kg.
6.
Honda Civic Type R - the highest performance version of the Honda Civic.
It features a lightened and stiffened body, specially tuned engine and upgraded brakes
and chassis.
Powered by K20C1 Direct Fuel Injection 2.0-litre inline 4 turbocharged engine with Earth Dreams
Technology, it has a maximum power of 228 kW at 6500 RPM and maximum torque of 400 N⋅m
at 2500–4500 RPM.
The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with a factory equipped plate-style limited
slip differential.
Honda states that the Type R reaches 100km/h in 5.7 second, although users reached it in
5.2 seconds.
7.
Hyundai i30 N - hot hatch, which is a genuinely enticing proposition.
Under the bonnet sits a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 185kW and
353Nm of torque.
Power is delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, and the standard
i30 N cracks 100km/h in a claimed 6.4 seconds before going on to a top speed of 249km/h.
Launch control and a rev-matching function both feature, plus five selectable driving
modes and electronically managed suspension.
An 'N button' coaxes the car into its most dynamic setup, but drivers can tailor
settings through an N Custom mode.
8.
Toyota GT 86 - revel in its engaging rear-drive chassis, fast steering and sturdy mechanicals.
The GT86 uses a Subaru-derived (but with Toyota-designed direct injection), naturally aspirated DOHC
2-litre flat-four boxer engine.
It produces 149 kW at 7,000 rpm and 205 N⋅m of torque at 6,000 rpm.
The Toyota GT 86 is available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic
gearbox.
The GT86 has a superb driving position and the new steering wheel has been painstakingly
designed to angle the driver's arms inwards, which Toyota says 'promotes a sportier feel'.
And it does.
9.
Ariel Atom - crushing performance, nimble handling.
This track day car is powered by a 2.0 K20Z Honda 4 cylinder i-VTEC engine producing 182kW
at 8600 rpm and torque of 240 N⋅m at 7200 rpm.
The Atom is light as a feather and fast thanks to its outstanding power-to-weight ratio.
It features 6 Speed close ratio + reverse aluminium alloy casing.
In performance the Atom surpasses practically any vehicle.
Serious motor sport or ultimate fun, the Atom delivers.
It really is like nothing else you'll drive.
10.
BMW M4 CS - Lighter, faster and considerably more exclusive.
It has a 3.0-litre high-performance engine.
State-of-the-art M TwinPower Turbo technology allows the M4 CS to dip below the four-second
mark for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint, stopping the clock at 3.9 seconds.
The top speed of the M4 CS is electronically limited to 280 km/h.
The seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic comes as standard, while the
suspension largely mirrors that of the M4 with Competition Package.
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