IMPORTANT UPDATE: 12th April 2021, 15:30pm
MSV Trackdays, our supplier for own vehicle track day events at Brands Hatch, Bedford Autodrome, Cadwell Park, Donington Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton, have now implemented and issued a new set of safety guidelines in place for those attending track days, effective from today (Monday, 12th April).
These are fully in line with the UK Government’s current guidelines, and will reduce the need for social contact between all attending and running these events so that they can operate safely and with complete confidence. We would please ask that you carefully read through these.
Q: How will registration for track days take place?
A: All pre-event registration for events will now be online, in advance. This new check-in system is a mandatory requirement, and will involve electronically completing an indemnity form. On arrival, participants will only be required to collect and apply their own wristband. Participants must observe 2 metre social distancing rules, and there will be a queuing system in place to support this.
A member of staff will be present in the wristband collection area, behind a Perspex safety screen, to visually check licences and deal with any issues and queries. Hand sanitiser will be widely available to apply.
Q: How will safety briefings now be conducted?
A: All safety briefings will now be online for all track days, which you will be able to access as part of the check-in process. The briefing must be watched in full before you collect your wristband, no more than 24 hours before your event. No wristbands will be issued in respect of briefings.
Q: Will refreshments still be available on site?
A: The on-site restaurants at the venues will be offering a takeaway service, with a limited hot food menu and a number of additional safety measures in place. All customers are welcome to bring their own food and drink to the circuit. All members of catering staff will be wearing appropriate PPE.
Q: What rules will be in place regarding garage and paddock entry?
A: On track day events, access will be restricted to one car and two people per single garage (maximum three bikes and three people per single garage on bike events). On car test days, access will be restricted to two cars and four people per single garage.
Garages will remain fully open at all times (to the front and rear). Additional space in the paddock will also be made available to assist with ensuring venue-wide social distancing measures are in place at all times.
Q: Will spectators be allowed?
A: Only participants and one essential helper will currently be permitted to attend a track day or test day. No one else, including spectating friends or family members, will be permitted.
Essential helpers must be aged 16 or over, as children cannot be left unaccompanied on track and test days.
Q: Will in-car tuition still be available?
A: 1-2-1 in-car tuition (by instructors employed by the event operator or on a private self-employed basis) will be permitted, as long as the driver and instructor each have either a full face helmet with visors closed, or open face helmets with a face mask.
Q: Will additional drivers or passengers be allowed?
A: On track days and test days, up to two additional drivers (three on test days) will be permitted. however the vehicle must be wiped clean prior to each swap over. Each driver must travel to the venue separately, unless of course they are from the same household as you or your Support Bubble.
On track days, up to two passengers are permitted, so long as they are aged over 14 (16 at Bedford Autodrome) and from either your household or Support Bubble.
Q: Will helmet hire be available?
A: Helmets are no longer available to hire, but you can easily purchase one online from reputable resources and retailers prior to attending your next event.
Q: What other measurements will be in place to ensure safety?
A: Access to Race Control will be restricted to essential staff only. Be advised that circuit management retains the right to pause or stop track activities if any of the health and safety protocols (COVID-19 related or otherwise) are consistently breached.
Participants will be required to wear face coverings when inside venue buildings at all times. Signage will be in place to support this.
Overnight camping will now be permitted at all venues (except Donington Park and Bedford Autodrome) the night before a track day or the night between two consecutive track days. Camping will only be permitted for participants and their essential helpers.
Toilet facilities only will be available overnight. The availability of showers will vary at venues and customers are advised to please check with their event operator.
Q: What if I am displaying symptoms of / test positive for COVID-19?
A: If you are displaying symptoms of, or have tested positive for COVID-19 and are self isolating under Government guidelines prior to attending your event, then you must not attend.
Please ensure you notify us as soon as possible so we can discuss re-booking arrangements if this is the case.
Earlier Updates regarding affecting of events from the COVID-19 pandemic can be found below.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: 24th March 2021, 17:05pm
We understand that you may have additional queries or concerns before booking or attending a forthcoming track day or driving experience with us. To this end, we have put together a list of answers to our most frequently asked questions we have received in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that these will be able to give you clarity and put your mind at ease so you can focus on enjoying your event safely.
When are events expected to start running again?
Under the proposed roadmap out of the current lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic laid out by the UK Government on Monday, 22nd February 2021, the first lift in the lockdown which will allow groups of six people to meet socially distanced and for outdoor sport to resume will be introduced on Monday, 29th March.
This will then be followed by the reintroduction of non-essential businesses including shops, gyms, beauty and outdoor hospitality on Monday, 12th April.
To the best of our current knowledge, the vast majority of our venue owners and suppliers have informed us that they are planning to run events again from or after Monday, 12th April. However, at time of writing, this is provided that the conditions on hospitalisation and vaccination data have been met in order for these lifts on restrictions to be instated.
How can I be sure the event I am booked onto is going ahead?
The fastest and simplest way to find out if your event is running is to check you have received the confirmation e-mail of your event going ahead, and also check that you have not received a cancellation notification email at any point after you received this confirmation email. We would strongly advise you check Spam or Junk folders if you cannot locate this to be sure.
Should it be deemed necessary to cancel an event for COVID-19 reasons, a local or national lockdown, or any other official directives, we will reach out to all affected customers by email to arrange a rebooking with them.
You may be contacted by email a few days before your event with a reminder that it is forthcoming, which will also fully outline what to expect when you arrive and also any safety measures or instructions you need to follow and observe prior to the event.
Are spectators allowed to attend?
Based on our most recent consultation with the venue owners and our suppliers (correct to time of writing on 24th March), at this moment in time what spectators will be allowed on-site will vary from venue to venue, and it is unlikely that it will be anymore than one allowed at any one time per visitor. Nearer to the time of your event, you will be informed further as to what the limits will be regarding spectators, and we will endeavour to keep this section of our Help Desk pages updated.
I am currently classed as shielding / vulnerable. Will I still be able to attend?
Again, based on our recent consultations with the venue owners and our suppliers, in the vast majority of cases, our venues will be strictly adhering to masks being worn and social distancing being maintained at all times by all on site, regardless of circumstances, whether shielding / vulnerable or not. If you are of course exempt from wearing a mask for medical or health reasons, you must present proof of this on-site. We would advise again to keep checking this page for further updates as and when we get them.
What safety measures have been taken to ensure my safety when I attend one of your events?
Our suppliers are committed to keeping you safe and playing their part in containing the spread of COVID-19. Each supplier has put together their own safety plan to align with the ever-evolving government safety guidelines.
We have over 30 active driving experience suppliers operating across 80 venues nationwide, and each have their own unique safety plan. Below is a generalised summary of what most suppliers are doing to help keep drivers, spectators, instructors and event staff safe during the running of an event.
The measures below are generic and may differ between venues/suppliers. Specific instructions related to your booking will be sent a few days prior to the event.
- The numbers of visitors will be reduced, and social distancing will be adhered to where possible in all areas of the facility. One way systems will be in place to prevent crowding.
- At some of our venues, where spectators are allowed, they will be limited (as outlined above) or in some cases not permitted at all.
- New arrivals will have their temperature checked before being allowed on site.
- Visitors showing symptoms (continuous cough, a raised temperature) will be refused entry.
- Hand sanitiser will be widely available across the facility for visitors and staff, and application of this will be a requirement before entering any buildings or vehicles.
- Staff will wear PPE equipment (gloves/masks) at all times.
- Drivers briefings will be done online, or outside under an open marquee if it is not possible for this to be done virtually.
- Visitors must bring and wear their own masks (available for purchase on the day).
- Visitors may bring their own full face helmets, as helmet hire / sharing is not available on the day (this applies only to open top race cars such as the Ariel Atom).
- Vehicles will be wiped down with sanitiser in all the areas that a driver comes into contact with (door handles, steering wheel, gear stick, seat, seat belts etc) before and after each drive.
- Visitors will be advised to make contactless payments only when on site.
What safety measures have been taken to ensure my safety when participating in one of your events?
As above, we have put together a list of some of the universal safety measures that our suppliers have put in place to ensure your safety when taking part in one of our driving experiences or track day events. Again, guidance will vary between venues and suppliers, so this is a general list of guidelines, and details for your specific event will be provided to you nearer the time.
- Physical contact with instructors, team or staff members - including handshakes - is strictly prohibited.
- Instructors will remain 2 metres away from you at all times until you are seated in your vehicle.
- In the vehicle itself, instructors and team members will be adhering to the 1 metre + rule - meaning 1 metre of space, and additional measures such as wearing a protective mask and visor at all times.
- Team members or instructors will give instructions looking towards the track without looking directly towards you.
- Vehicles such as supercars will predominantly be those with convertible roofs that are allocated for driving experience days. This is to allow the roof to come down for increased ventilation.
- Where it is not possible for a vehicle to be open top, or in case of bad weather conditions, the windows will be down in all vehicles to ensure adequate ventilation.
- All vehicles will be fully sanitised before and after every drive.
Are your suppliers taking measures to ensure that their staff are fit to work / are not asymptomatic / spreading the virus to customers?
Many of our suppliers and venues are conducting health checks, but again this will vary from venue to venue and supplier to supplier. Where they are conducting health checks, they are checking their staff’s temperatures before (and in some cases after) they start their shift. Where they identify as having symptoms of or coming into contact with someone who has COVID-19, for their safety and yours they will be advised to isolate and follow NHS 111 advice.
I’m still not confident about attending.
If your event has been affected by a lockdown or other Government directives, we will contact you to discuss rearrangement of your booking. If your event is still scheduled to go ahead, and you are able to reschedule, the normal fees for changing the date will apply. You will also need to make sure that any rescheduled date occurs before your voucher expires.
Can I still purchase a driving experience from TrackDays?
Yes, you can. Please do take a look at the Special Offers area of our website, as this has all the very latest discounts and offers we have on our driving experiences available.
I’d like to report an issue. How do I contact you?
In the first instance, we advise you to head to the Help section of our website, as most answers to questions can be found there. If you are unable to find the answer to your query, you can head to the Contact Us section of our website to find details of how to get in touch with us.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: 4th March 2021, 15:30pm
MSV Trackdays, our supplier for own vehicle track day events at Brands Hatch, Bedford Autodrome, Cadwell Park, Donington Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton, have now implemented and issued a new set of safety guidelines in place for when test and track days are running again, effective from Monday, 29th March.
These are fully in line with the UK Government’s current guidelines, and will reduce the need for social contact between all attending and running these events so that they can operate safely and with complete confidence.
Q: How will registration for track days take place?
A: All pre-event registration for events will now be online, in advance. This new check-in system is a mandatory requirement, and will involve electronically completing an indemnity form.
On arrival, participants will only be required to collect and apply their own wristband. Participants must observe 2 metre social distancing rules, and there will be a queuing system in place to support this.
A member of staff will be present in the wristband collection area, behind a Perspex safety screen, to visually check licences and deal with any issues and queries. Hand sanitiser will be widely available to apply.
Q: How will safety briefings now be conducted?
A: All safety briefings will now be online for all track days, which you will be able to access as part of the check-in process. The briefing must be watched in full before you collect your wristband, no more than 24 hours before your event. No wristbands will be issued in respect of briefings.
Q: Will refreshments still be available on site?
A: The on-site restaurants at the venues will be offering a takeaway service, with a limited hot food menu and a number of additional safety measures in place. All customers are welcome to bring their own food and drink to the circuit. All members of catering staff will be wearing appropriate PPE.
Q: What rules will be in place regarding garage and paddock entry?
A: On track day events, access will be restricted to one car and two people per single garage (maximum three bikes and three people per single garage on bike events). On car test days, access will be restricted to two cars and four people per single garage.
Garages will remain fully open at all times (to the front and rear). Additional space in the paddock will also be made available to assist with ensuring venue-wide social distancing measures are in place at all times.
Q: Will spectators be allowed?
A: Only participants and one essential helper will currently be permitted to attend a track day or test day. No one else, including spectating friends or family members, will be permitted.
Essential helpers must be aged 16 or over, as children cannot be left unaccompanied on track and test days.
Q: Will in-car tuition still be available?
A: 1-2-1 in-car tuition (by instructors employed by the event operator or on a private self-employed basis) will be permitted, as long as the driver and instructor each have either a full face helmet with visors closed, or open face helmets with a face mask.
Q: Will additional drivers or passengers be allowed?
A: On track days and test days, up to two additional drivers (three on test days) will be permitted. however the vehicle must be wiped clean prior to each swap over. Each driver must travel to the venue separately, unless of course they are from the same household as you or your Support Bubble.
On track days, up to two passengers are permitted, so long as they are aged over 14 (16 at Bedford Autodrome) and from either your household or Support Bubble.
Q: Will helmet hire be available?
A: Helmets are no longer available to hire, but you can easily purchase one online from reputable resources and retailers prior to attending your next event.
Q: What other measurements will be in place to ensure safety?
A: Access to Race Control will be restricted to essential staff only. Be advised that circuit management retains the right to pause or stop track activities if any of the health and safety protocols (COVID-19 related or otherwise) are consistently breached.
Participants will be required to wear face coverings when inside venue buildings at all times. Signage will be in place to support this. Overnight stays are not currently permitted for track days or test days.
Q: What if I am displaying symptoms of / test positive for COVID-19?
A: If you are displaying symptoms of, or have tested positive for COVID-19 and self isolating under Government guidelines prior to attending your event, then you must not attend.
Please ensure you notify us as soon as possible to discuss re-booking arrangements if this is the case.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Tuesday, 23rd Feb 2021, 9am
The UK Government’s announcement of the proposed roadmap out of the current lockdown yesterday evening is, we are sure you will agree, welcome news after what has been a difficult few months for the whole country.
The proposed Stage 1 lift date of Monday, 29th March in the roadmap should, in theory, allow for circuits to open again from this date. However, we are currently waiting on full confirmation from the circuit owners and suppliers as to how they are proceeding.
If it is the case that they’re unable to open on 29th March, then it will be by the Stage 2 lift date of Monday, 12th April in the roadmap that they are open again, assuming that the conditions and data on infections and vaccination in order to make the lift on restrictions is met.
We would also like to inform you, in the interests of fairness, any customers that currently have a booking credit held with either ourselves or the supplier for an event they are waiting to rebook for will be given first priority for booking onto all remaining track days in this current season.
We are just as excited as you are to know that there is the promise of better days out on the track returning again, but until we have further information we would ask you to please stay safe, keep following the current guidelines, and keep checking back to this page for regular updates. Thank you once again for your continued support and patience, it is much appreciated.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Friday, 5th Feb 2021, 10:45
We have received an update this morning from our supplier MSV Trackdays that all own car and bike track day events run by them until 7th March have been postponed. This decision affects customers booked on events between now and 7th March at the following venues:
- Brands Hatch
- Oulton Park
- Snetterton
- Cadwell Park
- Donington Park
- Bedford Autodrome
We would like to take this opportunity to reassure you have not lost your booking. Your booking credit will be held with us or the supplier, and you will be able to use this to rebook your event for a later date of your choosing.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding - please continue to stay safe and follow the Government guidelines.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Wednesday, 27th Jan 2021, 17:15pm
We have received news this afternoon from our supplier MSV Trackdays that all own car and bike track day events run by them until 22nd February have been postponed. This decision affects customers booked on events between now and 22nd February at the following venues:
- Brands Hatch
- Oulton Park
- Snetterton
- Cadwell Park
- Donington Park
- Bedford Autodrome
We would like to take this opportunity to reassure you have not lost your booking. Your booking credit will be held with us, and you will be able to use this to rebook your event for a later date of your choosing.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding - please continue to stay safe and follow the Government guidelines.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Friday, 22nd Jan 2021, 14:30
We hope you are all keeping safe and well during this current lockdown. Just to let you know that until the next full update from the Government regarding current restrictions is forthcoming, we are very much still open for business, even with our staff working from home again, and are happy to help you with booking and arranging track days or driving experience events with us.
Don't forget we also still have our voucher extension upgrades available, which can extend the validity of your voucher purchase to either 14 or 20 months for a set fee. More details about this can be found on this news article on our website.
All customers who had events booked onto dates affected by the current lockdown were contacted via email after our last update on 4th January below, in which were further details regarding the status of their booking. In the vast majority of cases, the credit is being held for the booking, and the supplier for your event will be contacting you directly to notify you of new date availability for rebooking as and when these become available.
Many thanks again for your support, it is much appreciated - for now, please continue to stay safe and follow the government guidelines, we will be in touch again as soon as we can.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Monday 4th Jan 2021, 20:34
This evening the Government has decided to move all of the UK into Tier 5 until at least the February half term. This will certainty prevent any driving experience events taking place during that time, and could possibly prevent own vehicle track days from running also.
Anyone who has a booking that has to be cancelled will have full credit to rebook for an alternative date when safe to do so.
Until we have 100% confirmation of what can / cannot go ahead, we will not be sending out any direct announcements to customers. Please standby patiently whilst we make critical enquiries with our venues, suppliers and local authorities so we are able to issue clear and precise instructions on how this latest update has affected your booking.
Please stay safe and follow the government guidelines, we will be in touch by email as soon as we can.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Thursday, 31st Dec 2020, 14:15pm
Following the UK Government's decision to move further areas of the UK into the new tier of restrictions - Tier 4 - in redoubled efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, effective midnight on Thursday, 31st December 2020, we can confirm that, unless we have been informed otherwise, immediate forthcoming events in these affected areas have been postponed.
However, as we recently advised when London and areas of the South East of England were moved into this tier on 21st December, we would like to take this opportunity to reassure our customers that you have not lost your money.
We are still keeping in regular contact with all of our suppliers and venues, and in the majority of cases, your payment will be held as credit with the supplier, and when the opportunity arises for you to reschedule your original booking on new dates, either our Customer Service team or the supplier directly will be in contact with you to inform you of this.
We will still be endeavouring to keep this article on our Help Desk page regularly updated, and would ask that you please bookmark and keep checking back for further updates so as not to overwhelm our communication channels. Your patience and understanding at this time is much appreciated, thank you again for your support - we hope you and your families are staying safe at this present time.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Thursday, 26th Nov 2020, 15:45pm
Following the most recent announcement from the UK Government on 9th September 2020, we are now informing our customers that close gatherings of groups of more than six people are not permitted at events as of Monday, 14th September 2020.
Aside from any venues we have listed below that are under local lockdown or Tier 3 measurements, or that we have posted separate notices about on our Help Desk, nothing else has or is being cancelled (that we know about), but you must stay away from other customers and limit your spectator numbers. We please ask all our customers to ensure this rule is strictly adhered to. The providers will do their best to keep everyone safe and prevent customers being gathered together.
This rule is now law and anyone who breaches this rule could receive a £100 fine as well as risking the event being shut down on the day. Please keep a close eye on your email inbox and our social media channels for any updates.