GLA Adventure: Top 5 Race Tracks To Visit

Istanbul Park Grand Prix Circuit

Istanbul Park Grand Prix Circuit

Now, the Istanbul Park grand prix circuit might not be on the F1 calendar this year but it is one of the best circuits around and worthy of getting into the race calendar. Penned by race track architect Herman Tilke, the track is famous for its four-apex at Turn 8. But Turn 8 isn't the only highlight of this spectacular circuit; as it is truly a drivers' circuit. No wonder, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone calls it 'the best race track in the world.' It has fast, flowing bends, blind apexes, elevation changes, and all the character to make it one of the greatest circuits in the world and there's no way you should miss this one.

La Guacima Race Track

La Guacima Race Track

When the GLA Adventure team headed to Costa Rica, they got a chance to meet with a man named Carlos Rodriguez - a man who virtually single-handedly revived racing in Costa Rica. He bought the La Guacima race track, just outside San Jose, to save it from going under. At present, he's racing in the brand new Costa Rican touring car championship. Now these cars are similar to the ones in NASCAR, so they're built on a space-frame chassis that are clothed in silhouette bodies to resemble standard road cars - such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Elantra et al. The racing is loud, close, and the driver makes all the difference. It's just brilliant and you have to be part of the action to believe what we're trying to say. It might not be as fancy as a Formula 1 circuit but well, it has its charm!

Nordschleife Track

Nordschleife Track

Hear the name and there are nerds like us who can't wait to get behind the wheel of a car and head out to the circuit. It's reckoned to be most difficult race track in the world, or as racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart called it, the Green Hell. It's the longest race track in the world and the Nordschleife track is over 20.8 kilometres long. 154 turns await you and this might just put the fear of God in you. Couple this with its bumpy surface and minimal runoff areas, and one begins to understand why this track is so revered and feared at the same time. It is a challenging and technical circuit designed and built originally in the 1920's. It's the kind of circuit which does not forgive your mistakes and this is precisely why it attracts a whole bunch of adrenaline junkies. However, you might not get to go the 20.8 km and might have to settle for the puny 5.14 km Nurburgring which is equally exciting. It's modern but has its own standing and it's on this racetrack that modern supercars and hypercars are tested, so can't miss this one, can you?

QueensLand Raceway

QueensLand Raceway

Of course, we turn to Australia where there's the Queensland Raceway and this is where the GLA team met Eugene Arendsen who runs 'On Track Drift' a school for amateurs to come and learn how to drift and go sideways! And this is where you can learn to be in control of the car while making people otherwise. Arendsen and his buddy Cameron Ambridge showed the GLA team how to drift in their Nissan Skylines. The R33 rear-wheel drive is two generations old but it's a favourite and you'll learn how to use the handbrake in the right manner. It's absolute madness and you'll enjoy the smell of burning rubber and in fact, you'll forget everything else we're sure.

Le Mans Race Track

Le Mans Race Track

It's a historic race track and there's no way you can miss this one. It's called the Circuit de la Sarthe, more popularly known as the Le Mans race track and it's located in France. Now the Le Mans is widely regarded as the single most challenging race in the world and the Le Mans track is one of the longest in the world. With each lap measuring in at 13.6 kilometres, the race itself is a challenge as it goes on for 24 hours with both man and machine trying to make it to the end of the race. It also houses the Bugatti Circuit which is smaller and was built in 1965 which shares the pit lane facilities and the first corner (including the famous Dunlop bridge) with the longer version. The double chicane (Dunlop Chicane) is the most challenging and you really have to get your footwork right to help the car do what it does best. There's no way you can 'not' go to the Circuit de la Sarthe and relive the past, while enjoying every minute of the present.