Affordable tracking of your GT
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 1,007
From: Overland Park, KS
‘24 BMW iX M60
When I checked out track insurance -- and read the entire contract -- I found that the few options available (at the time, in Canada) were virtually useless. They didn't cover anything inside the car, no running gear and had all kinds of limits and other exclusions. Anyone doing track days should be able to afford to pay for a minor mishap and, from what I saw, any major mishap would not have more than a tiny percentage covered. All that, along with the high cost and hassle of getting it was a non-starter, for me. Of course, others may have found something more worthwhile ... but I'd strongly suggest reading the entire contract before deciding to purchase.
I’ve never had to actually use the insurance, but buying an unlimited track day policy for what about 4 HPDE weekends would normally cost is extremely useful. Plus just knowing I had insurance to help cover any major loss made me far more comfortable driving the car faster on track.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 359
Likes: 152
GTR
MG1422 has probably tracked his GTR more than anyone else on here, and that primarily at COTA which is a power, handling and brake circuit. To the best of my knowledge, and I hope Mariano pipes up soon to correct me, he has had no major issues with his car; (it has the iron brakes) since he installed the Tikt brake ducts and his track times show him to be damn fast.
Of course a car that weighs what the GTR does along with how bloody fast it is is going to use up a lot in consumables; but it's a 'Pay to Play' thing here. If you want to be fast; it's costly.
I did not in anyway sell my GTR based on what it cost to run btw. I purely miscalculated during the depths of Covid that it was a good time to sell and that I'd easily be able to pick something else up when the track season opened back up; (primarily a C8 Z06). I didn't factor in a chip shortage followed by a Russian invasion of Ukraine screwing the market so drastically.
Bottom line: if you pay attention to the brakes and can afford the tyres, the GTR is an awesome 'track' car that is going to handle a lot of abuse. Just don't forget buying track insurance as an off-track excursion will be pricey!
Of course a car that weighs what the GTR does along with how bloody fast it is is going to use up a lot in consumables; but it's a 'Pay to Play' thing here. If you want to be fast; it's costly.
I did not in anyway sell my GTR based on what it cost to run btw. I purely miscalculated during the depths of Covid that it was a good time to sell and that I'd easily be able to pick something else up when the track season opened back up; (primarily a C8 Z06). I didn't factor in a chip shortage followed by a Russian invasion of Ukraine screwing the market so drastically.
Bottom line: if you pay attention to the brakes and can afford the tyres, the GTR is an awesome 'track' car that is going to handle a lot of abuse. Just don't forget buying track insurance as an off-track excursion will be pricey!
My brake set up is:
Tikt front ducts
Girodisc Iron rotors all around
Cobalt friction XR1 pads
Castrol SRF fluid.
Michelin/Pirelli/Hankook slicks
In my experience I believe this to be a very good/reliable brake set up. The car has given me ZERO issues on track I just have to make sure to do a cool down lap or two after just for the sake of the pads/rotors. But as Bish said it is a pay to play type thing and rotors/pads/tires can get expensive.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 40
Likes: 17
From: Arizona
‘26 S63, ’19 E63s wagon; prior: SL55; CLS55; G63, GT-R
Late response here. New to GTR ownership (just got my 2018). However, I've done several events with the AMG Driving Academy (Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta) at the top levels (Pro and Pro+).. The GTRs (all with cermaic brakes) get absolutely hammered day after day. I'll have to ask one of the mechanics what the exact set up is, but one would think if the CCB were a fatal flaw they would spec/swap to the steel rotors. It is worth noting on the sedans, they've went AWAY from the CCBs and to steels. I'm planning to track mine (coming out of a 996 dedicated track toy), but not before getting the brake ducts, and now I'm thinking about moving to the Pagid pads. Thanks for all the great input here.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 1,007
From: Overland Park, KS
‘24 BMW iX M60
Late response here. New to GTR ownership (just got my 2018). However, I've done several events with the AMG Driving Academy (Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta) at the top levels (Pro and Pro+).. The GTRs (all with cermaic brakes) get absolutely hammered day after day. I'll have to ask one of the mechanics what the exact set up is, but one would think if the CCB were a fatal flaw they would spec/swap to the steel rotors. It is worth noting on the sedans, they've went AWAY from the CCBs and to steels. I'm planning to track mine (coming out of a 996 dedicated track toy), but not before getting the brake ducts, and now I'm thinking about moving to the Pagid pads. Thanks for all the great input here.
Caveat: the same mechanic also told me that the inner pads can and do wear slightly more than the outer pads so make sure you check both outer and inner pad depth!
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 40
Likes: 17
From: Arizona
‘26 S63, ’19 E63s wagon; prior: SL55; CLS55; G63, GT-R
Thanks @thebishman , I've noticed the techs checking obsesively with flashlights after each session, now I know what they were looking for! I almost did COTA with them last year, but shceduling got in the way. I'm going to do Sonoma for the first time later this year.
