TopGear SA Unveils its Own Test Track
TopGear’s UK arm, whether the magazine or the show, has brought immense joy and laughter to the motoring world over the years. At the core, the Dunsfold Aerodrome, a difficult-to-find stretch of tarmac, just off one of the UK’s major routes, has witnessed some iconic motoring moments. Now, TopGear SA proudly announces that, at the turn of its third year, it has its very own airfield-based track to produce nothing but the finest motoring content for you.
Done in partnership with the Brakpan Airfield, the new, 3.5-kilometre test track includes high-speed corners, chicanes, a hairpin bend, and an impressively long straight. It is a testing ground for the latest in automotive performance and provides our publication with a leading edge in content creation.
Before we get into what we have planned for this facility, allow me to walk you through the layout of the track.
The start-finish line begins with a look down our first straight. Corner one is a fast left-hander with a wide exit, allowing enough room for the tail-happy cars to strut their stuff. The second straight is just under 1 km which quickly brings you into the second and third turns. The wide corner entrance allows you to position the car for a quick direction change between corners two and three as the correct line through this tight chicane allows for a much faster exit into the third straight. Corners four and five is a reverse chicane of corner two and three. A tight exit line here will perfectly set you up for the hairpin of corner six.
The hairpin is arguably the most important corner to get right as a good exit will allow a much better top speed down the longest straight, which is 1.3 km. Entering the final corner is where the brakes will be put to the test. The final corner is a fast right-hander that brings you to the start/finish line.
Our test track is the perfect place to put any performance car through its paces in a fast yet safe environment. This leads me to make mention of some future plans.
The first is a familiar challenge called ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car‘ where your favourite local celebrities will take on the TopGear SA Test Track to see who’s fastest. The second is the CEO Shootout, which will see the big wigs from all our beloved manufacturers go head-to-head in a timed lap.
Of course, you can also expect the resurrection of the hot lap board, exciting car reviews, and much more.
We are incredibly excited about this milestone and the value it’ll bring to our readers. It is only the start of what we believe will be a game-changer for our local brand. So watch this space; TopGear SA is coming in hot.
