Race Series Test days, is it worth going?

British Touring Car Tyre Testing Donington Park

28 July 2023

Is it worth your while taking a day off work to go and spectate and practice your photography at a motorsport test day? In this report we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of the many and varied test days that are held at motorsports circuits around the UK.

As an example of what you can expect we went along to the British Touring Car Tyre Testing day at Donington Park. Some test days are free to get in, others are not. The BTCC test was free which is helpful considering how inflation is affecting the pound in everyone’s pocket these days.

However, test days, especially free ones, are not usually held at the weekends so if you are in full time employment it is going to cost you a day’s leave. But if you are unemployed or retired it can be a cost affective way of practicing your motorsports photography.

A word of caution here, these are test days so there is no guarantee that you will see much. The BTCC test day we attended had a continual flow of cars who were all pushing on, so on this occasion it was well worth the trip.

Some of the larger race series have seen a surge in numbers of people attending test days over the last few years and have moved some of them to weekend slots and started to charge a nominal fee.

British Superbikes is one of those charging to watch testing. I have been to most of the BSB test days for the last few years and to be candid, they are probably not worth attending for a few reasons. First up the bikes will be blank canvases with most not having any paint or sponsors. Also, it’s the same for the riders’ leathers and helmets or they will be wearing last year’s kit, so as subject matter they are somewhat dull and samey to look at. 

The second reason is that BSB test days are held early in the year before the racing season starts and some teams won’t be in attendance due to not having the bikes built in time.

The third reason not to go is due to them being held early in the year when the weather can turn a test day into a none event. I’ve been to a few over the years like that, bikes and snow don’t get on.

However, if you just want to practice your photography skills, like panning for example, the BSB test days could be right for you. But there are better motorcycle test days like the various Classic bike series in which the bikes will look the same year in year out.

These will produce a nicer picture that doesn’t date when it was taken and usually you can get round the paddock at lunch which is a pleasant distraction.

Alternatively, the car tyre testing days are held mid race series so you will be able to see cars in the latest livery and pushing on as they test the tyres. Alternatively, you could go to the many track days which are also free to get in.

However, you have to be lucky to see anyone with good race skills at a track day. It does happen more so on motorcycle track days but is it worth the trip for one individual, depending on the individual I suppose. 

These free test events will not always be advertised but if the series has a good following you should be able to find out the dates from the social media platforms. One of the better sites to find out about testing days is TSLSports Timing check out the diary section and you will find them. 

Seven test days are scheduled for August 2023. TSI doesn’t cover every event so you might have to do some digging for your favourite race series.

MSV track websites will have exclusive test days advertised, which could be worth a look but generally won’t indicate what is testing.

The other places I have found to be useful are the various marshals’ web sites or the marshals themselves. If you know them they can tip you off.

The other advantage of going to a test day besides practicing your photography or checking out your new camera gear, is to scope out new locations or check that the vehicles will be doing what you want to photograph before you go to the main event.

What I mean by this is that a lot of pictures posted up on social media are just captures with little to no thought about composition. Test days won’t have the tens of thousands of fans that usually turn up so you can move around and try out different locations freely. Sometimes moving a few feet when shooting into a corner can turn a good shot into a great shot.

For example, in BTCC the cars bouncing over the curbs or lifting a wheel in the corners looks so much better than a standard panning shot. It’s easier finding those locations on an 8 hour test day than in a 30 minute race if you are not familiar with the track.

Trying to capture the essence of an event is something I strive to achieve, so finding these locations before you go to the main event is useful.

However, at some tracks the options for action pictures are somewhat limited, so capture shots are really all you are going to take. Donington is a prime example, you used to be able to get some guaranteed epic shots of BTCC a few years ago, but these days not so after the kerbs were lowered.

If you study a track map or look at our track guides you can make a good guess at where on the track you can expect to find what you are looking for. However, changes in the track, lowered kerbs, electronic changes in the vehicles, (anti wheelie for example on motorcycles) will have an effect on the dynamics of the vehicles, so confirming before race day is the best policy. 

The last, and for me the nicest part of a test day, is spending time with old and new like minded friends in a relaxed environment doing something I enjoy.

The fact that a day at the track is relatively cheap is a bonus, and refining my photography skills with a slim chance that I might leave the track with a memorable shot or two is the cherry on the top.

So to sum up, it depends what you want to get out of a test day - practice with your camera kit, find new locations or just chill out track side, as a cheap day out watching motorsport it’s hard to beat.