But with 80 events a year to choose from, Stuart is certainly maximising his membership and couldn’t be happier. Hang on a sec though; a humble BMW 335i at an exclusive GT driver’s club? Surely this event is the reserve of society’s elite? Gentleman racers with mega-dollar supercars? Or full-on race teams seeking year-round testing opportunities? Sorry, but you’re quite wrong.
This is genuinely an accessible consideration for many driving enthusiasts, equipped with relatively modest vehicles and enthusiast driving talent.
In fact, 95% of GT Club members had never experienced circuit driving before joining, so it’s not all an intimidating bunch of would-be racing gods out there.
Sure, there are a couple of dedicated race cars and a lovely mix of supercars to share the track with on any given GT Club day. But in reality there’s a diversity here I simply wasn’t expecting. Considering the facilities and services you’re accessing, membership is altogether realistic. The annual renewal fee is less than what some people would pay for tyres alone on a high-performance car. Put that in context for a minute; a similar club membership at a similar race track in New York State or in the outskirts of London can be a six-figure investment per year.
“I just love it here,” continues Stuart, who tells me the pressure of competition racing has never appealed.
“I’d never done any track driving before but got some driver training when I bought my car and I was hooked. I wish I’d done it 30 years ago, I drive my car to the track, have some fun, drive it home; it’s that simple.”