Track session length

[Ford Guy V8]

I'm still new to tracking my mustang (2 track days), but noticed most events include 20 min sessions at a time. A promotor near me is running an event with 30 min sessions.

Does anyone have advice or experience in regards to how the car, brakes, and tires should be able to handle another 10 mins? What session lengths do you normally run?

Car: 2018 MT Base GT
Tire: Goodyear supercar 3's
Brakes: PP brakes with hawk DTC 60s in the front, DTC 30s in the rear and Motul 600 brake fluid

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[markhas]

As long as you are running an NA car, it should be fine. If you are used to running 20 minute sessions, the extra 10 minutes in hot weather will seem like an eternity believe it or not. In hot weather and on a short track, 30 minutes is too long IMHO. I have been running and organizing track days since the 80's, so I have some experience on this.

 

[o-man]

Depends on the track. If its shorter and has a lot of braking back to back you MAY get a little brake fade. The groups I run with usually run 20-30 minute sessions. one group ran one 40 minute session a day. Did experience a little brake fade and the tires did get a little warm. Temps that morning were in the high 80's to low 90's. You should be fine at 30 minutes. As Markhas said, the extra time may affect you more depending on the weather

 

[EFI]

You're gonna struggle with oil and/or CHT temps unless you shortshift or take a few cooldown laps during that 30 minute session.

Tires will also probably start feeling greasy after 15 minutes, so you will need to slow down your pace in the 2nd half of the session.

But you don't have to go the full 30 minutes, I know you want to get your money's worth but unless you're racing for money you don't need to kill yourself and your car just to go a few minutes more on track.

 

[HeelToeHero]

You don't have to stay out the full 30 minutes. Just come off if you're tired or the car is getting hot.

 

[GTP]

I got a handle on CHT after installing an oil cooler that I designed. 228F steady.

Then I got axle over temperature warning at the 32 minute mark during an open track day.

So I designed and installed a differential oil cooler. Just did a 45 minute run at another open track day. Diff temp is now steady at 230F.

 

[Scootsmcgreggor]

There are too many variables that are car/track/driver/weather dependent to give a reliable answer here. You just need to go for it and keep an eye on temps.

 

[Jstang23]

Yeah, it all depends on how hard you drive, what track you are at, ambient temperature, and a whole bunch of other stuff. So just go out there and enjoy it and if you notice your car is getting hot then take the pit lane

 

[GTP]

Well true, but enough of us have experienced overheating pretty quickly.

Also note that your automatic trans behaving strangely is likely just CHT over temp.

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