Night light: We try overnight track ‘day’ in the Mazda MX-5

Within 30 minutes of arriving at the track I realise I have thoroughly underestimated the amount of faffing and form filling required to actually get moving. 

I only achieve five laps out during daytime. And they were a bit of a blur to be honest. I didn’t manage to pick a quiet time and it felt like more serious racing machinery was constantly coming up in the rear view mirror and I was always off-line letting things pass and not quite learning the track.

Night time soon comes and we head out on track. There were around 25 cars taking part in total, split into two groups. I was in the first group. As I exit the fully lit pitlane and emerge onto the track I begin to understand the size of the task at hand. After a few corners, the bright, clear, warm iridescent lights of the pitlane seem a lifetime ago. 

The light sources are now harsh, unfamiliar and flickering. If they were a film they’d come with an epilepsy warning.

The first few laps were done behind a safety car, and once that pulls in things improve. The faster, more serious machinery gets away and leaves the slower stuff (including me) behind. I get past a couple of slower cars and within a few laps I’m on my own.

I thought this might be the toughest, but the truth is that this was the best. The cat's eyes dotted around the track were easy to follow, softly improved by the lights of other, distant cars ahead. I fell into a flow, and really, really enjoyed it.

There was potential for a bit of bravado and red-mist to kick in but it just didn’t. People let other people pass. There were no big-time Charlies here doing their best Lewis Hamilton impressions. Sure, this word’s first might have been a bit tenuous, but we were all pioneers in our own, small way. Doing our best. Admittedly, the foglights off some of the more serious stuff was bloody bright where they’re barreling down on you.

The Track mode on this MX-5 is brilliant, by the way. It’s new for this to-spec Homura car and it really allows quite the angle and velocity of slip before it intervenes. The steering is a delight - loads of feedback, light, and direct too. Especially appreciated considering for one session I went roof down jacket on, and didn’t exactly have the space to do a lot of steering.

The engine is surprisingly muscular too. There were a few other earlier model MX-5s and a Clio 182 on track and while theoretically similar in power, I could really sense the advantage I had on the straights.

Our nine o’clock curfew soon came round and me and my photographer Max retire to the on-site cafe for a pre-ordered Lasagna and chips. I really feel like I’ve earned my double carbs. 

Track days - despite no racing per se - are pretty full on. And to do one at night, with no big floodlights, relying purely on your own car’s lights and the ones of others was pretty hairy at times. But truly fun, invigorating and a one-of-a-kind experience.