Euro racing, steering wheel on left or right?

[twin plugged targa]

Okay, this may sound daft but here goes!.

1)In the US, this is probably not an issue, but for Euro club racing or semi professional racing, is it better to have the steering wheel on the left or right, or is there no reasoning behind it.

2)We all know Nascars turn left at 200mph (flame on!) so we can assume most race tracks in the US run counter clockwise?????
3)Do Euro race track run counter clockwise/clockwise or both?.

4)Psychologically, I feel it is easier to turn fast on a left hand bend with a left wheel car, is this me or is this a common trait?

Reason for the question is, down the road I am starting to think of my project track car and being a 'Brit' I have mastered steering from both sides of a car (not at the same time!). I also may have access to purchase both types of car.

Any usefull advice appreciated,

rgds Ben

[twin plugged targa]

Bump- any UK members able to add info here.
I know this right hand drive stuff is of no interest to 95% of this boards members, but it was worth a try
..... anyone?
Ben

[dad911]

All of the road race courses I've run on the US east coast run 'clockwise'. Limerock, Bridgehampton, Watkins, Summit Point, Mid-Ohio, and Mosport run clockwise. I think RHD might be an advantage, but I could probably not get used to the shifter on the left.

[Jim Garfield]

Purpose built road racing cars favor right hand wheels for just the reason you mentioned. The majority of the corners on most circuits are right handers and favor being on that side of the car.

I would think if you're used to shifting with your left hand it would feel better being on the inside of the majority of corners.

[Luke Hudson]

The tracks I've been on/seen in the UK run clockwise. As for left and right hand drive, I've gone round tracks in both and there's little difference, you just get used to the car.

Oh and you don't find too many ovals out side of the US, our circuits have both left AND right turns

[old_skul]

Mid-Ohio has one more right turn than left turns (8 v 7). Good luck getting used to that shifter on the left.

[NoLift911]

Getting used to the right hand drive and shifting with the left hand is tough...at first I rented a Lotus Elise with a buddy in London for a few days it was difficult to enjoy the car fully for the first hundred miles or so and I thought I could never push the car to it's full potential. That all changed with hours of seat time, driving it almost became second nature, just like with a left hand, right shift. Of course I was not running any tracks...but a quick jaunt out to the white cliffs was a blast...

-Jeff
nolift911@hotmail.com

[Jim Garfield]

All of the Porsche prototype race cars after the 906 (907, 908, 910, 917, 917/30, Moby Dick, 936, 956, 962 )had right hand steering wheels. And it wasn't because they were going to be exported to the UK or Australia. Granted they had right hand shifters too, but I think Ben's question about using a right hand wheeled car makes perfect sense for club racing, especially since Ben is a Brit and won't have to adapt to left hand shifting.

[twin plugged targa]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Interesting that both US and Europe road courses are clockwise run!.
This may make me hold off on my track car project until I return to Europe again.
I have never driven a right wheel Porsche and know there is some reported awkwardness with the pedal setup!.
I will have to try this before the final descision obviously.
As for the shifting with the left hand, no problem as I grew up driving that way and takes only minutes now to switch and feel at home.
I know I will not convert any of you to a right hand drive car, but if you concider the advantages of not only the visibility of the corners but generally we have stronger right arms (if right handed) which might help should you have to shift on a corner (probabley not reccomended though!).

Thanks again for the info
Ben