The Dark Horse was built for this — but a good track day starts in the garage, not at the gate. Here's a baseline checklist to run through before your next event. Add your own routine below; I'll fold the best tips back into this post.

THE WEEK BEFORE:

- Brake fluid: fresh, high-temp fluid if it's been a year (or your first track day). Fluid is the #1 thing that ends sessions early.

- Brake pads and rotors: plenty of pad left front AND rear, no heavy cracking on rotors.

- Oil: fresh enough that you trust it, level at full. Check for leaks around the oil cooler lines.

- Coolant level and condition.

- Tires: tread depth, no plugs/patches on track duty, check date codes if they've been on a while.

THE NIGHT BEFORE:

- Torque the lug nuts to spec and re-check after your first session.

- Set cold tire pressures (you'll bleed them down as they heat up — log what works).

- Empty the car completely: floor mats, loose items in the trunk, phone mounts.

- Helmet, gloves if you use them, water, and your tech form if the event requires one.

AT THE TRACK:

- Run Track Apps / drive mode setup before your first session, not in grid.

- First session is a warm-up: brakes and tires need heat cycles, and so do you.

- Cool-down lap done right (no parking with pinned-hot brakes and the parking brake on).

- Between sessions: check pressures, look at the pads, glance under the car.

What's your routine? Tire pressures that work on the stock Pirelli Trofeo RS or P Zero setup, pad choices that survive a full weekend, alignment settings — drop them below. Real setups from real Dark Horses beat any generic guide.