first time down the track advise?

My suggestion is to let the auto do its thing. Put it in drive. And let it handle the rest. You'll have your hands full just keeping straight on the track and concentrating. Trust me, 12 seconds is a lot faster in the car than you think it is. The first run you'll probably just be holding onto the steering wheel and smiling. Get a feel for what the car likes. And get more bold as you feel more confident.