Difference between revisions of "LOR Trackguide Nuerburgring Suedkehre"

Revision as of 09:06, 30 March 2009

First Corner (Left Hander)

• Entrance speed: approximately 170 mph [274 kph]
• Speed through the corner: approximately 60 mph [97 kph]
• Arrival time at the corner: 5.63 seconds
• Time to negotiate the corner: 6.09 seconds
• Exit time of the corner: 11.72 seconds

Approach

This left hander is one of the few threshold braking zones on the track. It is preceded by the long front straight, which makes it one of the few overtaking opportunities. The difficulty associated with this turn is that there is no real braking reference point. You just need to judge it, which means you can easily brake too soon or too late and get passed, or just mess-up the corner. The advantage you have over a car trying to pass you is that they know this is one of the few chances they have at passing you, and may overdo their braking as well.

Apex and Exit

You'll be in top gear under full acceleration as you pass the pits. Gently move the car over to the right side of the track in preparation for braking. A couple of beats after you pass the pits, the racing groove will darken. Farther ahead, about the same place as the grass comes up to the fence on the left, the groove darkens again. Approximately halfway between these two points is when you should start to brake. Brake as hard as possible and continue in a straight line on the right side of the track. Don't turn in too soon, as you may lose the rear end. As you continue to decelerate, start to shift down to second gear. Start to turn in once you are almost on top of the corner. Any sooner and you'll have a bad line into the following right hander. As you turn in, ease off the brakes a little, helping you to turn in quicker. Then about midway between your turn-in point and the apex at the grass get off the brakes altogether.

Once off the brakes, you should stabilize the car with the accelerator. This will also prevent you from losing any more speed. Take a late apex, clipping the grass as you do so. Straighten the wheel out fairly fast, and start accelerating as hard as possible in second gear. Let the car move towards the middle of the track as you leave the turn.

It's one of the easier ones, but one down, one hundred seventy-three to go.

Second Corner (Right Hander)

• Entrance speed: approximately 75 mph [121 kph]
• Speed through the corner: approximately 60 mph [97 kph]
• Arrival time at the corner: 12.51 seconds
• Time to negotiate the corner: 10.58 seconds
• Exit time of the corner: 23.09 seconds

This long right hander follows almost immediately from turn one. A good exit is very important here in order to take advantage of the long straight that follows. The end of that straight is the second overtaking opportunity on the lap and a good exit will help you take advantage of it.

The tendency with this turn is to understeer off the track as you try and maintain a constant speed. This can be overcome by using the engine to keep the car pointed in the right direction, but the revs must be high. So as you leave the previous turn, accelerate for a moment in second gear, then just before you have to start turning, shift down to first gear. Don't bother hitting the brakes, and only let off the gas as much as you need to in order to complete the shift. Then keep the power on as much as possible, trying to maintain 60 mph through the corner.

The turn is very long and requires a steady application of throttle, and a clean line. If you start going too wide, add a little more power to oversteer the car back on track. Make sure you don't get going to fast, or this won't work. Keep as close to the inside as possible without actually running over the grass. A good line through this turn could gain you half a second, as well as pressuring the car ahead into pushing too hard, and then you have them down the following straight.

As you pass the red Coca-Cola signs on the left, shift up to second gear and begin to increase your acceleration. You will probably get some oversteer, but if you were near the inside of the turn, you can correct and continue at almost full acceleration as you leave the turn. Let the car go right out to the edge of the track on the left as you exit, grabbing third gear as you reach the grass.

You have a moment here to read your pit board, and take a breather. Make sure you get relaxed as you don't get another break for a few minutes.

LOR_Trackguide_Nuerburgring LOR_Trackguide_Nuerburgring_Nordkehre