For a long time I found Albi to be a real nightmare and I just could not find the 2-3 seconds that others cars were finding.
The answer ( as is often the case with me) was that I was over driving and trying to push too deep into the corners. This is especially true of Double Drat and the final corner.
So, a typical lap for me (assuming that we have tyres warmed up). Across the S/F line under max acceleration looking for your braking point for the blind entry to T1. I consider the sequence of corners from T1 to the straight as something to be approached as a whole. I have suggested gears but they will be determined by the ratios you have selected.
I try and get my braking done early for T1 downshifting complete ( probably 3rd gear) and the car settled ready to get as close to the apex as I can without hitting the bank and carrying a healthy lump of speed. As soon as I can see the track opening up I feed in the power and move out to the outside of the tarmac ( DO NOT GET A WHEEL ON THE GRASS!!) before aiming for the apex of T2...still under acceleration. Drift out again avoiding the grass, and set the car up for T3 right.
If you get the entry and line to T3 correct you will be on the power early and carry more speed with max aceleration all through T3 and T4 until you brake for Double Drat.
It is all very spectacular doing the demon braking thing for DD, but unless you get it it spot on you will be fighting for control just when you need to be very precise with both your direction and acceleration out of the other side and onto the 2nd straight. On the approach to DD I use the posts on the left side armco to determine when I can brake. There is a horrible bump in DD and if you try and stamp on the gas too soon it usually spins the car so be careful and smooth. Your chosen gearing will be critical on the exit as you want max traction ( minimal wheelspin) with as much power as you can lay down. Work on the principle that once you nail the gas you should not need to lift ( other than for upshifts) if you find that you had to lift to regain control you were on the gas too early!!.
Full bore up to the penultimate left hander, getting well over to the right. It is difficult to explain the line through here but.... remeber that this corner is more than a 90 and treat it with some respect. once you have the car hooked up and gripping the track you can give it beans on the exit and get across to the left hand side for the final corner......
This is probably as difficult as DD because of the crest on the exit. If you have too much acceleration and are still turning as you traverse the crest you will spin and make a sudden pit stop. Just watch how many cars find themselves making a very sharp right turn!!
The secret is to try and take a late apex so that your car is more or less straight as you cross the crest and resist giving it 100% gas until you know it will grip, probably feeding in 75-80% smoothly until you are sure.
Voila a 1:08 lap!! well maybe not quite that quick
