As promised some very early observations about this SIMPLE little circuit, for those who are wary of learning new tracks.
N.B THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE THE DEFINITIVE FASTEST LAP METHOD FOR THIS CIRCUIT, JUST A BASIC "GET YOU AROUND" AT A REASONABLE SPEED.
PLEASE ADDRESS ALL COMPLAINTS TO Mrs Fujikawa ( if you have the nerve!!
)
This track was new to me so I chose an existing setup from a smooth flat (ish) circuit
I have driven about 6 laps so far (and only in the BT7) but was doing 53 sec laps without being too "alien".
You may well find that your style/setup/car alters things slightly. But essentially this is a simple track with 2 chicanes. Your exit from the corners is far more important than a demon braking entry. In fact slow/controlled in and fast out will reward you.
I used a Watkins Glen setup unaltered. ( 6th gear in the BT7 was too high for this track, but the spacing of the other gears seemed about right, so maybe 6th wont be needed on such a short circuit?)
T1... braking just after 1st distance board and aiming for a late apex in 2nd with a short squirt of power towards the 1st chicane.
Taking 1st apex of chicane late and keeping to left ...drop to 1st gear, allowing me to turn tightly and take a reasonably late apex of second element of chicane. The second half opens up, so I want a late apex to allow me to give it full welly as I exit this chicane before braking for..
2nd chicane. The exit of this chicane is far more important than any late braking for the first part. (This is because there is a good straight afterwards and any speed I can carry/generate through the 2nd part I will carry all the way along that straight). So, make sure you brake early and take a little bit of Kerb on the way in, probably 2nd gear. Look to get your exit via the second apex just using a bit of kerb with no oversteer so that you can be applying more and more power as the straight opens up.
The slight left hander on the straight is taken flat, keeping to the left in anticipation of the 90 degree right hander coming up.
Braking just after 1st distance board into 2nd gear and looking for a smooth apex drifting out to the left hand side again a short squirt and...
The Last corner is probably the most important on the circuit. Once again any speed carried through here will gain you time right down the S/F straight. Overdo it and you will be into those big red and white things!!
Hardly any brakes but keep 2nd gear looking for a late apex and smooth application of power, keeping the car nicely balanced and stable. There is a little extra space on the outside apron where the 1st and 2nd of the red/white blocks are actually stepped back and give you an extra cars width to exploit as you nail the gas down the S/F straight.
I'm sure that others will have comments to make, but as I said this is not the magic bullet, just a rough guide to get you started.
