LoCore
05-17-2009, 10:32 PM
If you'll be joining us at PPIR over Memorial Day, check out the following link to some in-car video from that track.
http://www.bimmerhaus.com/video/ppir03/ppir.html
The driver is Jim Leithauser in his Z3 roadster from a few years ago.
Now, for a few notes on the track.
Main Straight:
NASCAR banking baby, and big track width. Low horsepower cars tend to take the low line, while higher horsepower cars take the higher and more banked line.
T1/2/3
This corner demands respect and driver control. Coming off the banked main straight, the infield flattens out and starts a left hand sweeper that takes you to the back straight. It is critical to manage the transition, and upset the car as little as possible. DO NOT LIFT in this corner--make any needed speed adjustments before entering the corner.
T1 is the first ~35% of what's essentially a left hand sweeper that opens up as you cross the infield tunnel--that's where "T2" starts. "T3" is the final part of the sweeper that takes you out onto the ...
Back Straight:
After getting through T1 under control, you'll leave the infield onto the back straight where there is a lot of width--and a concrete wall on the outside. The banking here is not as extreme as the main straight. Get your eyes up to find the very fast entry back into the infield...
T4
which takes you into a short straight. The corner can be quite fast. Keep your momentum and enter the corner on the right side rather than trying to cut it and drive to the right side. Let your entry speed and vision work out where you need to be to set up for ...
T5:
which is an increasing radius left hander with tight entry--or at least it will seem tight if you got the back straight and T4 right!. Wrap your eyes around this corner and work to find a good line and early acceleration out of the corner onto the infield straight. Lots of track here--use it!. After track out, work your way back to the left if not already there to setup for Carousel...
T6:
which is really a skid pad. Its easy to drive this corner too big if you come in too hot, but its also fast enough that you don't have to drop anchor to make the entry to the corner. Don't turn-in early here unless you want to experience the dusty no-man's land on the outside of the Carousel!
T7/8:
the Esses--a quick right/left/right that gets increasingly tight. A real rhythm section here that can have the feel of an autocross slalom that you're getting "behind" in! Watch the curbs--they used to be pretty tall and will upset the car if you get up too much on them. Work your way to the right at the end of the Esses to setup for the final corner...
T9:
which once again opens up on exit, this time taking you back to the main straight, and also where you'll realize just how much banking is there! This corner will take a few laps to get right, as inevitably you'll slow too much for 9, only to have to drive "uphill" to get on the main straight.
NOTE: We'll be paying special attention to pit-out and pit-in, since both are effectively "on-line". We'll cover this during our driver's meeting about the details, but cars on and off track will need to pay attention to what is going on around them.
http://www.bimmerhaus.com/video/ppir03/ppir.html
The driver is Jim Leithauser in his Z3 roadster from a few years ago.
Now, for a few notes on the track.
Main Straight:
NASCAR banking baby, and big track width. Low horsepower cars tend to take the low line, while higher horsepower cars take the higher and more banked line.
T1/2/3
This corner demands respect and driver control. Coming off the banked main straight, the infield flattens out and starts a left hand sweeper that takes you to the back straight. It is critical to manage the transition, and upset the car as little as possible. DO NOT LIFT in this corner--make any needed speed adjustments before entering the corner.
T1 is the first ~35% of what's essentially a left hand sweeper that opens up as you cross the infield tunnel--that's where "T2" starts. "T3" is the final part of the sweeper that takes you out onto the ...
Back Straight:
After getting through T1 under control, you'll leave the infield onto the back straight where there is a lot of width--and a concrete wall on the outside. The banking here is not as extreme as the main straight. Get your eyes up to find the very fast entry back into the infield...
T4
which takes you into a short straight. The corner can be quite fast. Keep your momentum and enter the corner on the right side rather than trying to cut it and drive to the right side. Let your entry speed and vision work out where you need to be to set up for ...
T5:
which is an increasing radius left hander with tight entry--or at least it will seem tight if you got the back straight and T4 right!. Wrap your eyes around this corner and work to find a good line and early acceleration out of the corner onto the infield straight. Lots of track here--use it!. After track out, work your way back to the left if not already there to setup for Carousel...
T6:
which is really a skid pad. Its easy to drive this corner too big if you come in too hot, but its also fast enough that you don't have to drop anchor to make the entry to the corner. Don't turn-in early here unless you want to experience the dusty no-man's land on the outside of the Carousel!
T7/8:
the Esses--a quick right/left/right that gets increasingly tight. A real rhythm section here that can have the feel of an autocross slalom that you're getting "behind" in! Watch the curbs--they used to be pretty tall and will upset the car if you get up too much on them. Work your way to the right at the end of the Esses to setup for the final corner...
T9:
which once again opens up on exit, this time taking you back to the main straight, and also where you'll realize just how much banking is there! This corner will take a few laps to get right, as inevitably you'll slow too much for 9, only to have to drive "uphill" to get on the main straight.
NOTE: We'll be paying special attention to pit-out and pit-in, since both are effectively "on-line". We'll cover this during our driver's meeting about the details, but cars on and off track will need to pay attention to what is going on around them.