I've only done 1 drive here, but holy s*** this is epic
Car driven: Ferrari SF1000 (RSS)
Time: 17:00
Conditions: 21.1 C 8.9 km/h wind
Lap time: 1:04.04
So, in Hotlap mode, you start just before the hairpin (perfect positioning btw), and your'e approaching the final esse bend at around 230. The last corner is juuuust about flat at 270, but this is only the start... You approach turn 1 at 315 (could have been 320 for DRS but for some reason you can't activate it) and it sort of reminds me of a more compact version of the turn at the end of Mulsanne. A blisteringly fast entry with a braking zone to a 3rd gear sort of hairpin. This is probably one of my favourite braking zones in sim racing now! Then you come up to the "zig zag", which the SF1000 brutally murders flat out, but it should be more intense in a GT3 car (as the course was intended for, but I'm a rebel), and you come to what is probably the best overtaking corner on the track
Now turn 6 into 7 is a bit of a pain to get on the throttle, someone suggested changing it (into I imagine something like Bahrain's turn 9-10, but imo that would make the 8-9-10 esses too easy. What I would have done is extend the straight after turn 5, and do a COTA turn 1 but downhill on the entry. This would make a even better overtaking chance but also make it less of a pain to get on the throttle on the exit, while also making 8-9-10 blind. Btw, 8-9-10 are another excellent set of esse bends. I would have put a second DRS zone here, turn 11 is Austria's turn 2 (not really a bend in any car), but then you come to turn 12
The approach is just after the longest straight on the track, so 317 kmh, and you have to slow down to around 230 for a TERRIFIC balls to the wall right hander. It reminds me of the "Arribiatta" turns at Mugello but much more tighter so it is an actual challenge in a modern F1 car. Think your done mate... Cos turn 13 is even harder. You gain about 30 kmh but you have this almost flat right hander with some grass waiting for you on the exit. It's like what Bridge or Campsa used to be, an unforgiving, blindingly fast right hander. You pray for a break but this track is not giving you one (I say this in a good way btw) and you come to one of THE best corner sequences in sim racing (up there with the Porsche esses or the brutally fast 1st sector at COTA).
You first go a little bit to the left at 270 kmh, and your'e holding onto the KERS button. You then immediatley snap to the right at 280, still holding on to that KERS button. You then have an abrupt switch to the left at 285, still holding onto the KERS button and probably onto dear life as well. As you finish the left hander you see a crest that you're approaching at 290. You have to aim for this one earlier than you think, and you actually start to feel hot because your brain is now struggling to keep up. Still flat, still holding that KERS. Just as you want it to finish a right hander comes at you like a bat outta hell at 300, it's pretty easy flat, but after the ordeal you have just been through, it's anything but that.
You can finally get off that KERS button as you'll be saving some for the finish line later on, but you only get a break for presicley 0 seconds as you spot your braking zone for the ever so slightly banked final hairpin at around the 75 meter mark. You go from 310 down to 100 in just 2 seconds as you gently direct the car into the nice, gentle hairpin, and then it's back on the KERS, and you start it all over again.
This track is so underated. Please try it out :)
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