Racing lines advice
The guide below shows the racing lines around Bedworth
Raceway. Further down the page, there are some notes which correspond
to the symbols and letters below.
A)
The Sweeper
Your line into the fast sweeper should be nice and smooth. Don't get any
of your wheels on the apex of the bend as this can cause you to bin it big
time into the fence. On exiting the sweeper, you should be roughly in
the middle of the track for the approach into Bus Stop chicane (also known as
the 'D')
B) Bus Stop Chicaine
Get this right and you're saving tenth's from your lap time. The key
here is not to 'overdrive' the approach in (entering too fast and too wide).
Lay off the throttle before turning in, letting the car roll into the turn.
Hug the apex's but don't ride them. Keep a smooth line through the chicane
using as little steering as possible; just enough to get in and get out.
You can start throttling when you have made the turn to exit the chicane (i.e.
after passing the island apex). Aim for the middle of the track ready
for the next corner which is the first 180° degree hairpin.
C)
180° Hairpin
Approach the
hairpin in middle or just left of middle. Modifieds will need to brake
here but stocks won't. Get a tight line around the hairpin apex while
trying to carry as much corner speed as possible without under or over-steering.
Look at the arrows depicting the exit of the hairpin - run wide to maintain
the speed you entered the hairpin with; use the track's width. Throttle
up again as soon as you stop hugging the apex! Follow the racing line as
shown below, gradually moving over to the right hand side of the track in
preparation for the 180° horseshoe bend.
D)
Horseshoe 180°
This is one of the easiest bends on the circuit to get right, provided your
entry to it is OK. It sometimes seems your car takes an age to get
through the horseshoe and the temptation is to start applying the power too
soon (before you've exited the bend). This will upset the balance of
your car and cost you time. Enter the horseshoe with a gradual and
smooth steering motion, keeping it about half throttle around the bend.
As you reach the mid-point of the corner (marked above with 'M'), start
gradually feeding off the left hand lock of the steering and applying
throttle. Remember, as before, run to the outside of the track on the
exit to maintain corner speed. Use the track's width.
E) S3 (Also known as middle straight)
This is the second fastest part of the circuit and it's important to get your
car positioned ready for the fast entry into the Dunlop Bank right hander.
After exiting the Horseshoe, maintain a position in the middle of the track
until just before reaching the apex marked '*' above. Start
moving over to the left hand side of the track (but don't run onto the apex
marked '*')
F)
Dunlop Bank
Here you want
to hug that bottom apex as tight as possible all the way round until you reach
the point marked '#' above. A well setup car can enter this bend very
fast and hold the line. Here, as with exiting the Horseshoe, at the
point marked '#' above, gradually release the right hand steering lock,
exiting out of the corner onto the middle to left hand side of the straight.
G)
Senna Straight (aka Main Straight)
Your line up
the main straight should be at just left of the middle of the track.
This will allow you to make a smooth gradual entry into the Sweeper.
Of course, with
other cars on the track in a race, it's not always possible to follow this
line outlined above. However, when you have a clear track in front of
you, you should have no excuses!
Next time you race, try to remember what you've read here. Get it right,
lap after lap, and you're sure to improve your PB. Good luck!