Fastest speed through Druids at Oulton Park

[TommyP]

Just gassing to a mate today about the Oulton Park track day on Wednesday the 27th.
We were debating that Druids is our nemesis, especially in the wet. My mate nearly hit the barrier last time out there and had a few hairy moments too. I've done a 360 and carried on and also had a few hairy moments of my own (wet and dry).
I've never looked down at the speedo as I've gone round Druids (for obvious reasons of concentration), so don't know what the maximum speed is that I've taken it at.
Cars used have been Porsche 911 (proper race car) Lotus Elise and a Caterham.
The only reference we have is from someone else who said that in a Cerbra they took it at 85 MPH Dry and warm conditions.
So without bulling it up whats the max speed you've done or know of someone doing through Druids.
Like top gear, please mark with a W = wet, VW = very wet etc.
Cheers
Tom

[The Wookie]

I can't quote exact speed, but in a 997 GT3 Cup in the dry on slicks I think I was coming out with shift lights up in 4th, which is about 95 IIRC.

The general approach to that corner in that car is very interesting actually... some dilation was experienced

[FTW]

95mm (mildly moist) ktm xbow on R888s

[boxsey]

Corner speeds for OP according to the British GT series at the link below. The reckon it's 100 mph for one of their racecars:

http://www.britishgt.com/circuitprofile.php?action...

Personally I'm only about 75 on the exit (Porsche 964). That's the only time I would dare look at the speedo. It's one of those corners that I'm happy to keep waiting before applying throttle.

[tony.t]

Entry speed, exit speed or speed at apex?

[TommyP]

I would have thought that we are talking apex speed?

[Mark UB]

all I know is if you do bin it at Druids at high speed then it's goodbye car.

Edited by Mark UB on Wednesday 27th January 16:51

[mmm-five]

boxsey said:

Corner speeds for OP according to the British GT series at the link below. The reckon it's 100 mph for one of their racecars:

http://www.britishgt.com/circuitprofile.php?action...

Personally I'm only about 75 on the exit (Porsche 964). That's the only time I would dare look at the speedo. It's one of those corners that I'm happy to keep waiting before applying throttle.

Just make sure that whatever speed you do it at, you don't try to use the grass on the inside as an apex

[Big Ashy]

Apex speed in warm conditions on a dry track on slicks in my Golf GTI Track Car is approx 100-105 mph and that is pretty much on the limit and wouldn`t really want to try and go any faster as I`m sure it would end up in the armco .

However, my standard Griff 500 on road tyres in the same conditions is probably only 85ish mph apex speed, doesn`t handle anywhere near as good as The Golf as always feels its going to bite back if its pushed too hard? Nitron suspension set up should hopefully change that scenario which I hope to be ordering in the very near future. I feel another thread appearing very soon regarding this as I am unsure what to go for?

[fergus]

Big Ashy said:

Apex speed in warm conditions on a dry track on slicks in my Golf GTI Track Car is approx 100-105 mph and that is pretty much on the limit

I'd suggest that may be beyond the limit if

The Wookie said:

I can't quote exact speed... in a 997 GT3 Cup in the dry on slicks I think I was coming out with shift lights up in 4th, which is about 95 IIRC.

The datalogging on the GT3 would make it very easy to look up....

[mmm-five]

fergus said:

Big Ashy said:

Apex speed in warm conditions on a dry track on slicks in my Golf GTI Track Car is approx 100-105 mph and that is pretty much on the limit

I'd suggest that may be beyond the limit if

The Wookie said:

I can't quote exact speed... in a 997 GT3 Cup in the dry on slicks I think I was coming out with shift lights up in 4th, which is about 95 IIRC.

The datalogging on the GT3 would make it very easy to look up....

Is the GT3 that low geared? Even my Z4MC does 100mph in 3rd (although it's only a road car).

[Mark UB]

Big Ashy said:

Apex speed in warm conditions on a dry track on slicks in my Golf GTI Track Car is approx 100-105 mph and that is pretty much on the limit and wouldn`t really want to try and go any faster as I`m sure it would end up in the armco .

However, my standard Griff 500 on road tyres in the same conditions is probably only 85ish mph apex speed, doesn`t handle anywhere near as good as The Golf as always feels its going to bite back if its pushed too hard? Nitron suspension set up should hopefully change that scenario which I hope to be ordering in the very near future. I feel another thread appearing very soon regarding this as I am unsure what to go for?

What lap times are you doing in the Griff compared to the Golf?

[fergus]

mmm-five said:

fergus said:

Big Ashy said:

Apex speed in warm conditions on a dry track on slicks in my Golf GTI Track Car is approx 100-105 mph and that is pretty much on the limit

I'd suggest that may be beyond the limit if

The Wookie said:

I can't quote exact speed... in a 997 GT3 Cup in the dry on slicks I think I was coming out with shift lights up in 4th, which is about 95 IIRC.

The datalogging on the GT3 would make it very easy to look up....

Is the GT3 that low geared? Even my Z4MC does 100mph in 3rd (although it's only a road car).

Being a racecar, the gearbox internals (ratios) and final drive can be set-up for each circuit

[racingsnake]

Never dared to look but it varies throughout the year as fallen leaves on the line make it worse in winter as well as the wet!

[mmm-five]

fergus said:

[Being a racecar, the gearbox internals (ratios) and final drive can be set-up for each circuit

That much I understand, but still thought it'd be in 4th.

I suppose it doesn't matter either way as it's the speed we're talking about.

[FlyInMySoup]

Big Ashy said:

Apex speed in warm conditions on a dry track on slicks in my Golf GTI Track Car is approx 100-105 mph and that is pretty much on the limit and wouldn`t really want to try and go any faster as I`m sure it would end up in the armco .

However, my standard Griff 500 on road tyres in the same conditions is probably only 85ish mph apex speed, doesn`t handle anywhere near as good as The Golf as always feels its going to bite back if its pushed too hard? Nitron suspension set up should hopefully change that scenario which I hope to be ordering in the very near future. I feel another thread appearing very soon regarding this as I am unsure what to go for?

Hmmmm, posted about this last week so I'm going to bite.... speeds through Druids from my data logging, 70mph at turn in, 75 at apex and 83 at exit. Caterham 7 live axle, 185bhp on second hand slicks. Max speed up the hill before druids 115mph. Lap time round Island circuit 1m 35.7, International +18/19secs which has been enough to get me a finish in the top ten, okay 9th.... I'm no Oulton expert or expert racecar driver but if you can get through druids 30% faster then you should be easily in the high 1m40s round the international circuit. If it's true then quite remarkable, you would clean up if you raced.

[mmm-five]

FlyInMySoup said:

Lap time round Island circuit 1m 35.7, International +18/19secs which has been enough to get me a finish in the top ten, okay 9th.... I'm no Oulton expert or expert racecar driver but if you can get through druids 30% faster then you should be easily in the high 1m40s round the international circuit. If it's true then quite remarkable, you would clean up if you raced.

There's a video of an M3 CSL chasing a Porsche GT3 RS at Oulton Park, and including the time spent trying to pass other traffic the did the International circuit in 1m:59s - so I'd guess 1m:55 without traffic would be possible and in line with your race pace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bZitdqWHd8#

For info:

• Last year's lap record in the BTCC was 1m:27.186s for the Island circuit.
• 2009 F3 does the International circuit in under 1m:30s.

And there are these from an Autocar test day for PCOTY or ECOTY of the International circuit:

• Caterham 7 CSR 260 - 1:52.6s
• Porsche 997 Turbo - 1:57.5s
• Lamborghini Gallardo - 1:57.7s
• BMW M6 - 2:00.0s
• BMW Z4 M Coupe - 2:01.6s
• Aston Martin DB9 - 2:01.9s
• Porsche Cayman S - 2:02.0s
• Lotus Exige S - 2:02.7s
• Audi RS4 (B7) - 2:02.7s
• Mercedes E 63 AMG - 2:04.9s
• Nissan 350Z (308bhp) - 2:06.6s
• Jaguar XK8 - 2:11.2s
• Mazda MX-5 2.0 MZR - 2:11.2s

[FlyInMySoup]

mmm-five said:

FlyInMySoup said:

Lap time round Island circuit 1m 35.7, International +18/19secs which has been enough to get me a finish in the top ten, okay 9th.... I'm no Oulton expert or expert racecar driver but if you can get through druids 30% faster then you should be easily in the high 1m40s round the international circuit. If it's true then quite remarkable, you would clean up if you raced.

There's a video of an M3 CSL chasing a Porsche GT3 RS at Oulton Park, and including the time spent trying to pass other traffic the did the International circuit in 1m:59s - so I'd guess 1m:55 without traffic would be possible and in line with your race pace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bZitdqWHd8#

For info:

• Last year's lap record in the BTCC was 1m:27.186s for the Island circuit.
• 2009 F3 does the International circuit in under 1m:30s.

And there are these from an Autocar test day for PCOTY or ECOTY of the International circuit:

• Caterham 7 CSR 260 - 1:52.6s
• Porsche 997 Turbo - 1:57.5s
• Lamborghini Gallardo - 1:57.7s
• BMW M6 - 2:00.0s
• BMW Z4 M Coupe - 2:01.6s
• Aston Martin DB9 - 2:01.9s
• Porsche Cayman S - 2:02.0s
• Lotus Exige S - 2:02.7s
• Audi RS4 (B7) - 2:02.7s
• Mercedes E 63 AMG - 2:04.9s
• Nissan 350Z (308bhp) - 2:06.6s
• Jaguar XK8 - 2:11.2s
• Mazda MX-5 2.0 MZR - 2:11.2s

The Porsche was never really baulked in that video, there's no way that driver would find 4 secs a lap even on an empty track. The car might do 1m55 but not with that driver.

Any way I look at this 100mph + through Druids in a golf on slicks isn't really credible, it'd be taking a second out of me on that corner alone. The CSR 260 that races in the same championship as me is doing 1m49s round the international cicuit and 1m30.9 round Island, so just under 5s a lap faster than me and 3secs faster than the one you quote above.

[PhillipM]

mmm-five said:

don't try to une the grass on the inside as an apex...

Worked quite well for us, but then, we were running mud and snow tyres at the time...

Edited by PhillipM on Tuesday 26th January 01:22

Edited by PhillipM on Tuesday 26th January 01:23

[ads316]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_vMX-nrgE8


the dreaded Druids, do you mean this tom,

Edited by ads316 on Tuesday 26th January 07:46