Describe your ideal circuit

[Onzlouk]

https://www.thebend.com.au

This little beauty is probably the best that Oz has to offer and whilst it does look very, very good, its still 24 hours away in a car...So i may have started a little project.

Assuming you've done the odd track day here and there or maybe you're that hardened racer with the monthly pilgrimage to the Ring, what makes an ideal race track?

Would the idea of paid laps work on a standard circuit somehow?

Would you like to see a carousel type corner on a 2.5km circuit?

Do you need heaps of run off to prevent death at every turn?

I reckon if you merged Brooklands and Silverstone, added an Eau Rouge and built it in a forest, you'd be on to a winner!

Thoughts?

[Justin Case]

The perfect track already exists. You will just have to stop the odd Transit or Reliant getting on it in the middle of a race :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KpB2ZTANn8

[Debaser]

For me the ideal circuit needs to be fast, challenging, scary, and have some corners / sections that are technical and require some thought to master. Chuck in some ‘big balls’ corners and you’re well on your way to having what I consider to be a decent track.

[Drumroll]

In the UK Cadwell Park, no need for any further debate.

[GT03ROB]

Spa

[motco]

From a spectator's point of view, Brands Hatch or even Donington because unlike old airfield tracks like Silverstone, much of the circuit is visible from several vantage points. Then there's Paddock Hill Bend...

[Chris944_S2]

motco said:

From a spectator's point of view, Brands Hatch or even Donington because unlike old airfield tracks like Silverstone, much of the circuit is visible from several vantage points. Then there's Paddock Hill Bend...

I love brands for that!
A couple of weeks ago I went to Laguna Seca when they had a round of IMSA. You can walk around the whole track, and a few yards inwards from the corkscrew you can see most of the track as it’s the top of a hill right in the middle.

[Exige77]

GT03ROB said:

Spa

^^^^What he said.

In UK, Caldwell, Anglesey and Brands Indie always fun.

[GT03ROB]

Exige77 said:

GT03ROB said:

Spa

^^^^What he said.

In UK, Caldwell, Anglesey and Brands Indie always fun.

Not done brands but agree regarding Cadwell & Anglesey. I think I prefer Oulton to those though.

[Don Roque]

Pretty much the Nordschleife, minus the GP circuit because it adds nothing for me. It has everything, being a decent length to avoid repitation and with plenty of challenging corners. It makes tracks like Spa and Silverstone seem utterly pedestrian.

Of all the traditional circuits, Suzuka is by far the best. It's technically demanding and does a huge amount with a relatively small footprint. Plus, it's in Japan, which is a plus.

[nickfrog]

GT03ROB said:

Spa

Yes not very far from the ideal circuit although drive on another 45mn and the Nordschleife for me remains even closer. Doing both on the same day was a brilliant experience which I'll hopefully repeat next year.

[DanielSan]

You're in right country with your choice OP, but wrong choice. For a more unique approach it's Mount Panarma all the way, for a more standard circuit approach, Sydney Motorsport Park has a bit of everything.

[37chevy]

Drumroll said:

In the UK Cadwell Park, no need for any further debate.

Disagree. Great track and great for club racing but too narrow for big stuff. In the uk it’s oulton, Donington or brands gp

Slightly left field but I’d look to America for the best tracks... something like Canadian tire Motorsport Park of Virginia international.

Fast, flowing and great scenery with plenty of overtaking spots

[hammo19]

Overseas has to be Bathurst

[slopes]

Drumroll said:

In the UK Cadwell Park, no need for any further debate.

This, it has pretty much everything for me, elevation changes, fast open corners, tight tricky section, heavy braking zones etc.

[Onzlouk]

Some excellent points here, i hadn't considered spectating and its a huge part of it, certainly been to some bad ones in my time. Also some circuits i hadn't considered with great qualities.

What about the other bits that make up the experience? For me there is nothing like the Nurburgring for an atmosphere, it is intoxicating.

How does an ideal day go with a visit to the ideal circuit?

Its close by?
no noise limits?
no prerequisites for entry or should it be closed to seasoned drivers?
5 lap tickets then you're flagged?
single entry/exit system for one lap like the Ring?
good pit facilities?
dining?

Or do we just need an old airfield with a hillclimb?

[GT03ROB]

37chevy said:

Drumroll said:

In the UK Cadwell Park, no need for any further debate.

Disagree. Great track and great for club racing but too narrow for big stuff. In the uk it’s oulton, Donington or brands gp

Cadwell is a nice circuit but, IMHO, more suited to smaller cars & bikes. By contrast Spa which I picked is more suited to cars with more power. So your ideal circuit may be related to what you are driving at the time.

[coppice]

Plenty of bigger stuff has raced at Cadwell , which, by some margin, is our best circuit, . Great to drive and for the spectator nowhere gets you closer.

After that - Brands GP - of course
Anglesey - fabulous , fast , accessible all round and stunning location
Goodwood - forget the mustard yellow keks and the Ruperts, a sinous , old style and very fast circuit
Thruxton I like as it is again very old style, and ferociously fast
Silverstone ? You're having a laugh right ?

I loved my trips to GPs at Imola and Zandvoort too- so much nicer than that crap in Sochi and Singapore

[nickfrog]

coppice said:

Plenty of bigger stuff has raced at Cadwell , which, by some margin, is our best circuit, . Great to drive and for the spectator nowhere gets you closer.

After that - Brands GP - of course
Anglesey - fabulous , fast , accessible all round and stunning location
Goodwood - forget the mustard yellow keks and the Ruperts, a sinous , old style and very fast circuit
Thruxton I like as it is again very old style, and ferociously fast
Silverstone ? You're having a laugh right ?

I loved my trips to GPs at Imola and Zandvoort too- so much nicer than that crap in Sochi and Singapore

This must be massively subjective as I never use my local circuits anymore (Goodwood and Thruxton) as I find them boring to drive after about 20 laps but I always do at least one track day at Silverstone as many of the world famous corners are just some of the best in the UK, like the Beckets / Maggot complex, not to mention Stowe or Brookland. Silverstone is such a challenge to get right.

Obviously not talking about spectating as I hate that, very frustrating to see a circuit without driving it.

Edited by nickfrog on Monday 30th September 16:28

[37chevy]

coppice said:

Plenty of bigger stuff has raced at Cadwell , which, by some margin, is our best circuit, . Great to drive and for the spectator nowhere gets you closer.

DID race at Caldwell. It’s too dangerous and narrow for modern fast stuff like British GT, touring cars etc...it doesn’t have the run off or facilities. Not that I’m complaining, it’s perfect as it is....

....but I couldn’t imagine WEC going there? Could you?

I think there’s 2 types of track. Those suitable for club racing and those for the bigger stuff.

I’m quite happy circuits like Oulton and Caldwell still exist, I wouldn’t want them sanitised to run F1, at the same time if series like F1 did run there the races would be utter rubbish...

...actually that brings me onto Zandvoort. Great track for F1 in the 60s/70s.....but now? They either ruin it by bringing it to modern standards or have a crap race with no overtaking.

To me the perfect circuit is somewhere in between where you can hold big events AND have great racing.

Donington and Brands in the UK
Canadian Tire, VIR in America
Bathurst In Australia
Monza, Spa, Nurburgring, Red Bull Ring in Europe