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Old 10 Dec 2013, 04:42 (Ref:3342245)   #54
Purist
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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Wichita, Kansas, USA
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Purist is going for a new world record!Purist is going for a new world record!Purist is going for a new world record!Purist is going for a new world record!Purist is going for a new world record!Purist is going for a new world record!
Twisty? Yes. Narrow? No.

They're certainly no narrower than a number of the American road courses, or Suzuka, once you get away from the starting grid.

Also, a sinuous circuit isn't inherently bad by any means. Just have a look at Potrero de los Funes in Argentina.

I wouldn't run the GTs at Valencia, or the re-worked Estoril. Catalunya just seems too big in some ways for all but the most powerful and downforce-laden cars. Also, I don't care for those two more angular corners at the end of the back stretch, or the chicane before the final corner. Considering that the MotoGP bikes use the former F1 layout, it's definitely safe enough for the cars.

Navarra has some interesting points, but I find it a bit too fiddly. Also, the circuit could do with a greater apparent variety of corner combinations.

I think Aragon could be decent. It's not so tight, and is plenty wide. It's one of Tilke's better efforts, I would say, with some nice, quick corners, and a fair bit of elevation change. I just don't like to see it used with that chicane in the middle of the back stretch, which is the same issue I have with Paul Ricard; I just don't see the point of running the full course at Le Castellet if you're going to interrupt the Mistral Straight.

I think Jerez is alright. There are a decent number of fast turns there, and a few long-ish straights. However, that chicane spoils one of those high-speed sections, and again, since MotoGP is willing to use the original corner, you really can't claim that it's too dangerous for the cars to utilize as well. (Frankly, if it's possible for the seat to be ejected from an F1 car, you've got some bigger issues that NEED addressing BEFORE you start screwing with the track.)

Jarama, with that extension since the F1 days, is quite a nice length. It has several high-speed corners. Most of the original turns are banked, and coupled with the corner combinations, this leads to a good variety of potential lines around much of the circuit. Overtaking can be difficult, but can also be a lot of fun, and a lot of fun to watch. (I've just been watching the FIA GT3 races from Jarama back in 2010.)
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