Austin track layout unveiled (for 2012 season)

[Brian Stuart]

what we need is run off areas that beech the car or brake wings/diffusers and the like.

I had this discussion with Blackvault last night. My point of view was the same as yours but then it was pointed out that concrete run off area means that the car is able to rejoin the race, albeit a few places down which could lead to some fighting to get through the field. If the car is beached or broken then they are out of the race, yellow flags/SC deployed which is not as exciting.
Looks an interesting circuit though not your usual Tilkadrome.

 

[utajoker]

I had this discussion with Blackvault last night. My point of view was the same as yours but then it was pointed out that concrete run off area means that the car is able to rejoin the race, albeit a few places down which could lead to some fighting to get through the field. If the car is beached or broken then they are out of the race, yellow flags/SC deployed which is not as exciting.
Looks an interesting circuit though not your usual Tilkadrome.

would rather have cars smashing into walls or atleast losing wings or a risk of getting stuck in the gravel. take hamilton at spa driving thru the gravel, how many peoples hearts were in their mouths and how many were on the edge of their seats, if that was concrete, oh hes run wide but hes fine. even hamilton thought it was over when he went off.

 

[Brian Stuart]

Agreed but it is much more common for a car to be beached in the gravel rather than escape. As to running into walls then the end result is the same as a gravel trap. Driver out of race and SC deployed. At least with a run off they have a better chance of rejoining the race.

 

[TruffleShuffle]

i see 2 passing places.

the first corner looks awsome though.

when ever they design a new track they should look at spa for ideas, its the best race circuit on the calander for a reason.

Yep, it's called the weather, and track design wont help with that

 

[Weebull]

That actually looks ok, but I guess it remains to be seen whether it'll actually be fun to watch. If I was tinkering I'd have maybe sharpened turns 6 and 7, made them a more likely overtaking spot.

First corner looks like it has the potential to be very good though. Looks like an awesome place to watch the race from.

EDIT: Yeah, Spa's a gorgeous track, but it's not actually the best for passing at all. It's just not Hungary/Monaco/Bahrain, thank god.

 

[TruffleShuffle]

The incline in the first corner wil allow the drivers to break incredibly late, especially if there is a head wind. Drivers are going to need balls of steel to be the last of the late breakers in there.

(especially if it goes off a cliff afterwards like the 3d Drawing shows, Stunt Car Racer style )

 

[Baboonanza]

It looks interesting certainly. The whole are from the second last turn to the end of the first turn looks designed to give spectacular views to the grandstands because of the inclinations.

First corner on the first race there should be pretty exciting

 

[Duke]

(especially if it goes off a cliff afterwards like the 3d Drawing shows, Stunt Car Racer style )

Thats my first thought as well from looking at the 3D drawing

 

[Psymonkee]

Yes with the Stunt Car Racer thing!

The ultimate run off areas! Make the tracks with a sheer edge to drop off

That'd make the races more interesting

 

[Outcast]

 

[Lunatic Dreyfus]

That design rings a bell somewhere. The layout looks very familiar to another track.

Of course it could be that it just looks the same as every other Tilke circuit, which is probably what is confusing me.


The cynic in me suggests we shall see a few races there, before lack of interest sends F1 packing again.

 

[hp7909]

 

[Duke]

Was't expecting him to actually drive on the circuit

 

[PinkFloyd]

That design rings a bell somewhere. The layout looks very familiar to another track.

Of course it could be that it just looks the same as every other Tilke circuit, which is probably what is confusing me.

Oh lay off it. It's far more interesting than his tracks are normally.
It isn't completely flat. I don't see what gives it a "oh that's so obviously Tilke it must suck" look here.
Fast straights, uphill and downhill braking points.

Judging from your post he could have too the best bits of Spa and placed them in a different order, but if it had Tilke's name on it you'd hate it?

 

[JRS]

Was't expecting him to actually drive on the circuit

Interesting to see just how well the car seemed to handle that surface. Maybe they should leave it like that, bit of dirt-track racin' to sort 'em out

 

[Skeeter]

That video is great. Looks to be some nice elevation changes in the Texas track.

I get the feeling the coverage of the Texas GP will be awash with terrible "prancing horses chasing raging bulls in the wild Texan plains" puns.

 

[hp7909]

Interesting to see just how well the car seemed to handle that surface. Maybe they should leave it like that, bit of dirt-track racin' to sort 'em out

Trying to find out if they had to make some extra special changes to the car especially the engine. All that dust can't have been good

 

[Ceryndrion]

Don't know about the engine, which didn't sound too held back, so I am guessing that they probably just beefed up the air filters. Other than that, the only real change would be an increased rideheight.

 

[utajoker]

something wrong with that video, Coulthard didnt hit anything.

 

[timbob]

Does it look to anyone else like a "best of..." track?

Turns 3-4-5 looks remarkably like Maggots and Becketts from Silverstone, the complex just after the back straight looks just like the stadium section from Hockenheim, and the long right hander after that looks like a 4 apex copy of turn 8 from Istambul.

Run out of ideas Mr Tilke...? I thought the "let's make an awesome track by copying all the good corners off other tracks" philosophy was the realm of rFactor modders...!