john
Track Dealer
Joined: January 25 2003
Posts: 744
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| Posted: September 24 2004 at 12:19pm | IP Logged
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''Laguna Seca is a very demanding track, requiring a proper set-up of the car and a great physical effort from the driver, as there is little time to rest in between any of the eleven corners.
''Entering the downhill sweeping left-hand turn one flat out is always quite breathtaking because, as you fly under the bridge, you cannot see what is happening past the turn.
''Turn two is a second gear left-hander that has a number of different lines depending on the circumstances. It is a good place to overtake - or be overtaken! The quick line when you are on your own is to try to stay a little to the outside and cut back to the apex at almost a right angle, but this is difficult to do in traffic.
''Accelerating into third gear, you enter turn three - a right-hander that is very inviting because you can see both the apex and the exit of the corner.
''The right-hand turn four is very important to enter and exit properly because, if executed precisely, you are full on the throttle for quite a long period. It is difficult to see the apex here as the track is at one level, so you may have to pick up a little sand at the exit - which is not the best thing for a car behind you!
''Entering the banked left-hand turn five is another very good place to overtake, especially if you got a good run up from turn four.
''Going up towards turn six, the track begins to get difficult. My driving style during the race is to go slower entering this left-hander and be on the throttle early because, if you are forced out of the throttle at the exit, you can lose all your speed as you travel up hill towards turns seven and eight - the 'corkscrew'.
''Entering the corkscrew can be tricky because, under braking, the car can get quite light on its inside tyres and it is easy to lock one up. It is critical to have your brake balance set perfectly here.
''The famous downhill quick left and quick right of the 'corkscrew' is a one-of-a-kind experience that is equalled only by some of the turns of the old Nurburgring. It is not a difficult set of corners, but you must be on the throttle early and drive the car down into the dip changing from left to right very quickly.
''The downhill section through turns nine and ten is very demanding. In the left-hand turn nine you should stay to the inside as best you can and then be ready for a quick brake into the fourth gear right hand turn ten, where you use a bit of the pit entrance lane with the left side tyres on exit to get a bit more room.
''Entering the left-hand turn eleven is another good spot to outbrake the car ahead if you've gotten an edge exiting turn ten. Down to first gear here, but it is important not to be too fast on entry or spin your tyres on exit. It is most important to be on the throttle early, but smoothly, to get a good run up the pit straight.''
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2002 T5 Champ - Thanks, Dearing! 
2003 T3 Champ - Thanks again, Dearing! 
2003 Corvette Prod Champ - Thanks, GMAC! 
2003 T8 - Thanks Hertz! 
2004 T2 Champ No Dearing 
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Speed Ventures Forums : Tracks & Driving
Topic: Hotlap of Laguna Seca w/ Hans Stuck
