COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[Pup]

Sorry - moved my post to the Jersey thread...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10491&p=345909#p345909

[Ray]

Turn 1 ain't no joke. That elevation change is pretty awesome.

[FW17]

I for one think that turn 1 is going to have no great impact.

Afterall turn one is a hairpin bend, and every one in f1 hates hairpin bends. An elevation change on a straight in a f1 car is not much of an excitement.

The rest of the track is good but turn 1 is just a hairpin bend.

[bhall]

While there's nothing inherently exhilarating about hairpin turns, nothing in the vein of Spa's Eau Rouge, Istanbul's Turn 8, or Suzuka's 130R, I do enjoy the legitimate overtaking opportunities they serve up in a race. A driver needn't worry about trick tires or flappy wings when it comes to overtaking another driver at a hairpin turn. The chance is there if he can make it work.

The fact that Turn 1 here seems to lie at the crest of a hill makes it interesting, because the drivers will also have to deal with a sharp change in vertical load as he makes the turn. We're sure to see a few mistakes here by rattled drivers under pressure.

[raymondu999]

We're not talking about a hill here. We're talking 133 feet, which is 40.5 meters ish. That's 10 stories on a good day. They go uphill to the hairpin at the peak, which I believe will mean the cars will be slightly slanted to the side at the apex, and then it goes downhill.

[hairy_scotsman]

We're not talking about a hill here. We're talking 133 feet, which is 40.5 meters ish. That's 10 stories on a good day. They go uphill to the hairpin at the peak, which I believe will mean the cars will be slightly slanted to the side at the apex, and then it goes downhill.

It's not banked...pretty much flat at the apex.

Here's another photo I shot the other day:



...and these show more of the difference in elevation from the main straight to Turn 1:





I'm kind of in the middle regarding turn 1. It will present a challenge because of its steep grade and leveling off at the top, and it's very dramatic aesthetically. It will be photographed & discussed at great length, but it won't be the true defining feature of the course, imho.

[raymondu999]

I know it's not banked - but the elevation (for the cars) has to switch over from uphill to downhill. IIRC the inflection is smack on the apex - or does it level out to sea-level horizontal on the apex?

[hairy_scotsman]

I know it's not banked - but the elevation (for the cars) has to switch over from uphill to downhill. IIRC the inflection is smack on the apex - or does it level out to sea-level horizontal on the apex?

Not sure. I'll try to get a closer look next time I'm up there.

[Pup]

It's pretty much at the inflection point. It will be a challenge and nice I think having a 'hairpin' leading into the esses. There's a real chance of having a protracted battle through the entire first sector I think.

[xpensive]

I think that corner needs some serious banking to become a classic, looks odd to me the way it is?

[FW17]

It would have been better if it was 133 ft down hill, with a down hill haripin. This one adds nothing.

I hope that hill was natural, else if it was filled, that is one giant waste of money.

I know it's not banked - but the elevation (for the cars) has to switch over from uphill to downhill. IIRC the inflection is smack on the apex - or does it level out to sea-level horizontal on the apex?

It is up hill in an f1 car not this..........

[bhall]

Why would it be better downhill?

[FW17]

Why would it be better downhill?

Have you ever driven a car on a hill road?

If yes, which is better. Uphill or downhill?

[raymondu999]

You do realise it's only Turn 1 that's elevated? You go 133ft up, then after the apex it drops by another 133ft?

[hairy_scotsman]

I hope that hill was natural, else if it was filled, that is one giant waste of money.

It's natural.