A lap of Suzuka in the Mclaren of Monty
This weekend the Formula One circus takes a pit stop in Japan at the Suzuka circuit. Juan Pablo Montoya, the winner of the Brazilian GP, took us for a ride in his McLaren Mercedes at the challenging, figure-of-eight track.
"Accelerating along the downhill pit straight at Suzuka, you reach 312km/h in seventh gear, before lifting slightly for the fast, fifth gear right of First Curve. Your speed decreases only slightly to 260km/h. The track continues to bend to the right through the second corner, which is much tighter and negotiated at 153km/h in third gear. A quick burst on the throttle to some 245km/h, sees you reach the snake section. The track flicks left-right-left-right through this fourth gear complex. Your speed ranges from 210km/h at the start, to some 140km/h for the final right-hander. The challenging, long left of Dunlop Curve is next. Taken at 217km/h, Dunlop is quite bumpy on the entry and is nearly flat out. On the following straight you reach 290km/h in seventh on the approach to the Degner Curve. The first section of this double right-hander is taken at 185km/h in fourth gear, before dabbing the brakes for the tighter turn nine, which is taken at 120km/h in second. A short straight follows, and you flow under the bridge at speeds of 225km/h in fifth gear, as the track kinks to the right slightly leading into the tide hairpin. Braking hard you drop to 64km/h in first gear for the 180-degree left-hander. On the throttle as you exit, the circuit begins to sweep right through the long curve of turn twelve. You reach speeds of 297km/h in seventh, before braking for the double apex of Spoon Curve. The first left-hander is entered at 180km/h in fourth. As you continue round the corner, your speed increases slightly before a dab on the brakes takes your speed down to 140km/h in third for the second apex. It is important to maintain good momentum through the Spoon Curve, as the exit takes you out onto the longest, straight of the track. Powering up through the gears, you are travelling at 312km/h in seventh as you crossover the track below on the approach to the 130R. Either flat out or with only a slight lift for the fast left-hander, your speed stays around the 275km/h mark in the corner. Another straight leads to the Casino Triangle chicane. You then sweep back via a long right hander onto the start-finish straight.
