A lap of Monza with de la Rosa
The Formula One teams are preparing for the final race of the 2006 European campagne this weekend at the fast circuit of Monza, Italy. Pedro de la Rosa, the McLaren F1 driver, takes us with him for a lap at this historic venue.
Pedro de la Rosa: "Starting a lap of Monza, you power up through the gears along the wide Rettifilio Tribune straight reaching the top speed of all the circuits on the calendar, 360km/h in sixth gear. The right-left Rettifilio Chicane is located at the end of the straight and sees your speed drop as you brake dramatically to 124km/h in second.
As you exit, you immediately reach the Curva Grande. This long, bumpy right-hander is taken flat out and your speed increases to some 280km/h in fourth before arriving to the Variante dello Roggia. You brake from some 345km/h in sixth to 100km/h to negotiate the left-right chicane, which has a tricky entry as it is very bumpy and slippery. Another short straight follows and takes you to the double apex right hander of Curva di Lesmos. You enter the first turn at 164km/h in third.
A quick burst of acceleration sees your speed increase up to 266km/h before you then brake for the second apex, which is negotiated at 158km/h also in third. It is important to maintain a good speed through Lesmos, as it takes you onto a long straight, which has a slight left curve. You reach 342km/h in sixth as you blast towards the Curva del Vialone.
Another hard braking zone takes your speed down to 148km/h in second to negotiate the left hander, the entry of the famous Ascari chicane, which is immediately followed by a right-hander leading into the next left hand corner. This is quite an exciting section of corners, which then flicks you onto the back straight, achieving speeds of 347km/h in sixth gear as you approach the famous Parabolica. The tight entrance to this long sweeping right hander is taken at some 162km/h and as the curve opens out your speed increases and you are swung back onto the start-finish straight to begin another lap. "
