Caterham Racing Update :)
08-05-2009, 12:08 AM
#13
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Jo, just watched the video, can I make a couple of comments?
On test days, try to find the areas where using the full width of the track is beneficial, out the back of the circuit, you lost a few tenths because you didn't use the full width of the circuit on the entry to one of the corners, meaning more braking and a compromised exit - on a circuit like Brands GP, it can make a big difference.
Don't use the cars in front to judge braking - a couple of times you lost touch with the cars you were following because you braked harder than necessary due (I think) to seeing them brake and reacting - what happens is a concertina effect, where you brake slightly harder than they do and you lose a bit of time. Again, use the test day to get your own braking points for the corners and use them, not other people (other people often do unscrupulous things like move the brake light switch so it doesn't come on when the pedal is first pressed, precisely to make those behind outbrake themselves, or do what you did and misjudge the braking point).
Other than those small things, your racecraft is coming on nicely
On test days, try to find the areas where using the full width of the track is beneficial, out the back of the circuit, you lost a few tenths because you didn't use the full width of the circuit on the entry to one of the corners, meaning more braking and a compromised exit - on a circuit like Brands GP, it can make a big difference.
Don't use the cars in front to judge braking - a couple of times you lost touch with the cars you were following because you braked harder than necessary due (I think) to seeing them brake and reacting - what happens is a concertina effect, where you brake slightly harder than they do and you lose a bit of time. Again, use the test day to get your own braking points for the corners and use them, not other people (other people often do unscrupulous things like move the brake light switch so it doesn't come on when the pedal is first pressed, precisely to make those behind outbrake themselves, or do what you did and misjudge the braking point).
Other than those small things, your racecraft is coming on nicely
08-05-2009, 03:33 AM
#14
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Yep you're absolutely right, I do brake too much - especiallywhen the yellow flag came out at Druids near the beginning.
Our cars don't have any brake lights so it is quite tricky to judge and I'm paranoid about rear ending someone - I've had rubbish brakes all season (just had them sorted out) so I'm learning confidence back in them again.
And good point about using the track on the entry - I'll watch the full race footage (haven't done that yet), but I know at Pembrey I didn't use the full track on the way in - I think that's going to be important this weekend at Pembrey too
Feel free to make any comments thank you
I think I lost most of my time on the left hander before the straight before Clearways, and at Graham Hill - both left handers funnily enough, and both corners I used to enjoy but couldn't click with them on Saturday for some reason.
Testing on Friday at Snett, and racing on Sat - any tips? Have only been there once and it was icy then my engine blew up at lunchtime!
Our cars don't have any brake lights so it is quite tricky to judge and I'm paranoid about rear ending someone - I've had rubbish brakes all season (just had them sorted out) so I'm learning confidence back in them again.
And good point about using the track on the entry - I'll watch the full race footage (haven't done that yet), but I know at Pembrey I didn't use the full track on the way in - I think that's going to be important this weekend at Pembrey too
Feel free to make any comments thank you
I think I lost most of my time on the left hander before the straight before Clearways, and at Graham Hill - both left handers funnily enough, and both corners I used to enjoy but couldn't click with them on Saturday for some reason.
Testing on Friday at Snett, and racing on Sat - any tips? Have only been there once and it was icy then my engine blew up at lunchtime!
08-05-2009, 05:36 AM
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Yes, you lost half a second by being too keen on the stoppers when you saw the yellow. And if you were a little more confident on the brakes you'd present yourself with more overtaking opportunities, it comes with race experience, but it's somethng to work at.
Graham Hill I noticed you didn't always get right back over after exiting Druids, maybe that has some bearing.
Snett:
Riches is faster than you think.
Get the exit from Sear nailed, it's a devil of a corner but it precedes the longest straight in the country, so a tenth here is worth half a second on the straight. There's a lot of runoff and that lulls people into a higher entry speed than they should use, start with a slow entry and build up until you are just comfortably off the runoff before the bumpy stuff.
The Esses at the end of the Revett straight is brake, left, back on the power then brake again, right. Don't coast under the bridge like many do, you can gain a fair bit on cars in front if you get back on the gas for an instant.
There's a lip on the entry to the Bombhole which unsettles the car if the back end's a bit lairy, make sure you're settled for the entry.
HTH
Graham Hill I noticed you didn't always get right back over after exiting Druids, maybe that has some bearing.
Snett:
Riches is faster than you think.
Get the exit from Sear nailed, it's a devil of a corner but it precedes the longest straight in the country, so a tenth here is worth half a second on the straight. There's a lot of runoff and that lulls people into a higher entry speed than they should use, start with a slow entry and build up until you are just comfortably off the runoff before the bumpy stuff.
The Esses at the end of the Revett straight is brake, left, back on the power then brake again, right. Don't coast under the bridge like many do, you can gain a fair bit on cars in front if you get back on the gas for an instant.
There's a lip on the entry to the Bombhole which unsettles the car if the back end's a bit lairy, make sure you're settled for the entry.
HTH
08-05-2009, 07:39 AM
#16
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You might be right re Graham Hill - at the time I couldn't figure out why sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. I also found I was carrying too much speed into Westfield on occcasion (not sure if that's on the vid)
Don Palmer's words came to me during my "moment" - if all else fails let go
Thansk for the tips re Snett - current weather is wet for testing on Friday (Boo) and dry for racing. As bad as it can be really, as I struggle to change "mode" and if I've never driven a quick lap qualy could be a disaster!
Don Palmer's words came to me during my "moment" - if all else fails let go
Thansk for the tips re Snett - current weather is wet for testing on Friday (Boo) and dry for racing. As bad as it can be really, as I struggle to change "mode" and if I've never driven a quick lap qualy could be a disaster!
08-05-2009, 01:39 PM
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Not too bad - in qualy I was about 2 secs off pole, but about 10 secs separated the field 
My best was 1.47.5, pole was 1.45.2 (back of the grid was 1.53.6
Then in the race I was 1.45.8, with the fastest lap being 1.44.9 (slowest fastest lap was 1.49.9)
My best was 1.47.5, pole was 1.45.2 (back of the grid was 1.53.6Then in the race I was 1.45.8, with the fastest lap being 1.44.9 (slowest fastest lap was 1.49.9)
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