Anyone familiar with VIR?

I will be attending a 2-day HPDE on Thursday and Friday on the full course, (3.27 mile and a 3000 ft straight and a 4000 foot straight).

Are there any blind corners or gotchas to look out for?

I have been on the south course once (on a motorcycle) so I know a small portion of the track.

Thanks

George

 

I think the only tricky turn is after all the S's...it is a blind left turn that leads to the downhill before OakTree...Turn 10 (now that I have the map). I only ran the big course 2 days for "comp school" to get my license.... You can pretty much keep it floored from turn 6 through 9 if i remember correctly..... a bunch of "S's"....

I did go off at "roller coaster" on Michelin cups two times out of the 40 laps that i ran that 2 days.

 

Cool thanks, I am somewhat familiar with 10, since I ran the South course. That was one of my favorite corners. It wasn't really blind on the bike as I recall, but a bikes perspective is a bit different than a much lower car.

What about turns 14 and 15 (Roller Coaster) those seem like they could be interesting after coming off the monster straight.

George

 

I remember instructors saying that most off's happen at 5a. I think that is because if you turn in too early you have to lift to get the car back for turn 6, the rear comes around and you are done. Turn in late for 5a.

Do like what Scot said for 6-9. I was afraid my skirt would blow around so I didn't give it full throttle. Late apex and do not track out, you will be set up for the following turn.

I liked roller coaster and hogs pen. I still need instruction but I saw of most cars and what I did was some braking before 14 but most of the braking is in a straight line after you turn in for 14. I had the stock gears so for me that was 3rd through 14a and 15, little lift maybe even braking before 16 and back on full throttle. DO NOT lift in 17. This seems obvious but natural reactions being what they are. I almost put the front end on the inside wall and this was after I saw an Elise take a corner and the rear to the same wall. If it doesn't feel right keep the foot planted and go straight off--you won't hit a thing, the tire wall is too far away.

Now I must say that Scot will be 4 or 5 seconds faster than me around that track so keep that in mind when he replies.

Other advice-----Show people why they should have bought an S2000!

Good Luck,

John

 

Good stuff guys thanks.

 

jfo - are those S2000 specific tips. I'm going Thur and Fri too, but not in my S (no rollbar).

...I'm quite happy with my 'track car' though . S2000 is fine for the autox.

 

George,
My advice: stay out of my way! J/K , I have to leave the S home for this so I will be in a considerably slower car. I'll try and stay out of your way. I'll be running in Group B. Ah well, it should be a blast anyway.

 

Yes, S2000 specific. Also that 3rd gear bit is specific for the original rear gears. I haven't tried it with the 4.57's but I suspect I would still downshift to 3rd than accelerate through roller coaster and shift to 4th before hog pen.

Good Luck!

 

Not having driven VIR in a road car, my experience isn't exactly the same as everyone else's, but I'd say turn 10 is the only one you really need to watch out for. As long as you remember that going straight into the infield is the way to go if you get in trouble you should be fine there though.

I've seen a few people hook cars into the inside wall in because of mucking up 5a and hooking a wheel inside the turn 6 curbing, but I think it shouldn't be a huge danger in a DE with your head on straight.

Everything from Roller Coaster on is a blast. You'll love it

 

What are the current roll bar/hardtop requirements for our cars at VIR?