As we head to Austria at the Red Bull Ring for Round 3 of the Championship the drivers return to the wide open spaces and away from the ultra technical Winton Raceway. It's the first look at a "Grand Prix" circuit for the teams this season and that alone provides it's own set of challenges when driving the Supercar. We spoke to Jake Burton and asked him for 5 things that he thinks are vital to success in Round 3.
1. Braking
One of the unique factors of this track is the lack of complex corners. Just about every corner here is a long straight, followed by a tight corner and another long straight. As a result, every meter you can shorten your braking zone is worth so much here. You approach each zone with such a high speed that the initial brake application has to be super aggressive, and ensure you trail off before you make the tight turn-ins.
2. Defensive Racecraft
Being a wide track with long straights leading into long braking zones, your opponents have so many opportunities to use the draft and put a high percentage move on you.
Something to also consider, is the majority of passing spots here have a corner turning the same direction immediately afterwards. A proper defense here involves timing your shift to a defensive line, ensuring you don’t make the next corner too tight, and then parking the bus as hard as you can to ensure they don’t get an over-under on you.
3. Fuel Saving
This track is really easy to fuel save on. It has an extremely high full throttle percentage, and many long straights with powerful draft. As a result, if you aren’t fuel saving in traffic, you’re guaranteed to lose time in the pits.
4. The exit of Turn 1
Turn 1 is probably one of the most difficult corners to get right that I have ever driven in the Supercar. It’s tight, uphill, and leads onto the tracks longest straight. It’s the ultimate balance between picking the right brake marker, timing your turn in, using just the right amount of curb, and running just wide enough to not invalidate your lap time. Cut the curb too much, you lose drive on corner exit. Don’t cut the curb enough, you end up pushing wide and praying the outside curb will be the berm that keeps you on the road. When you get it right, it feels phenomenal.
5. The pit lane entry
Without question one of the hardest pit lane entries of any track we visit. On the way in, it’s a right hand entry parked right in the middle of two high speed right handers. The risk level is high, as you’ve got to cross the track and brake from the racing line. If you’ve got a car right up your backside, it can really affect when you choose to pit.
