The Track

The track at ARRA has four lanes and is 138ft long. The main straight is 38ft long and there are 6 major Bends. It looks a little like this: 

Diagram taken from slot racing  - circa 1985 - it hasn't changed since. ( I know the measurements are different n the text as well)

    1 - First corner from the straight, banked and very quick.

       2- Long fast sweeper round race control

        3- Tight hairpin with slight curve in the braking area and s-bend on exit onto back straight

            4- 1st of 3 hairpins, tight and usually arrived at at speed from back straight

               5- Like 4 but lane order is reversed

                6- Final hairpin, essential to get a clean exit onto straight

A lap round ARRA. Flat down the straight, touching 60mph in a sports, its over the line and hard on the brakes into turn one, the high banking allowing huge speed to be carried through. A clean exit without getting the car too sideways is needed to get to turn 2. This is the longest corner on the circuit - the whole turn can be takes with a smooth power slide. Next its through a nasty little kink in the braking area into the bottom hairpin, and onto the back straight through a left right kink - too early on the power and the car goes down the back straight furiously penduluming. The next corner is the double hairpin which demands rhythm as the corners are joined together. A quick blast of power takes you to the final corner, a fast hairpin, where its crucial to keep it clean on the exit - getting sideways and spinning the wheels wont get you down the straight fast. The above is 5.4 seconds in a sports ar - a lot to think about!