I feel like you could be getting on the throttle earlier/more around 0:25 to 0:47. You're maintaining speed, but it looks like there's plenty of room to go faster. I don't know the track though, and those blind turns take getting used to. You have to visualize the road through the hill and trust it to be there.

But man that looks like a blast to drive.

^Maybe just slightly earlier throttle at the exit of the long left sweeper (Turn 3 around 0:25), I am lacking a touch of confidence there as the car always seems to feel a little unsettled coming out of that turn.

The blind right after that goes off camber as you come over the crest and is very hard to take at the absolute limit on the way in without loosing the rear. I just manage to catch it on an earlier lap in one of those 2 sessions. Notice that I am not quite using all the traction circle on the way in on either of the laps I posted. Once the car is turned in, it is very difficult to add speed without sliding away from the apex which will compromise the next left up the hill.

Mostly I feel like there must be a way to take more speed through that left (T5 up the hill around 0:45), but then I end up messing up my line into 5a (slow blind left over the crest)... It is a tricky section for sure.

Some new material. Not quite my fastest laps from either day, and I was really struggling with the high track temps and my old tires, but lots of fun and the car worked really well in the heat.


EDIT: updated Thunderhill video with new version that includes inside camera view

Man those tracks look fun. Another comment from the 'never driven that track' gallery :), at Seca, it looks like you're shimmying to the inside of the corner before the actual corner. Compare your position to the tire marks on the ground, you're a bit inside them on many occasions.

Thanks for the feedback :)
Anywhere in particular? I'm kind of all over the place into T2 (the tight left after the start/finish straight), but aside from that I think my line looks reasonable. Keep in mind that some of the tire marks are from cars racing two wide, or going off line :-P I'm also apexing earlier in places than a lot of the DE guys who have more power, or are just playing safer than I was.

I need to get better at analyzing my track data the way you do...!

Sometimes I obsess a little too much... but then, what else is there to do between track days? :-)

I also fall under the group of "never driven that track" keyboard driving instructors, so don't quote me on this. When you're entering turn 2 at Laguna Seca, try turning in a bit later and keep more towards the outside so you can maximize your radius through turn 3 while apexing a bit later, theoretically you should be able to get on the throttle MUCH earlier. From what I'm seeing, you actually were closest to that line in the first lap of the video, where your apex for turn 2 was in the middle of the track (not really sure what happened exiting 3 there... seems like a data glitch). Again, I've never driven LS, so there might be other factors at play that I can't see, but from here it seems like keeping a wider exit out of 2/entry into 3 would gain you some time. Remember to look ahead to the apex of 3 while entering 2 and it should fall into place.

Editing for clarity: I'm referring to Turn 3 as the second half of the Andretti hairpin because it's easier to explain that way, it's actually the right hand sweeper just after the hairpin. Carry on.

OK, yes. Turn 2 (along with Turn 11) was pretty much a disaster for me. There was just not much grip through either on that day and in retrospect I was over driving both.

There are actually 3 lines through there.

1) The classic line, which is basically the one you describe, and the line I take on the first lap in the video. This is where everyone should start when driving the track.

2) The double apex line, where you angle the car in to an early 1st apex before starting to brake, or just as you start to brake. You then turn the car to join the classic line and setup a late apex in the same place. The double apex line benefits from reducing the total distance traveled, and allowing you to brake slightly later since you can brake more into the corner. On the other hand, the minimum speed is lower since you need to turn the car through a more acute angle to re-join the classic line. This is the next line to try once you are able to drive the classic line consistently. Expect to be slower at first than you were with that line though.

3) Finally, there is another variant of the double apex line where you arc the car, rather than straight-line it, into the first apex under braking. That allows you to have the car rotated a little more when you get there, meaning your minimum speed can be closer to the classic line. But, it is harder to execute, and you can't brake quite as hard as with the standard double apex line.

OK, just re-watching my video, the first lap is pretty close to where I think you want to be on the "classic line". The car does twitch a little under braking just before I turn in so I don't start the turn quite as wide as I could have, but turn much later than that and you are up on the marbles and driving a further distance than necessary.

Next go around, I attempt line (3). Only I don't really make it to the first apex. I'm still braking too much and unable to get the car in to the first apex. You can see the car sliding around as I try to get it to the 2nd apex. Starts off with understeer. I do manage to hit the late apex, but it is a touch early with the car under-rotated and so I have to be slow getting on the throttle on the way out (since I am not able to unwind the wheel as soon as I'd like).

The last time I don't really end up on any line. I attempt line (3) again, but start a little left of where I should be having passed the corvette. I do get closer to the first apex, but have not slowed or rotated the car enough at that point. I then drift wide, missing the 2nd apex completely. By giving up the 2nd apex, I am however able to rotate the car so I can get onto the throttle earlier than the previous lap.


In summary, there is a lot of space in that corner, so it is fun to play around, but please don't copy my line, particularly for the 2nd and 3rd laps in that video :)

Yes, I'm not actually braking there :-)

Interesting - i've really only tried the late apex line (#1) which seems to allow me to get on the throttle earlier (from what I recall)...

will have to try this again later. Just registered for Laguna in December with NCRC - care to join me?

First time on R comps, new Personal Best at Thunderhill, couple of mistakes...

My 3rd day on NT-01. This time at Sonoma with what must have been perfect conditions.

That track, this car, those tires. Wow, just wow. Intimidating, unbelievable fun and exhausting all at once. I need more time at this track... The hardest part was trusting myself, after that it was remembering just how much grip I have now. Finally, I had to keep reminding myself to leave some margin for error, especially through turns 10 and 11 (the last two turns).

Finally got some clean laps at Laguna Seca on NT01 to beat my 2013 time set on Direzzas. I actually went slightly quicker earlier in the day, but did not get the video for that one.

Sad day at Sonoma this past Saturday for an M3. Even on slow laps things can get ugly in a hurry.

looks like he was be pushed a little past his limit. I always gave the point by in those situations. there is a reason someone is in my rearview mirror...obviously he's faster

Ok I'm in love with these videos. I'm inspired to go get a logger.

Regarding audio recording, I got an external mic for the gopro. Might try it under the hood at some point, but have had good results with it on the back to get some exhaust and some tire.

Mic: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/r.html?C=3L...710_TE_3p_dp_1

Go easy, second ever event and on all season tires..

Ouch. Bad place to lift... Hope the driver was OK.

Nice, looks smooth and the sound is great. Bit of a fun drift in there too :-)

Different perspective at Thunderhill and a couple of tenths quicker than I managed last year.

Had the opportunity to drive a 2004 on factory suspension and tires last weekend. The car was an absolute blast. Felt like a good learning experience working with the softer suspension and more limited grip levels as well.

Great wheeling, Dragon! That car looks like it took a lot of patience with the soft suspension and low grip, but you had great lines and pace.


That tight blind crest looks fun! Maybe someday i'll get out that way...


Thanks for sharing. :icon_tup:

Thanks, yes it is a really fun track. If you are ever in the area, let me know. We are lucky enough to have Laguna Seca and Sonoma close by as well :-)

And yes, I had to keep telling myself to be patient. Slow hands and smooth inputs were key to not breaking the tires loose.

No records this past weekend as I was getting used to a new setup and my first race with CFRA, but some good experience nonetheless. Had a couple of car issues (the 2nd of which ended my race), but fortunately nothing too serious so should be back soon :-D

I totally forgot about this thread...!

sucks what happened, but at least you were able to get off the track and it was (hopefully) nothing major!

Here's a video of my fast lap from a couple weeks ago at buttonwillow... tips greatly appreciated! I'm starting to feel like i should get a shot from the inside though so I can see what my hands are doing... is there a way to do it with the gopro other than mounting on the back windshield and using a few extensions...? No sunroof to mount it to for me...