Ok, it's been a while, but here's my take on going fast here:
Car setup: I used Alison Hine's Ferrari setup, but on the Lotus instead.
I have needed to make few changes with this setup, apart from the
gearing - to ensure that I had a quick enough top gear - and the brake
balance - moved it back a click or 2 to avoid way too many front wheel
lockups.
Saint Devote - for safer braking get off the driving line and move
towards the centre of the track. This allows you to brake more in a
straight line resulting in less chance of the car spinning out under
braking and doesn't seem to cost much in lost time due to a narrower
entry angle.
Massanet - you should be in top gear before reaching the crest, but just
before you get to it, brake a little and change down a gear. Then, once
you've cleared the crest, brake hard and down 2 more gears. If you've
left it too late and the car starts to drift wide with the back end
wanting to come around then just turn the fronts hard towards the inside
of the corner (don't try and countersteer). The car will continue to
drift towards the outside, but you're less likely to end up facing the
wrong way.
*** - just don't try and go too fast here otherwise you'll more than
likely drift too wide and have to back off or hit the barrier or run up
the curb. Just keep it smooth until you can see down towards Mirabeau
and then get the power down for that short burst.
Mirabeau - don't worry about where to position the car too much here.
Just concentrate on finding a consistent braking point - I used to use
one of the tree shadows - and on not locking the fronts which is real
easy under braking here. Coming out of Mirabeau for the short run down
to Virage it may be wise to go up to 2nd gear early. This avoids lots
of wheelspin.
Virage - not much to say here, just get round it without drifting wide.
Followed by the right-hander (don't know its name) which is easy to get
oversteer under braking and turn in here, so be ready to countersteer if
necessary, and don't hit the curb on the inside or outside as it will
just muck things up. It always looked like I should be able to go
quicker than I actually ever did through here. It seems wider at first
than you find once you're into the corner.
Portier - getting a good braking point is essential. Too early and
you're likely to clip the inside or just going too slow. Too late and
you're heading towards that wall and having to back off. So, find one
that allows you to brake consistenly for, because when done right, this
corner's over before you know it. The car would almost drive itself
through here.
Tunnel - as much as I wanted to be in top gear I never could and would
generally be sticking to 4th through here. It's possible to go in a
little too quick, but steer towards the inside more than you would
normally. The extra speed can keep you away from the inside and
hopefully you'll carry that bit of extra speed without running too wide
and up the curb on the outside. Whatever you do, don't touch that
outside curb as its curtains nearly every time as far as a decent lap is
concerned.
Beau Rivage - like others have said, I very rarely have been able to
just hammer it over the crest as the car nearly always becomes
unbalanced. Just ease off slightly first - keeping to the right - then,
once clear of it, put the pedal down and head for the gap. As long as
the car is balanced over the crest then all should be well. If you
haven't got full control, whether trying to accelerate or not, then
you're going to have problems.
Tabac - if you've carried plenty of speed through Beau Rivage then get
ready to brake earlier than you would normally expect to. Before even
the darker driving line has been reached. Get all you're braking done
in a straight line and then turn in pretty aggressively towards the wall
on the inside and then let the car drift towards the outer wall,
ensuring that, as you try to get the power down you don't oversteer, so
you might have to apply a little opposite lock here to avoid this.
Gazometres - like Sainte Devote this is a corner where I get off the
driving line for braking so that I can brake more in a straight line. I
normally brake down to third before the track curves slightly left and
then get over to the inside, once it starts to straighten out, brake and
down to first for the hairpin. I find this method a lot more
consistent, otherwise trying to do it all in one go and the car can swap
ends. It's then just a case of being smooth out of the hairpin and over
the start/finish line for another flying lap.
It's been a while so there's probably a lot of subtle stuff that I've
long since forgotten, but hopefully there's still enough here to work
with.
And what's been my best lap doing all this? 1:25.6 if I recall. Not
too shabby, I hope. :)
--
Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)
Remove ALL_STRESS before replying
No person's opinions can be said to be
more correct than another's, because each is
the sole judge of his or her own experience.
