LOR Trackguide Nuerburgring Suedkehre
First Corner (Left Hander)
- Entrance speed: approximately 170 mph [274 kph]
- Speed through the corner: approximately 60 mph [97 kph]
- Arrival time at the corner: 5.63 seconds
- Time to negotiate the corner: 6.09 seconds
- Exit time of the corner: 11.72 seconds
Approach
This left hander is one of the few threshold braking zones on the track. It is preceded by the long front straight, which makes it one of the few overtaking opportunities. The difficulty associated with this turn is that there is no real braking reference point. You just need to judge it, which means you can easily brake too soon or too late and get passed, or just mess-up the corner. The advantage you have over a car trying to pass you is that they know this is one of the few chances they have at passing you, and may overdo their braking as well.
Apex and Exit
You'll be in top gear under full acceleration as you pass the pits. Gently move the car over to the right side of the track in preparation for braking. A couple of beats after you pass the pits, the racing groove will darken. Farther ahead, about the same place as the grass comes up to the fence on the left, the groove darkens again. Approximately halfway between these two points is when you should start to brake. Brake as hard as possible and continue in a straight line on the right side of the track. Don't turn in too soon, as you may lose the rear end. As you continue to decelerate, start to shift down to second gear. Start to turn in once you are almost on top of the corner. Any sooner and you'll have a bad line into the following right hander. As you turn in, ease off the brakes a little, helping you to turn in quicker. Then about midway between your turn-in point and the apex at the grass get off the brakes altogether.
Once off the brakes, you should stabilize the car with the accelerator. This will also prevent you from losing any more speed. Take a late apex, clipping the grass as you do so. Straighten the wheel out fairly fast, and start accelerating as hard as possible in second gear. Let the car move towards the middle of the track as you leave the turn.
It's one of the easier ones, but one down, one hundred seventy-three to go.
