European Le Mans
Silverstone: A tracklap with Nigel Mansell
The former Formula 1 World Champion, crowned in 1992, knows the Silverstone circuit better than anyone else. He won no less than three Formula 1 GPs on this track. Let's follow him around this very technical circuit on which he will race the Team ...
Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:18 PM
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The former Formula 1 World Champion, crowned in 1992, knows the Silverstone circuit better than anyone else. He won no less than three Formula 1 GPs on this track. Let's follow him around this very technical circuit on which he will race the Team LNT's LMP1 car with his son Greg next September 11, 12 and 13.
"Silverstone is one of the most fantastic circuits in the world, even with all the changes, and it is the home of motor-racing. If you drive between 95 and 98% of your abilities, you set the pole and if you are able to drive at 100%, you take the pole by one second. 1992 was the last time I have been on pole at Silverstone in Formula 1 for almost two seconds.
The start-finish line leads down to Copse, the first 90-degree right hander, which is off-camber at the exit. It is a very important corner because you need to carry as much speed as possible for the next straight. Moreover, there is a very good opportunity for overtaking before that corner. A short burst of power takes you to the most fantastic complex in the world, Maggots-Becketts-Chapel S bends. It is very important to take the right and left flicks flat out, to carry as much speed as you can. If you have a very good pace, and the car has a very good balance, you should do a quick lap.
Hanger straight is the first time you can breathe! This straight leads to Stowe, a right-hander, and its blind entry, due to the late nature of the apex. You can climb on the kerb at the exit, so you can accelerate from second gear. You have to change gear very quickly while rolling down on Vale. This straight takes you to Club, a long right-hander. This corner is very tricky because if you drive perfectly in the corner, your lap time won't be good and you have to accelerate through the corner. Then you go down the short straight to the left of Abbey corner with its quite hard braking.
There is a very short straight before a flick right, and you then go up and over the hill into Bridge corner, which is taken flat-out if the car is well-balanced. A very short burst of acceleration and you are in Priory, a left-hander where you have to stay on the left side of the track to take the corner properly. You accelerate briefly and hard on the brake for the next left-hander of Brooklands and then the right-hander Luffield. You can only expect not too much of oversteer in that corner. The sweeping right of Woodcote is the final corner, which takes you back onto the pit straight to start another lap."
-credit: lms
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