A Hot Lap of Mosport

TRACK WALK GUIDELINES

A LAP AT MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Exiting the Pits

  • Wait for pit marshal to direct you that it is safe to enter the track.
  • Observe pit lane speed limit when exiting the pits; the decreasing radius pit exit narrows into Turn 1.
  • Watch for faster cars approaching on track through Turn 1 (driver's left).
  • Accelerate onto track keeping right to avoid any traffic. DO NOT cross over YELLOW BLEND/BLEED LINE.
  • Pick up the consensus or driving line for the first Turn 2 apex as soon as you are able.
  • You should aim to be in the middle of the track by the crest of the hill approaching turn two.

 

Turn 2 (High speed, downhill double-apex left hander)

  • As you exit Turn 1, head diagonally across the track (directly to the Turn 2 Marshall Stand). Use the dried concrete stains on the pavement (driver's right) as your Turn 2 brake marker. Brake in a straight line BEFORE YOU CREST THE HILL. You MUST BRAKE (hard) BEFORE you crest the hill at the top of Turn 2!
  • As you crest the hill, start turning into the first apex cone; you should be in the middle of the track at this point. (Use the white track edge line as a guide for wheel placement).
  • Let the car drift out slightly between apex 1 and apex 2, holding a constant left turn on the steering wheel. You will have to tighten your line slightly to clip the second apex (apex 2), which is actually the stretch of pavement that starts at the Apex cone.
  • The key to Turn 2 is actually getting the middle of the corner right, (between the two apexes). Get it WRONG and you could be off on the grass at the exit of the turn.
  • NOTE: Note the rough pavement and concrete patches which arc through the corner (driver's right). Try to describe this arc using your right side tires. This will be the consensus line through the corner.
  • Hold your vehicle on this trajectory until you track out at the bottom of the hill.
  • You do not need to track out to the Exit Cone (driver's right).
  • As you carry more speed through here, centrifugal force will actually force the car towards that Exit Cone. If you habituate yourself to driving out to the Exit Cone, as your driving improves and you begin to carry more speed through here, you WILL find yourself exiting Turn 2 on the grass if you are not careful.
  • Avoid the temptation to brake too little or too late at the top of Turn 2.
  • Again, you MUST BRAKE (hard) BEFORE you crest the hill at the top of Turn 2!

 

Turn 3 (Medium to High speed uphill, then downhill right hander)

  • The vehicle should be at approximately the mid-point of the track width at the turn-in point. (It is not critical for entrance to Turn 3, as you can enter the Turn from either the extreme left or extreme right side of the track; under most school circumstances you will enter either from the extreme left or slightly left of track centre).
  • Note a faint, dark perpendicular line running across the track between Turns 2 and 3. Use this as a safe braking point for Turn 3. You can also downshift to 3rd gear if you wish; it is not required since the important thing is to carry momentum through the turn.
  • BE PATIENT ON TURN IT! The Turn 3 apex is extremely late. BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR IT!
  • Also, note that the apex curbing comes to a point at the apex. (If you ride up on the curbing at the apex, you WILL launch the car on to two wheels)!
  • Hold a constant right turn on the steering wheel to achieve a very late clipping point near the end of the right side curbing.
  • After clipping the apex, continue to hold a constant steering input and track out to exit curbing (Note where Exit Cone is). If you relax your steering input too soon, you will exit on the grass BEFORE the exit curbing.
  • From the apex of Turn 3 to the entrance of Turn 4, you are actually climbing a slight hill. Aim for the first "N" in the second CONTINENTAL name on the pedestrian overpass as your turn-in point.

 

TURN 3/4 STRAIGHT PASSING ZONE

  • We generally advise that you stay on the left side of the track, unless you are passing slower traffic.
  • For cars being PASSED, when exiting Turn 3, track-out to the exit cone (driver's left) and stay on the left side of the track. LIFT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, give signal, and allow faster cars to pass.
  • For PASSING cars, maintain a tighter line on exiting Turn 3, staying to the centre of the track or right of centre. Make sure you complete your passes WELL BEFORE the GREEN NO PASSING CONES.
  • Remember, this is the shortest passing zone on the track. Be prepared to WAVE OFF late passing signals and wait until the BACK STRAIGHT PASSING ZONE.
  • Again, NOTE position of the GREEN NO PASSING CONES just before the "Continental Tire" Pedestrian Bridge (at the top of the Turn 4 hill), and complete your passes before this point. DO NOT RISK A LATE PASS HERE!

 

Turn 4 (High speed, downhill left hander)

  • This is the one of the fastest corners on the track and is responsible for some of the worst accidents, SO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THE CORNER.
  • You can safely enter the corner from the extreme left side of the track to slightly right of centre, (say 2/3 of the way over from the left). A good choice would be to enter at about the first "N" in the second "CONTINENTAL" name on the pedestrian overpass.
  • NOTE THE POSITION OF THE TURN-IN CONE.
  • Again, with Turn 4, BE EXTREMELY PATIENT! It is an extremely long-radius corner, and most drivers have the tendency to turn in way too soon. Turn in should be very gradual, (with a smooth trajectory) such that you exit the corner, on the left side of the track.
  • There is also a slight crown in the road here. YOU DO NOT WANT TO ENTER THE CORNER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRACK. If you do, in all likelihood you will run out of track on the right side grass verge.
  • Remember, as with Turn 2, any braking must be done BEFORE cresting the hill to avoid losing the back end of the car.

 

Turn 5A (Medium speed, uphill right hander)

  • Run down the edge of the left side curbing for the entrance to Turn 5A.
  • This corner requires HARD BRAKING prior to turn-in. Look out for the square rectangular cut in the pavement. You can generally start braking from this point on since the car should be in a straight line.  Remember, this is perhaps the hardest braking zone on the track, so brake early and downshift to 3rd gear.
  • Again it is important to brake enough for Turn 5A prior to the turn-in point so as not to overshoot.
  • Turn-in and run up the hill PAST the Turn 5A apex (driver's right). Track out (to driver's left) right over the crest of the hill. You can line up the car on the curbing (driver's left), and brake hard & quickly for Turn 5B. This will settle the front of the car for good bite on turn-in to Turn 5B.
  • You may choose to downshift to 2nd gear hear to achieve more torque for your run at the uphill back straight.
  • If you take too much speed through Turn 4, you can actually drive diagonally across the track and BRAKE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE Turn 5A apex, thus extending your braking zone. (This is actually an alternate line into the corner if you are carrying a lot of speed through Turn 4; you may want to discuss this further with your in-car instructor).

 

Turn 5B (Slow speed right hander)

  • You should try to turn into Turn 5B quickly once you brake at the top of Turn 5. Run out right PAST the apex of Turn 5B, and exit on the left side of the track. As you increase the throttle here on corner exit, try to unwind the steering wheel. (This will prevent any potential oversteer and stabilize the car on exit).
  • Passing is not allowed until past Turn 5C/6 (note the Turn 5B/6 Marshall Stand on driver's left).
  • Ideally, you can basically track out along the curbing (on driver's left) all the way up through Turn 5C/6.

 

Turn 5C (Medium to High speed left hander)

  • You can either stay on the left side of the track through Turn 5C for the entrance to the back straight, or you can exit Turn 5C and track diagonally across the track. It does not much matter. Suffice to say that it will depend on faster traffic behind you.
  • Generally, you will stay to the left side on the back straight unless you are passing.
  • The passing rule is that the slower car is expected to stay to the left and signal (faster) traffic to pass on the right.
  • NOTE: A spring rises on the hill above Turn 5C, and water often runs across the track here; at the very least, the verge by the Marshall's stand is often muddy. It is one of the most treacherous places on the circuit in the wet!

 

BACK STRAIGHT PASSING ZONE

  • There is no one consensus line up the back straight. You can either run on the left, right or up the centre of the track. Staying to the right is actually the shortest distance along the back straight.
  • That said, we generally advise that you stay on the left side of the track, unless you are passing slower traffic. You can up-shift (from 2nd all the way to 4th or 5th here if necessary).
  • NOTE position of the GREEN NO PASSING CONES (at the top of the hill), and complete your passes by this point.
  • If you complete a late pass, DO NOT move back over to the left side of the track (and risk cutting off the slower car that you just passed). Stay to right of the track. You can brake all the way down to the first apex curbing (driver's right), and effectively make Turn 8 a double apex corner. Pick up the consensus line through Turn 8 for the apex (or 2nd apex).

 

Turn 7 (Very High speed left hander)

  • More of a kink than a corner. The steep back straight levels out somewhat for Turn 7.
  • You can either stay on the left side of the track through Turn 7 (if you have faster traffic passing you), or pick up the Turn 7 apex, (on the right side of the track). Should you pick up the apex, you really drive straight past and track out to the left side of the track for the entrance to Turn 8 at the crest of the hill; this marks the end of the back straight.
  • Again, the passing rule is that the slower car is expected to stay to the left and signal (faster) traffic to pass on the right. Make sure that all passing is completed BEFORE you pass the GREEN NO PASSING CONES at the top of the hill.

 

Turn 8 (High speed right hander)

  • Since you will end up taking a lot of speed up the back straight, it is of the utmost importance that you let the car settle (after cresting the hill) before braking HEAVILY for Turn 8.
  • Turn 8 is unique in that it is a decreasing-radius corner that DOES NOT lead onto a subsequent straight. Instead, it leads right into Turn 9, which quickly leads into Turn 10. For that reason this area of the track is often termed "The Esses".
  • Brake heavily at the end of the back straight. Turn in for Turn 8 starts out gradually enough, but quickly tightens, and the Turn 8 apex is right at the end of the turtles on the driver's right. The turn-in is started quite wide from the right side curbing. Continuously bring the vehicle closer to the curbing through the turn until the clip point, which is very late. The last 3 meters (10ft) of the curbing will appear to be straight, and it is this straight curbing section that is the clip point.

 

(Entering the Pits)

  • Be prepared to signal your intention through Turn 8. Reduce your speed.
  • Indicate your intention by holding your LEFT FIST up through the driver's window.
  • Approach the Turn 8 apex and stay to the extreme right of the track.
  • Reduce speed further and drive into the Pits, making sure that you stay within inside the YELLOW BLEND/BLEED LINE.

 

Turn 9 (Medium to High speed left hander)

  • Be prepared to BRAKE QUICKLY, downshift to 3rd gear and immediately turn in to Turn 9.
  • Alternatively, you can increase your braking zone dramatically by driving diagonally from the Turn 8 apex (driver's right) over to the Turn 9 apex (driver's left). Again, be prepared to BRAKE HARDER using this alternate line, as you cannot take quite as much speed through the corner using this line!
  • Also remember that there are a lot of concrete patches laid down in this corner and it can become quite slippery, so EXERCISE CAUTION until you have become familiar with the track.
  • Alternatively, you can turn in later (by staying on the right side of the track between the two (2) marker cones.
  • Which ever line you choose through the corner, make sure that you brake HARD and QUICKLY
  • Again, a quick, hard braking here will settle the front of the car for good bite on turn-in to Turn 10, and exit onto the front straight.

 

Turn 10 (Medium to High speed right hander)

  • The vehicle should be over on the left side of the track at the turn-in point. Brake quickly. Brake HARD!
  • Turn in and take car right to the apex curbing in Turn 10 (driver's right).
  • NOTE: The front straight flattens out quite quickly, giving the impression that this corner is an off-camber turn. Be aware of it and adjust for the sensation. Allow car to completely track out to driver's left (note position of the exit cone).
  • Resist the temptation to track out too early, as you will run over the exit curbing and off the track.
  • If you are planning to pass a slower car here, you will probably need to tighten your Turn so that you exit mid-track. Remember, exercise patience and DO NOT ACCELERATE until the car is straight; you are making a much tighter corner, which at the speed you entered, will not allow for the added stress of acceleration.

 

FRONT STRAIGHT PASSING ZONE

  • Stay on the left side of the track, unless you are passing slower traffic. You can up-shift (3rd to 4th) here.
  • NOTE position of GREEN NO PASSING CONES (under bridge), and complete your passes by this point.
  • If you complete a late pass, DO NOT move back over to the left side of the track (and risk cutting off the slower car that you just passed). Stay to right of the track (or right of centre), BRAKE HARDER AND LONGER into Turn 1, and gradually pick up the consensus line through Turn 1.

 

Turn 1 (High speed, downhill right hander)

  • Brake just past the bridge on the front straight (note turn-in cone on driver's left). The turn-in here is gradual. Use the rough pavement and concrete patches as a guide for your loaded (left) wheels. LIFT UP YOUR EYES and LOOK AHEAD into the corner; this will help you pick up the Consensus Line through here.
  • Again, this is another long-radius corner, and the (blind) Turn 1 apex is very, very late, but you MUST maintain steering input to the apex and BEYOND to the track-out cone (driver's left).
  • Unwinding the steering wheel too quickly will result in you leaving the track on driver's left.
  • NOTE: Take a trajectory of the rough pavement and concrete patches in Turn 1, and extrapolate them back to the edge of the track on the front straight. (Do this on the track walk, or walk down the pit lane walkway into turn 1 to get a better look). This will give you a better appreciation on where the turn-in point for Turn 1 should be.
  • Track-out and head diagonally across the track toward the Turn 2 Marshall Stand to set up your approach for Turn 2.