IA License No. 5 Gold medal acquired.
Time: 2'26.242
License Center : IA License Tests : IA5 "1 Lap Guide Run (El Capitan)"
Test Car: Seat Ibiza Cupra '04
Venue: El Capitan
Gold: 2'28.000
# Failed Attempts: 0
3 mins
Please keep in mind that these are not necessarily my best times (CLICK HERE for my best times/replays).
I really like elevation changes, and this track has a lot of them. It's good to stay mindful of how these changes affect your car's disposition for braking, turn-in, and exit.
I launch near 4400, and head straight off the line. The Pace Car will move to the left, so no need to adjust for the draft. I stay to the right, still behind the Pace Car, after making the first slight right.
As the left side curbing begins to go off screen, I begin braking for the first hard left hander from 95 to 53, then I ease back to full throttle for a little bit. I aim for a late apex, but I feel myself cutting the turn too thin (which would put me wider than I want to be for the exit). I lift as I switch from 2nd to 3rd, then go back to full throttle.
I maintain as straight of a line through the next right hander as I possibly can, and stay along the right for the entry into the left kink.
This kink can be taken flat-out, but I lift, for some reason, and start making my way to the left side of the track. There is a yellow section along the left side wall, and when it goes off screen, I begin braking for the double-right. I take speeds from 94 to 67, while turning in from the middle of the track. As I pass the inside curb of the first part, I ease back into the gas and try to keep it tight to the right. The understeer pushes me to the outside (the left), and when I reach the solid white line (along the left side of the road), I swing the steering to the left.
Having to start this left hander so close to the curbing puts me a little wider for the exit than I want to be. Ideally, I'd take a sharper turn-in for the 2nd right, and/or do so at a slightly slower speed. Rubbing against the rock wall would slow the car significantly, so I try my best to stay out of it. I cross T1 at 0'49.421, and head through the tunnel along the right side.
After exiting the tunnel, I begin my turn-in for the uphill left. No braking is needed here, but it was important to stay along the left for the exit. This will help a lot for the entry into the downhill right.
As I reach the top of the hill, I lift for a moment, then begin braking for the right hander when I pass the 2nd yellow sign on the left. I take speeds from 81 to 73, then start coasting as I steer through the turn. At this point, I'm almost past the Pace Car, so I give a stab of the brakes to make sure I won't get DQ'd.
Unfortunately, this puts me too close to the rock wall on the right, and the Pace Car pulls a "Squeeze Play" on me (one of my favorite moves). The resulting contact with the wall takes me from 72 to 64, but I manage to avoid the DQ. As the Pace Car pulls away, I gradually start making my way into the left turn. I fall back behind the Pace Car's draft for the downhill descent.
I begin braking for the sharp right at the bottom when the red banner along the left starts to go off screen (I'm not sure if it's a Loctite or Motul banner). I begin braking from 109 to about 45, and flutter the gas to maintain the low-mid 40s through the turn.
The exit puts me near the left side, and I'm still steering to the right as I roll over the curbing for the entry into the double left. I finally swing the steering to the left, then I start to flutter the throttle to stay in the mid 50s. For the second left, I try to keep the car from exiting too far to the right, as getting into the dirt will slow this car down.
For the slight left kink, I begin to turn-in as I pass the last set of tree shadows on the ground. I don't brake, but I lift slightly as I roll over the left side curb. This helps ensure I won't collide with the wall on the right for a DQ. I nudge the wall a little bit, then begin braking as I'm about to pass the yellow sign on the right.
After crossing T2 at 1'38.764, I brake from 93 to 53, and ease back into the turn after coasting down to the mid 40s. I get back on the gas, and stay to the left for the approach into the IB13 section. This car drives similarly to the Focus in that test.
Braking for the first right hander begins as the left side curb pulls away. I drop from 80 to 52, then ease back into it, staying tight to the right. Through the next few curves, I try to keep the steering smooth to avoid TCS activation, and follow the Pace Car as best as I can. For the final right-left, I lift slightly as I roll over the right side curb, then give a dab of the brakes when I change direction for the entry into the left sweeper.
I get back to full throttle after rolling off the left curb, and it's wide-open until I cross. Of course, staying behind the Pace Car is key to keeping speeds high. I cross the line at 2'26.242, going 117 mph in 4th gear.
Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1158414050950232641
Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/
