Points Of Interest
This week S.N.A.I.L. will be competing at Monza, Cote d' Azur (Monaco), and Brands Hatch. The only new circuit this week is Cote d' Azur. Brands Hatch is making it's third straight appearance and Monza is back for a second week but with a new car.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza was constructed in 1922 in the area around Monza Italy and was first added to the GT series for GT5. The track has used multiple layouts over its long history including a 10km layout that used the current course along with the oval loop. The cars would run parallel to each other down the front straight, one lane on the current track and one lane on the oval loop to the inside of the current track. Track position is at a premium as the best opportunities to make passes are under heavy braking and will cost both drivers time when completing a pass. If possible, it is best to make passes coming out of the tight corners on the long straights.
Track boundaries are always an issue at Monza because the track is so narrow and the turns are so tight in the two chicanes and Ascari. When you combine this with the extra room beyond the rumble strips that is there only for the safety of F1 drivers, you have a possibility for mayhem. I have included pictures below for further explanation of the track boundaries.
This picture serves as an example for the entire track. The red/white painted area here is considered to be part of the track. The green painted area is NOT considered to be part of the track.
This photo is taken at the exit of Ascari (turn 7 in the map). In this specific place on the track, the white line constitutes the edge of the track surface.
Cote D’ Azur is Gran Turismo’s version of the famous Monaco Gran Prix Circuit. Formula One has been racing here since 1929. The track is a very tight city course that places a premium on qualifying and track position during the race. Opportunities to pass are at a minimum here so it’s important to be out front early and not make mistakes. You don’t have to be the fastest here, you just have to find yourself up front to have a chance to win the race.
As with most city courses, the walls make up the edge of the track at Cote d’ Azur. There is one notable exception to this rule and it is shown in the photo below. In this instance, the red/white curb is considered to be part of the track. The paved area to the right of the curb is NOT part of the track.
The following photo is thrown in because I don't feel you can have a description of Monaco without including a photo of the world famous Grand Hotel Hairpin.
Brands Hatch is a circuit new to the Gran Turismo series. When constructed in the 1950’s, the track was originally paved with cinder blocks. It wasn’t long before those were paved over with a tarmac surface. Some of the cinder blocks are still visible upon the exit of turn 2 and turn 4. There is a rumble strip between the tarmac surface and the cinder blocks that designates the edge of the track. Turn one is a tricky corner as the track falls out from under you as you go through the corner. Turn two is a harpin at the top of the hill and can provide a very good pass opportunity. You then head downhill to turn 3. Watch the exit as it’s pretty easy to push wide here. Turn four is key for carrying speed down the straight. Turns 5, 6, and 7 make up a big left hand circle for the most part. Turn 8 is a left hander that leads back into the natural amphitheater that is the setting for the main grandstand and the run back up a hill to turn 9 followed by the front straight.
Photos have been added to further explain the track boundaries in certain areas of the track. This photo shows the area on the outside of a corner exit and is representative of all corner exits that have the brown area to the outside. The red/white area is considered to be part of the track. The brown area outside the red/white area is NOT part of the track.
This photo shows an area on the inside of a corner and is representative of all corners that have the brown area on the inside. Once again, the red/white area is considered to be a part of the track and the brown area is NOT part of the track.