Inspirations in Race Track Design

[JohnBM01]

You may have remembered a topic I did called "Barber Motorsports Park: America's Most Beautiful Track?" in these forums. You see, every track has their own environments that make them unique in ways. Lime Rock Park looks like... well, a park. It is my definition of a short track, but going to Turn 1, you can see the beautiful trees in the background, so it's spectacular around there. It seems more like a park than a well-respected road course. TI Circuit Aida (mostly the JGTC races this track) features a lovely environment to race on as well. Lots of greenery and hills and trees. Only thing better is Miyagi Prefecture's Sugo circuit. I don't talk a lot about ovals, but Loudon's oval features a nice, quiet atmosphere as I remember stock cars on the oval and motorcycles racing the up-and-over road course.

But to me, I that some race tracks can be made like golf courses. I don't mind golf, but just to be able to play 18 holes in a lovely, quiet setting... it's sweet. I'm not saying that someone should convert Pebble Beach to an FIA-spec race track, but I kind of think that inspirations like a golf course give some lovely suggestions as to how some race tracks can be constructed. My favorite F1 circuit in terms of atmosphere is (believe it or not) the A1 Ring in Austria. You all may know that I'm into city courses, but A1 Ring features lovely backdrops in a city that shares the same name as a famous American in the media business. I think the city is... Spielburg, Austria (and if you guessed "Steven Spielburg" you're right!)

When it comes to inspirations in race track design, what are some of your favorite inspirations? Reply now.

 

[toler]

Hmm, Bathurst comes to my mind. That corner with the rocks on the side

Another nice Austrian track is the Salzburgring, a beautiful high speed course with the alps in the background. Btw John, in both cases it´s Spielberg

The most beautifully set track on this planet is without a doubt the Phillip Island Circuit near Melbourne. See for yourself!

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Bathurst is definately up there.

I don't really like Philip Island.

 

[Blake]

Bathurst is great but I don't like phillip island that much. Hidden Vally comes to mind as does surfers paradise street course.

 

[Roo]

Spa Francorchamps, and the old Hockenhiem, with the long straights in the pine forest. And Monte Carlo.

 

[Rich]

I think the key point is that a track should be part of the environment in which its in. Which is why Spa is always a favourite track.

Flat, (often old aerodrome) based tracks tend not be as attractive.

Therefore, - Silverstone - an OK track, but I don't find it particularly appealing.

Whereas Spa is much more appealing. I think elevation change adds an awful lot to a race track. Spa looks OK on the telly, but i've some pictures of it which are amazing - you really get a sense of this road winding around the countryside.

The A1 ring is certainly in a nice setting.

Monza is flat, but of course is in parkland and has all the history surrounding it, which is supposed to give it a nice atmosphere.

Has anyone been to Oulton Park in the UK? That has a nice setting, and quite a few elevation changes.

Donington Park in the UK also has some good elevation changes to it - the Craner Curves are very nice to see cars swooping through there.

Looking at say, the F1 calendar, there are a lot of race tracks on these that aren't that inspiring Ithey are probably great when you're there but not so good on the TV).

 

[kart racer]

Morsport in Canada is my fav.They held a F1 race back in the 70's.It waas a no points event but they loved the track.

 

[JohnBM01]

Rich has about the right idea in terms of track inspirations. I agree that a track has to pretty much "cooperate" with the environment in which the race track is. The ALMS race at Miami the past few years was pretty nice. It had a nice tropical atmosphere with the city in the background. Of course, I'm hoping for an evening race to go into night for the track. Sepang SURELY cooperates with its tropical nature because when I seen the JGTC race from Malaysia, the weather was hot and sticky. Sebring kind of stays old-school even thought it was once an airbase. Sebring doesn't look like a Formula One circuit in Europe, but it is a pretty nice track to hold a 12-hour sportscar race. If the race track looked more like Barber Motorsports Park or Road America, it would kind of take away from the nostalgia of Sebring.

Mosport is possibly the most historic road course in Canada. I don't know too much about Canada, much less Canadian racing, but Mosport is a nice track. It's also a pretty tough track. It has no real straightaway except for maybe the front stretch. Suzuka and Fuji are both nice Japanese circuits. Japan is pretty hilly and there's a big difference between them. The Fuji track features Japan's equivalent of the Statue of Liberty to the United States- Mt. Fuji. That is a lovely mountain. Even with a cloudy day, it is still a spectacular sight. So what inspirations would go into such tracks?