I'd say Oulton is about upper middle of challenging for UK tracks, not as Sphincter clenching as Cadwell but more white knuckle
than Mallory. Pretty good for spectators as you can get quite close to the action on bankings above Knickerbrook or on the inside
of Lodge (no grandstand on the outside anymore JD, since a BTCC car flew that way over the fence in a practice session a few years
ago)
I think we are on the full circuit so here's my corner by corner analysis:
Old Hall, pretty difficult, slightly off camber if you go wide, looks fast on entry but needs respect to stay of the grass
especially if wet (as it looks like it going to be on Saturday). Good place to watch the first lap when all cars are jostling for
position.
Dentons right hand kink, flat out with a wave to the spectators on the banking above.
Cascades, fast downhill left hander, a good stable handling car can make great gains here, quite ballsey as running wide onto the
grass can throw you back across the circuit towards a lake when you come back onto the tarmac.
Island, sorta flat out for a Spit but with caution as you want to be straight for braking into Shell..
Shell hairpin, sharp and banked, loved by some, not by me as I tend to find climbing out of the banking with only a 1300 creates a
slow approach to the following hill.
Britten's Chicane, tight and not particularly flowing with axle breaking kerbs, put in to slow cars on what would otherwise be a
long straight, another killer for little engines with an uphill exit.
Hislop's chicane, again put in to slow cars before Knickerbrook corner. Fast downhill entry and good late braking overtaking, exits
onto Knickerbrook which catches the unwary as running wide here kills your speed for the run up Clay Hill or end in a short slide
across wet grass into a solid tyre barrier.
Fast run up the hill through the trees to the double apex druids, a late turn in can give good exit speed onto the following long
straight but demon late braking should be avoided in an area that stays damp under the trees.
Long bumpy straight into Lodge, another late braking spot but slower than you would think as the bend dips away at the apex so if
you go in too fast you go light, run wide and get catapulted into the infield barriers - ouch
Through the dip and up over Deer Leap is flat out, apexing as close to the left hand marshals post as you dare under their flags!
then onto the start finish straight.
Circuit map can be accessed from the racing triumphs website
http://www.racing-triumphs.co.uk/ just click on the circuit name.
Andy
