Quote:
Originally Posted by NaBUru38
|
This is not tilkey enough, NaBUru. Tilke's circuits do have bends, too, you know ;-)
But when I look back at my old Tilkefication of Spa from a few years back, I must say I should have done better. For example, why is there no stadium section? Why weren't the pits moved to somewhere near Stavelot? Why wasn't the circuit shortened to achieve shorter lap times and thus more exposure for sponsors?
I feel I should try again.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6583812
The new pit complex takes the place of what once was Stavelot corner. Blanchimont is abolished as it is deemed too dangerous. Hence, there is a sharp right-hander before it, followed by a somewhat wider left-hander that lead the track down to the road that runs along the creed towards the dip that is known as Eau Rouge. But not so fast: the creek itself twists and turns and is a challenge to follow with a racetrack. So the track is not straight in this section but includes quite technical chicanes, several of them. The first of them is built to avoid having to bridge the creek under tarmac due to an environmentalists' wish, the 2nd of them is located in a spot where they cleared a space for parking for the "old" circuit, and the 3rd one is located just before the track goes through the "classic" portion of land: it leads through in between the houses that have long stood in the infield of the "old" circuit. Incorporating those classic buildings into a modern state of the art facility was no easy task, yet the benefits are obvious: they give the racetrack some much-needed character. However, the "new" circuit does not reach up towards La Source. That is due to noise concerns from the nearby town of Francorchamps and the old grandstand not providing that much of an overview after all. So, in between the ancient houses, the track turns sharply right, mimicking the original La Source, moving towards another tight right-left chicane, that is placed there to slow cars down before they enter the uphill Eau Rouge Tunnel. Yes, you have read that correctly. This circuit is going to get a tunnel through which slowly rises the track towards its exit onto the Kemmel straight. There just was no way to tarmac the sides of the steep rise after the original "Eau Rouge", and the tunnel concept surely is unique, as can be seen at the pit exit of the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Kemmel straight is almost unchanged, but the kink at its beginning is sharpened. Also, Les Combes gets a makeover, in the style of the first corner of the New Nürburgring, to promote overtaking. Malmedy gets an increase in runoff with the track moving further towards the inside, Rivage is also unchanged but the left-hander that follows, also sees an increase in runoff space, for which the circuit is moved towards the inside of said corner. Now, there's the multiple-apexed Pouhon coming up next, which has been copyrighted by a previous poster, and was inspired by Kurtkoy's Turn 8. Fagnes gets sharpened to promote overtaking, and just before the entrance of the old Stavelot, the circuit leaves the track to the left for the stadium section, inspired by the baseball stadium of Mexico City, Mexico. Next up is another straight which leads to the final section of corners which is inspired by the final section of corners from Istambul Park, also giving the fans a great view of drivers steering their cars around tight bends. And then it's on to the new main straight which also hosts an enormously high control tower behind the pit building, from which you can oversee the whole circuit, even up to Les Combes.
Now, looking at it, the circuit is longer than the original. Shortening it would have meant turning right into the woods after the exit of the "Eau Rouge Tunnel", towards the "new" Pouhon... ;-)
Oh dear, oh dear, Bureau Tilke gets bashed a heck of a lot around these places. I feel they have done a fine job to preserve the football fields in the infield for the locals in their update of the Mexico City, Mexico, circuit, whilst increasing runoff space at the same time. And those stands in the two stadium sections will be full, unlike those in Hockenheim. After all, Mexico City is a special destination for racing not because of its circuit (Peraltada notwithstanding) but due to its altitude.
I have second thoughts about posting this useless redesign now, but I'll post it anyway because the concept of an "Eau Rouge Tunnel" is just too hilarious.