2007 Catalunya

[formula1fan]

I just found this on f1freak's website. It's the 2007 Catalunya layout.

This is real weird. The cars will be slow coming out of Banc Sabadell, so what's the point of putting a chicane in to slow them even further?

[nickyf1]

I think its for 'security' reasons, or in other words, the drivers want more run off...

[Rockmunky]

I'm sorry, why have they killed the only two decent corners?

Oh i know, fast corners scare the F1 "drivers"...

[f1freak]

Here's a better looking map:
(Originally posted by ToniCipriani on F1Gamers.com (Direct Link))

[Chatters]

Why would they do that, unless they're some safety issue I can't see..

[Yannick]

Oh, it's a dog-leg...

[Chatters]

It's still a poor excuse for a track upgrade. So are they going to demolish the old section of track or keep it like they did with the hairpin at Turn 9?

[jab]

It is because they "don't have enough run-off". How much do they want, 10 acres or something? There are plenty of corners which have less than that corner. Also, all the current run-off will be converted to asphalt (tarmac)

They are keeping the old corner as well as the chicane so that other series aren't effected like they did with La Caixa and Nissan. At least they have some sense

[cosmicpanda]

I think it'll actually make for a watchable race. Cars will probably now be able to overtake at the first corner.

[formula1fan]

Good point cosmicpanda. The reason that they will be able to overtake at the first corner is that they will be slower in the final turn, so will have more speed (I think!) at the end of the straight, but then again, it would make lap times longer, so it wouldn't make much difference!

[luke]

Just turn it into the old Estoril. A great track and no longer fan turn out problems with the Alonso army..

[shambles]

Ha, it's been put in to slow the cars down - so that the Spanish fans pay more, to 'see more' of Alonso on race weekends.

That's my tongue in cheek theory.

[Purist]

I don't see any real benefit overtaking-wise to this, and New Holland still has less run-off on exit than the penultimate corner did, IIRC.

As for the overtaking specifically, it's like Indy. If you're not close enough behind the guy before the high-speed stuff, the time differential gets translated into a huge distance gap on the straight (and you can't pass into Turn 1). If you're close enough to slipstream, you have a decent shot of passing, without the chicane even.

[Lustigson]

They should tighten the first corner to improve overtaking. Or, better yet, ban testing at Grand Prix circuits.

[Purist]

I think the biggest thing you'd accomplish by tightening Turn 1 is to create greater potential for pile-ups. It's certainly a substantial enough braking zone as it is for overtaking (like Stowe at Silverstone, and the turn into the stadium at Hockenheim when they used the forest section). The key with virtually any overtaking spot is not the corner itself, but what preceeds it. Having that somewhat quicker first turn I think actually makes overtaking more possible, because the braking is a bit less severe, so you have less chance of completely blowing it.

[Yannick]

Originally Posted by Lustigson

They should, better yet, ban testing at Grand Prix circuits.

Didn't they already have something along the lines of that a few years back, where, of all GP tracks, the Italian teams were only allowed to test at Monza and the British teams only allowed to test at Silverstone, once the season had begun? Do they still have that rule? I don't think so, but they should bring it back.

[Lustigson]

Banning testing on Grand Prix tracks would be a smart thing to do. Imagine the Italian GP being at Monza and testing at Imola, Spanish GP at Barcelona and testing at Monteblanco, Jerez or Valencia, German GP at Hockenheim and testing at Nürburgring, Lausitzring or Oschersleben, et cetera.

[formula1fan]

Try suggesting that to Sir Max Moseley & Bernie Ecclestone! They wouldn't allow it! Great suggestion though. If that was happening now, then it would mean for more exciting races (i.e. no one team would be better, as they wouldn't have tested there).

[safc_fan89]

Originally Posted by cosmicpanda

I think it'll actually make for a watchable race. Cars will probably now be able to overtake at the first corner.

I hadn't thought of that. I hope that is the case, because the last 2 corners, flat out, were the best part of the track. It's a bit of an unnecessary chicane...and how often do F1 cars crash there? Rarely, it has to be said! Sometimes they take the whole safety issue far too far. It's a modern track so there is plenty of runoff.

[Rockmunky]

Spectators can't even use binoculars, they now have to use radio telescopes, like the ones used for looking into space. It's got pretty rediculous. The last modern F1 circuit to be be built "sensibly" was Malaysia IMO.

[safc_fan89]

Depends if your definition of 'sensibly' involved distance of the spectators from track. I think Sepang is a great track...hardly anyone else ever seems to agree though

[Rockmunky]

Well, the runoff was much more sensible than places like Bahrain. I like Sepang too, theres a few quick corners

[safc_fan89]

Taking it back to the point of the thread...it would be a shame if the other series that use Catalunya (Moto GP for example) would have to suffer because the F1 drivers aren't happy with the track...I thought it was emergency service presence they were after, not further (unnecessary) modiufications to the tracks.

[Rockmunky]

Yeah, when they changed the other corner, at leasts they had the decency to leave the old configuration alone, i hope they do the same wiht this pointless chicane.

[jab]

Yeah, they will be leaving the old corner in. That's definite