29/07/2011
After the challenge of the Nürburgring, it’s the very different circuit of the Hungaroring for this weekend’s eleventh race of the season.
Although it’s a permanent race facility, the Hungaroring shares the tight and twisty nature of a street course, and it’s certainly a circuit where a good qualifying performance pays dividends.
Lotus Renault GP’s Chief Race Engineer, Alan Permane, talks through the track considerations of the Hungaroring.
“The Hungaroring is very and tight, twisty with just a couple of quick-ish corners but nothing on the level of Silverstone’s high speed turns.
“The layout means we run with maximum downforce on the car. It’s a low average speed over a lap and it’s a track where you need a good front end.
The layout generally provokes a bit of understeer in the car, so a lot of front wing and a strong front suspension also assists with this.
“Although the weather is not showing it so far this weekend, previously it’s almost always very hot here in Hungary.
“We have the soft and super soft Pirellis as the circuit layout and surface is relatively easy on the tyres, however if it is hot then tyre management considerations come into play.
“There are reasonable braking demands in to turn one as it’s at the end of a comparably long pit straight, but apart from that there aren’t too many severe braking areas. The section from turn four through to to turn ten in particular is is very light on the brakes.
“One corner leads straight into another very short straight so there are very little in the way of overtaking opportunities except into turn one,
“The engine is relatively low stressed in this race due to the low average speed, although good driveability is required.”
Credit: Lotus Renault GP (www.lotusrenaultgp.com)
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