TOCA9 RACE PREVIEW
ROUNDS: 1/2/3
LOCATION: Cape Ring
TRACK LAYOUT: South
TRACK LENGTH: 2.01 Miles
RACE LAPS: Heat 7, Main 15.
Cape Ring plays host to the start of the final season of the current TOCA era. And yet for all the seasons it has been in, it remains a major challenge. From the start it's a short burst into a tightening uphill hairpin, you got be very careful at race starts not to understeer off the road or into someone on cold tyres. Then you guide your car through into turn 2, a right hander that slopes away sharply. You have to have your car lined up for the Esses, a banked left-right-left flick that looks simple but one slight move offline and you are on the grass and going to have a huge accident.
Exit of sector 1, and turn 5, a turn I simply call "Clifftop", no run off on the outside, clip inside kerb around 75mph and hope you don't hit that wall, it will make or break a lap. Then braking sharply for turn 6, a hairpin which again you have to be careful of running out wide and clipping the kerbs. Turn 7, the Banking, a high speed ride, flat to the floor, the car starts to feel light at high speeds. Then off the gas slightly for Turn 8, a quick flick left and then Turn 9 follows, a right hand flick off the gas on the brakes from high speed, running all the way up to the kerb. Get the car straightened out and slowed down for Turn 10, the last hairpin, and watch traffic and the pit wall. And you've just survived a lap of Cape Ring in under 80 seconds.
DRIVERS STATEMENT FROM FURINKAZEN:
I was disappointed last night with a couple of you (you know who you are!), and expect better. Zoom your map in to get a better idea of whats around you, navigating the Esses is hellish with two cars, fitting 16 will be tough. Races are not won on Lap 1, and if you punt someone off you will be at very high risk of a penalty. Any complaints send to me on GTPlanet ONLY, I will not review angry PSN messages or Skype messages. All in all, use your head, stay cool, and enjoy tonight. Here's to the start of the final season,
Furi