Gentlefoot.com - Fern Bay Club Track Guide

The footage on the left is taken from AFS and demostrates perfectly how you can benefit from getting the power on early here.

From analysis I can see that I was putting the power down quite a bit after the apex whereas the WR driver has managed to get his floored right on the apex. This gives him a spurt of acceleration which you can clearly see. This advantage is carried all the way up the hill to T3

This is in fact one of the two most important corners on this layout. If you are really quick you will not lift again after this corner until Bay Corner on the next lap. This means the exit speed you get here is critical for a fast lap time.

The Analyse For Speed output shows how much can be gained from getting the power on early here. It shows the WR holder taking a different line on entry to me and using more curb. Because he allows the car to drift out on the lead up to this footage he has the car at a better angle for turn in. His apex is spot on but is obviously somewhat risky here.

He increased his advantage over me significantly round this corner and yet it's not one you immediately think of as important.

When you turn in for the first part keep it floored. You don't need much steering angle at all. Be light fingered and keep the back in check as you take as much of the first curb as possible.

Let the car run out almost to the tyres at the second apex and this gives you a good position to make it round the final part of these curves.

The final part is where you find out if you got the first and second bits right. If you did you won't have lifted yet and you will be able to turn in aiming quite a long way along the final apex curb. This will allow you to keep it tight leading onto the start/finish straight.

Before you start reading this guide it is very important that you are at least a little familiar with the car and track. If you haven’t done so already go and turn a few laps and ensure you can do at least three laps without any off track excursions. You will never improve your pace if you keep getting the tyres dirty or damaging the car.

FE1 is a short circuit with some vicious curbs. If you want to run close to world record pace you will need to lift only twice in the entire lap. Turn 1 is the slowest on the circuit. This is illustrated by the speed trace shown below. The blue line on the trace is one of my laps and the red line is the current world record. I lifted quite a bit through turn 4 and was slow on the power at turn 1. I have sinced changed a couple of things in my own lap and been 0.25s quicker..

As you approach T1 you will see some advertising hoardings on your right. You will need to brake somewhere between the last two of them. Keep as far left as possible using the smooth part of the curb as shown in the image below. The turn is heavily cambered in your favour and there is a dip at the apex. The favourable camber disappears on the exit of the corner as you run out wide. This means you need to turn in late and get on the power early using the camber and pointing the car appropriately for a neat and tidy exit.

Coming over the brow towards T2 you will see three red cones on your right. Turn in when you get to the cones and don't lift. Aim for the curb at the first apex.

Take as much curb at the first apex as you can without hitting the really bumpy past which will kick the car up.

Take all of the 2nd apex you can without hitting the tyres on the right. Just try and keep the car neat through here so try not to be putting too much lock in when you are taking the curbs.

The image above shows the curbs, the first of which will kick the car up if you take the rough part of it. The 2nd apex is much smoother.

The approach to turn 3 is all important. You need to be right on the smooth part of the curb again for turn in but it is on a slight curve so be careful (see right). There are three yellow signs for the right hander. Brake at the second and turn in at the last. Make sure you miss the curb at the apex (see below). Take this curb if you fancy a new paint job for your lid.

Very very tricky turn this and you need to take it flat for a fast lap. Many would argue that it is more than one corner and ofcourse they are right. But for the purpose of this guide it is important it is treated as one corner. And as you can see from the line taken from Analyze for Speed it is pretty much one big curve.