A lap of the Magny-Cours circuit
By Greig Murray
July 15 2002
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Technically, it is not an extreme circuit; not too hard on the brakes or the tyres and the speeds range from over 300kph to less than 40kph. Powerful cars have less of an advantage and that means that the skill is really on the driver to qualify his car well here and stay out of trouble during the race.
Across the line in fifth or sixth gear you accelerate up to around 260kph before swinging left into the Grande Courbe. This tightens before it turns right into Estoril, a really long right-hander. Momentum is crucial though here and the more speed you can carry though, the more chance you have of making a move into the hairpin later on.
Being careful not to understeer wide through Estoril, the corner opens into a straight that leads down to the tight Adelaide hairpin. Hang from the belt straps as you slow from 300kph to 40kph, and as you are changing down five gears, one eye is on the mirror and the other on the turn in spot so you don't miss the corner. Stopping a fast car in 100 metres and having to be accurate is not easy, especially when 21 drivers around you are trying to do the same!
Out of Adelaide, and down towards a fast right-left fourth gear chicane before you take the long left around the inside of Estoril. In second gear, you have to wait until you are clear of the apex before you can accelerate down to the quick entry into Château d'Eau, another long corner taken in second gear. Nearly home now as you exit Château d'Eau and dive under the bridge towards the last chicane, which consists of three slow, second gear corners, which take you past the pit lane entrance onto the start/finish straight for another lap.
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