What parts of the track can you drive on?
Discussion
Hi,
I went for a bit of a drive around the circuit on Sunday night and I'm trying to work out where I actually went!
I joined the D338 (the Mulsanne Straight I believe?) heading south. At some point I came to a 90 degree right hand turn, after which I was definitely on part of the circuit (maybe this was actually where I joined the track). I went under a banner, then came to what I assumed was the first chicane - it was a gentle right hander into really quite a tight left hander. The road/track carried on straight for a few hundred yards after that before the circuit headed gently off to the right and I carried on along the road that brought me to a roundabout with a couple of drunk people staggering around on it (which doesn't exactly narrow it down I guess).
Can anyone suggest which section of the track that might have been from the slightly garbled description?
At one stage my passenger took this shot if it helps:
I went for a bit of a drive around the circuit on Sunday night and I'm trying to work out where I actually went!
I joined the D338 (the Mulsanne Straight I believe?) heading south. At some point I came to a 90 degree right hand turn, after which I was definitely on part of the circuit (maybe this was actually where I joined the track). I went under a banner, then came to what I assumed was the first chicane - it was a gentle right hander into really quite a tight left hander. The road/track carried on straight for a few hundred yards after that before the circuit headed gently off to the right and I carried on along the road that brought me to a roundabout with a couple of drunk people staggering around on it (which doesn't exactly narrow it down I guess).
Can anyone suggest which section of the track that might have been from the slightly garbled description?
At one stage my passenger took this shot if it helps:
Sounds like you started at or near Tetre Rouge and went down the Mulsanne straight past the chicanes to Mulsanne Corner.
You'd then turn right at the roundabout and head west towards Indianapolis / Arnage (and you'd have gone under that banner on the way to Indianapolis).
You can then drive up the west side of the circuit as far at the point where the Porsche curves begin.
You'd then turn right at the roundabout and head west towards Indianapolis / Arnage (and you'd have gone under that banner on the way to Indianapolis).
You can then drive up the west side of the circuit as far at the point where the Porsche curves begin.
Edited by Nick M on Wednesday 17th June 13:25
Chris71 said:
At some point I came to a 90 degree right hand turn, after which I was definitely on part of the circuit (maybe this was actually where I joined the track). I went under a banner, then came to what I assumed was the first chicane - it was a gentle right hander into really quite a tight left hander.
The right/left definitely sounds like Indianapolis.Thanks guys. It was very late at night at the end of a long week, so I don't remember the exact details, but it sounds like the main bit I remember is driving down the straight after Mulsanne, then going round Indianapolis (which was fun 
) and then the point where the track dissapeared off to the right must have been Arnage?
The track had dissapeared off behind a barrier by that point, so I just headed up to the roundabout, came back and did it again a couple of times. Actually, come to think about it the fact I did it twice in both directions implies there was a roundabout to turn around at the beginning, so I guess I did do Mulsanne Corner and perhaps the earlier straight on the run in too.
The following morning on the way back I did it in daylight and then I definitely went along the main part of the straight (albeit in the wrong direction) as I remember seeing the buildings and the corner markings before the first chicane.
I noticed they were allowing some people onto the track fairly shortly after the race finished, there was a great temptation to see if I could actually do a full lap. That would have been awesome. I'd already had a couple of run ins with angry French marshalls by that point though!
) and then the point where the track dissapeared off to the right must have been Arnage?The track had dissapeared off behind a barrier by that point, so I just headed up to the roundabout, came back and did it again a couple of times. Actually, come to think about it the fact I did it twice in both directions implies there was a roundabout to turn around at the beginning, so I guess I did do Mulsanne Corner and perhaps the earlier straight on the run in too.
The following morning on the way back I did it in daylight and then I definitely went along the main part of the straight (albeit in the wrong direction) as I remember seeing the buildings and the corner markings before the first chicane.
I noticed they were allowing some people onto the track fairly shortly after the race finished, there was a great temptation to see if I could actually do a full lap. That would have been awesome. I'd already had a couple of run ins with angry French marshalls by that point though!
Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 17th June 13:54
MikeDH said:
Chris71 said:
At some point I came to a 90 degree right hand turn, after which I was definitely on part of the circuit (maybe this was actually where I joined the track). I went under a banner, then came to what I assumed was the first chicane - it was a gentle right hander into really quite a tight left hander.
The right/left definitely sounds like Indianapolis.except you (OP) seem to have omitted to mention the tight right-hander shortly afterwards!
but then the track going off to the right just before a roundabout is definitely as the track heads for Porsche curves.
Best chance for a hoon the last couple of times I was there (07 being the last) was to get up early on the Friday before the roads & gendarmes got busy
I think 07 was the first year they closed off Indianapolis etc on the friday so you had to do it before they shut it off.
Just found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHeX5VXEhb4
The right left I'm thinking of is definitely the one at around 4 minutes in!
I remeber a 90 degree right hand junction at some stage - maybe that was after Indianapolis rather than before and in fact I went all the way up to the Porsche curves? I hasten to add the hazyness is purely to sleep deprevation and excess cafeine - it was about 2am by that point!
The right left I'm thinking of is definitely the one at around 4 minutes in!
I remeber a 90 degree right hand junction at some stage - maybe that was after Indianapolis rather than before and in fact I went all the way up to the Porsche curves? I hasten to add the hazyness is purely to sleep deprevation and excess cafeine - it was about 2am by that point!
The right/left at 4 minutes is Indianapolis.
The right turn at 4:20 is Arnage which is actually a cross roads when the roads are open.
At 4:52 the road goes straight on past Maison Blanche on the route of the old circuit. The new circuit leaves the road. When its all closed off there are large bariers up here.
Edit - just found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk2irKVQB4I
The right turn at 4:20 is Arnage which is actually a cross roads when the roads are open.
At 4:52 the road goes straight on past Maison Blanche on the route of the old circuit. The new circuit leaves the road. When its all closed off there are large bariers up here.
Edit - just found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk2irKVQB4I
Edited by dougc on Wednesday 17th June 14:17
Yep. Recognise the point at 4:52! That's the point where I carried on straight to the roundabout (rather than bearing right on the track... sadly).
So we have a conclusive answer! Mulsanne straight up to just before the Porsche Curves it was.
I guess the next question is: was there any more I could have done?
So we have a conclusive answer! Mulsanne straight up to just before the Porsche Curves it was.
I guess the next question is: was there any more I could have done?
Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 17th June 14:31
Chris71 said:
Yep. Recognise the point at 4:52! That's the point where I carried on straight to the roundabout (rather than bearing right on the track... sadly).
So we have a conclusive answer! Mulsanne straight up to just before the Porsche Curves it was.
I guess the next question is: was there any more I could have done?
depends on how far back up Mulsanne you started! Where did you join it from?So we have a conclusive answer! Mulsanne straight up to just before the Porsche Curves it was.
I guess the next question is: was there any more I could have done?
Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 17th June 14:31
When the roads are open you actually drive out of town and end up Mulsanne without trying! - so that is as far back towards the start you can get (huge metal gates on your right hand side). If you started further down (for instance; Houx - just slightly further, various roundabouts etc quite a bit further.
Did you see the chicanes off to left/right? (or is it right/left...hmm right/left from memory!)
Chris71 said:
I guess the next question is: was there any more I could have done?
Not of the current track, no, but going past the entrance to the Porsche curves and up to the roundabout on the normal road put you on the course of the old circuit (D139)Edited by dougc on Wednesday 17th June 14:43
I can't honestly remember! We just followed the sat nav back towards our BnB out in the sticks and then noticed it was taking us onto the circuit.
We'd been using Exit 13, by the Aire D'Accueil Hunaudieres all week, so I guess (looking at the map) we came out there and went straight onto the Mulsanne Straight and followed it all the way down. I think we saw braking markers on the first bit too, so I'm about 99% sure we did the whole thing.
I definitely drove past both chicanes in the daylight the following morning, but it's not quite the same at a law abiding pace in the opposite direction!
We'd been using Exit 13, by the Aire D'Accueil Hunaudieres all week, so I guess (looking at the map) we came out there and went straight onto the Mulsanne Straight and followed it all the way down. I think we saw braking markers on the first bit too, so I'm about 99% sure we did the whole thing.
I definitely drove past both chicanes in the daylight the following morning, but it's not quite the same at a law abiding pace in the opposite direction!
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