Most Beautiful Race Track In The World!
Discussion
In what context can you measure beauty?
On the actual circuit, Combe was more beautiful without the chicanes. That's if beauty is measurable by the beholder (in or out of car) of experiencing something special and awesome such as needing to be very out of shape to accomplish taking Old Paddock at full tilt.
The Nordschleife ticks all the boxes. It even has the burger-bar girls that will tick yours
On the actual circuit, Combe was more beautiful without the chicanes. That's if beauty is measurable by the beholder (in or out of car) of experiencing something special and awesome such as needing to be very out of shape to accomplish taking Old Paddock at full tilt.
The Nordschleife ticks all the boxes. It even has the burger-bar girls that will tick yours
Oh it's Imola all day long, isn't it?
Although the Isle of Man could be a good argument.
Oulton Park's nice, as is Cadwell in the summer.
In terms of actually using the tracks, some of the blander ones can be good. I remember racing at Snet one evening, was well in the lead on the last lap. As I came round Coram with the bike sliding nicely as I wound the power on, the low sun was illuminating the swathe of tarmac a beautiful orange colour as it stretched out in front of me. I just thought, this is cloud 9, this is. Made a quite bland track beautiful to me.
combemarshal said:
Me, jump on a bandwagon, never!!
Now I'm not gonna post one, cause I'm 'slightly' biased, the Tavern at combe has the best looking waitresses!!!
Now I'm not gonna post one, cause I'm 'slightly' biased, the Tavern at combe has the best looking waitresses!!!
And the grub they make is, quite simply, the best motorsport grub available in the UK. Home made by people who care about good food - not posh - good.
So far the most beautiful track I have visited is Brands. Standing by Druids looking up at Paddock Hill. Gorgeous. The whole place is quite beautiful. One day I'll have to visit on a day there's nothing on the track and just enjoy going for a walk around the whole place. Scenery's just lovely because its hilly.
So many other tracks, being as they were developed from airfields, are flat as pancakes. Not a criticism of the tracks - but nowhere near as pretty.
I like Goodwood because of the ambience. However, being on an airfield, it is a bit flat.
Tracks with changes in elevation are always more interesting - that is why Brands, Oulton, Cadwell, Spa and the Nurburgring (old) always stand out. Too many modern, purpose built tracks lack this naturalness and this is what tends to make them rather dull to look at. Bahrain, Malaysia and even Magny Cours are pretty uninspiring looking places.
I still think that the old track at the Osterreichring was the best. It had long sweeping curves, high G turns, dips and vales and stunning scenery.
Unfortunately, it was butchered in the mid 1990s to become the A1 ring in order to persuade Bernie to bring F1 back. Having spent millions on this project to satisfy Bernie's needs, Bernie then took the F1 circus away. At this moment in time, the once great circuit is now derelict and is never likely to host any kind of motorsport ever again.
There are times when I think that Ecclestone has done more damage to motorsport than he has good.
Tracks with changes in elevation are always more interesting - that is why Brands, Oulton, Cadwell, Spa and the Nurburgring (old) always stand out. Too many modern, purpose built tracks lack this naturalness and this is what tends to make them rather dull to look at. Bahrain, Malaysia and even Magny Cours are pretty uninspiring looking places.
I still think that the old track at the Osterreichring was the best. It had long sweeping curves, high G turns, dips and vales and stunning scenery.
Unfortunately, it was butchered in the mid 1990s to become the A1 ring in order to persuade Bernie to bring F1 back. Having spent millions on this project to satisfy Bernie's needs, Bernie then took the F1 circus away. At this moment in time, the once great circuit is now derelict and is never likely to host any kind of motorsport ever again.
There are times when I think that Ecclestone has done more damage to motorsport than he has good.
True.
These US tracks sometimes get forgotten as they aren't used for F1 GPs.
I also have a soft spot for The Phoenix Park (Hawthorn Circuit) in Dublin. It's not been used since the early 1980s but it was be VERY quick, and very dangerous - with some lovely background parkland scenery.
These US tracks sometimes get forgotten as they aren't used for F1 GPs.
I also have a soft spot for The Phoenix Park (Hawthorn Circuit) in Dublin. It's not been used since the early 1980s but it was be VERY quick, and very dangerous - with some lovely background parkland scenery.
Hmm out of the tracks I've been to (haven't made Cadwell, any of the German or Italian circuits), it would have to be Spa, the place has something so incredibly special about it. sitting in the trees before the Bus stop in the middle of the night (FIA GT 24) watching cars virtually below you, the trees, the difference in elevation. I love the place.
I have been to Laguna Seca and the section around the corkscrew (is that the right name?) is good but it doesn't have a patch on Spa.
LM is special to for its history and the status of the event, the concept of the original Mulsanne straight is mindblowing and makes me wish I'd been there 30 years ago.
I have been to Laguna Seca and the section around the corkscrew (is that the right name?) is good but it doesn't have a patch on Spa.
LM is special to for its history and the status of the event, the concept of the original Mulsanne straight is mindblowing and makes me wish I'd been there 30 years ago.
Don't forget that the Mulsanne stright was not "conceived" by a race track designer. It was (and is) a normal public road. The essence of European mottor sport is the fact that it was originally based on closed down public roads rather than purpose designed racing circuits (Britain and Germany excepted, of course). Even the old Nurburgring, which WAS purpose designed, was meant to emulate as much as possible normal road conditions.
The "modern" notion of having circuuits specially designed to suit the characteristics and capabilities of current F1 cars is, to me, an athema. And can, as in the case of the A1 Ring and Hockenheim, totally destroy perfectly good tracks.
The "modern" notion of having circuuits specially designed to suit the characteristics and capabilities of current F1 cars is, to me, an athema. And can, as in the case of the A1 Ring and Hockenheim, totally destroy perfectly good tracks.
Eric Mc said:
Good stuff
Yes, I think that's one of the things that makes it special - the idea of the circuit evolving out of the roads originally used by the Romans etc.
I love driving section of road at Spa down from Les Coombes towards the Karting track entrance where you can still see the Masta Kink and the old kerbing, bits of barriers and seeing how close the telegraph poles and trees are to the "track". You then overlay the wartime photos of the same area and for me the sense of history and those that have passed before us is immense.
I always think Stirling Moss' recollection of arriving on a Friday summer's evening at an event like Aix Les Bains just in time to see the local council workers unloading the hay bales from the backs of lorries and the various course officials laying out the "Pneus Englebert" and "Shell" banners over the hedges and stone walls totally evocative as to what European Grand Prix racing was all about - once upon a time.
Monaco, and to some extent Spa, are the last links to that era.
Monaco, and to some extent Spa, are the last links to that era.
I know its no longer a circuit but I like Rouen Les Essarts. Out in the forest, really hilly - a bit of mist capping the tops of the trees. Long blasts and fast sweepers with an off camber hairpin here and there to keep you on your toes. Just imagine a 312 charging down towards the cobbles at Nouveau Monde 
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