Hellow Everyone: Just got back from Shanghai circuit's inaugural race weekend. Check my web site to see some pictures. If you have broadband, then play the 11MB movie clip to see the circuit layout recorded from my Formula Renault race. www.myferraris.net/Shanghai_circuit.htm I hope you find the information useful.
Great post! Thanks much for that interesting link. I agree the track looks fabulous. Unfortunately my media player only played the sound, no picture, but I have "driven" the track on GP 3 and agree that it is very interesting and challenging. That was a great honor for you to have driven it already, congrats!
Movie clip is in wmv format to play on Window's Media Player. Sorry it does not work on your computer. Will be back at the end of the month for another race weekend. Hope to take some more pictures of the various corners. By the way, do you know how to edit a post? It seems I can't spell hello. Can't find the edit button as explained in the FAQ section.
Lower right hand corner of your post are two buttons, one for editing, one to reply to a message. The edit function has a timer. After a few hours you can no longer edit your own message, only moderators (like me) can.
Are there any elevation changes in the real track? Do you feel them (I would think so in lower powered formula car)? The simulation hardly brings them across, the track feels flat for the most part, but very twisty on the infield, lots of turns. Comments?
Elevation changes are man made so they are modest compared to some other tracks. Don't know if you can feel them in an F1 with so much down force, but you can definitely feel them driving in the slower formula cars. By the way the 2004 spec Formula Renaults will do 270KPH in the back straight. Based on Formula Renault race I can describe the abbreviated track as follows: Right hand T1 rises and is banked. Brake late, down shift from 6th to 4th, hold throttle steady and take the inside line for most of this turn. As you approach right hand T2, corner tightens up, brake and down shift to 2nd. Near the apex, corner becomes slightly off camber and drops in elevation to approach T3. T3 is tight left U taken in 2nd. Upshift to 4th just before T4. The abbreviated circuit bypasses T4 to T7 and shoots through the infield via a right left chicane. Elevation through the chicane drops just enough so that you enter into it blind. Down shift to 2nd and make best guess of the entry into the chicane off camber. Hold in 2nd through the chicane. On exit the short section before the large right hand curve T8 rises slightly in elevation. Accelerate up to 5th. Take T8 in 4th with a fairly tight line. Elevation then drops, hard on throttle for 1 second and just before the sharp left T9, down shift to 2nd and take the normal line. Either full throttle 3rd or short shift to 4th for the left hander T10. With the slippery new pavement, I always short shifted. Then flat out up to the tight left T11. Take it in 2nd and keep tight line on exit to set up for T12. Elevation rises slightly. Accelerate smoothly in 2nd through T12. The huge right hander T13 drops in elevation and feels like it goes on forever. Take a late apex. Not quite full throttle depending on track condition. Accerate flat out in the back straight which is about 1.2KM long. T14 is a normal righ hand hairpin taken in 2nd, accelerate gently through the slight bend T15. Then short squirt up to 4th just before the hard left final turn T16. Take that in 3rd and onto the front straight. I hope my description makes sense to you.
Some great stuff on your website! Thanks for the pictures and videos! Fantastic looking racetrack up there, with an interestingly large bridge going across the start/finish. Look so Sepang-like, but apparently its the same designer right? Best of luck to you in your races!
Yes, same designer, Tilke from Germany. For better or worse: I like his architectural approach to the grandstands and pit areas, but I'm never too hot on his track layouts. They all feel alike with the same mix of turns. Obviously dictated by the same current safety/spectacle trend dominating F1. But I guess it comes with the territory and the good news is that his average speed turns at least prevent stupid chicanes. cwwhk, thanks much for your detailed description. That's great stuff and just the kind of information I was looking for. And you're right, you don't feel much elevation changes in a F1 unless it serious elevation (e.g. Spa). Neither in a virtual F1 nor in a real one (I drove once a real one).
Glad you guys like my web site and video. Will try to post more track pictures after the second race on June 27th. If anyone has a specific questions about the track let me know now, so next time I am there I will try to check it out for you.
Very, very cool! Those FRenault cars look like they're a lot of fun. Too bad it was wet out, but a great video none the less.
I have heard that number mentioned before too. Hopefully they will declare how much it cost in total so it can be used as a model for tracks being developed from scratch in ountries like India and the reopening of the tracks in Mexico and South Africa. Is the track funded by the Government of China or is a private venture?
It's funded by the Shanghai municipal government along with private sponsors. This city's pace of development is incredible and the new track will nicely put Shanghai on the world stage. I hope this is the catalyst needed to promote motorsports in China. The market is huge, just look at soccer after World Cup and basketball after Yao Ming.
Speaking of motorsport in China, the governing body of Formula 4000 here in Australia has just signed a deal with Chinese officials to expand the Formula to Asia. It's a win-win for everyone!
I agree 100%. The potential for expansion of the Chinese market in terms of motorsport seems to be limitless now. The skills gained by developing this track and managing it efficiently can also become a service to other countries developing their own tracks. That track looks simply amazing. I will watch the Shanghai GP closely and hopefully take a trip there in next few years.
