eRacing Magazine Vol 1. Issue 10 | Page 64

COTA has only been around for a few years so personally as a local I’m really happy that we can bring these types of events in with this many drivers at one time so…

Definitely COTA being a “Prestige” track that Formula One runs at a probably the best facilities in the United States and Austin is just an awesome town for the drivers and teams to come to, there’s lots of entertainment around. It’s the perfect city for this venue. When you’re driving at Circuit of the Americas there’s nothing like it in the states, it reminds you of a European feel to it. It’s great being here for the weekend.

Have you raced on this circuit before?

Yes we raced here last year for Prototype Lights where we got the win.

Is there anything about this circuit that you would change from a driver’s perspective?

Change? I prefer this track because it has a little bit of everything, the high speeds to the low speeds. This is the only track where we use 1st gear in LMPC so that’s a little bit different. It adds a different taste because you can’t really set up a car for one sector or another. Some people get frustrated by that by I like it, because it means on average you have to be a better driver rather than being good at high speeds or low speeds. It’s a happy medium having a car that’s very versatile and good on all terrains and all types of corners

Which part of the track is most challenging for you?

We have a lot of under-steer over in the carousel because you’re not setting up for the best high speed car between (turns) 4 to 6. Those corners can be taken so many different ways and the time really shows up. To be consistent in that sector is very difficult. That’s probably the most challenging part of the circuit.

That’s what I heard as well; the sweeping turns look like they should be simple from afar but then once you’re on them…

SR:

You drive a car length different from where you drove the last lap and it could be anywhere from .2 to .4 different, just that car length. Just because the timing is just so critical through there. I like challenging tracks, it’s not really straight forward, there’s more than one way to take it which makes for some diversity in driving styles.

DC:

What about turn 9?

SR:

It’s difficult but it has become one of my favorite turns in the U.S. because you can get on the throttle just tenths second sooner and your whole exit is screwed up but when you get it right, it still feels like you can get on the throttle earlier. It’s really a challenge to get it right. There’s not one time when you go through it and you think to yourself – “Oh, I got it perfect”.

Sean Rayhall