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R O A D
T R A C K
R A C E
S U M M E R 2 0 1 6
TRACK GUIDE:
GOODWOOD CIRCUIT
A
s Goodwood is a period
circuit, if you go off you
will have a period
accident, as there is very little
run-off. This circuit probably has
the strictest noise regulations of
any in the UK, so it’s worth mak-
ing sure your car isn’t over the
limit before you go.
The circuit doesn’t have many
corners but each one is truly stun-
ning. Madgwick, being the first,
has a slight uphill approach and
from the turn in the apex is a long
way around the corner. Be careful
of the large bump in the road as
you cross the track from the turn-
ing point towards the apex. On the
exit, be sure to use the full width
of the road and, if you do have a
very noisy car, be patient with the
power on the exit.
The next corner is Fordwater,
GOODWOOD IS A TRULY TRADITIONAL CIRCUIT AND IS
STILL OPERATED IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS IT ALWAYS
HAS BEEN. THE MARSHALS ARE KITTED OUT IN PERIOD
WHITE OVERALLS AND THE CLUBHOUSE IS A SHRINE TO
MOTOR RACING GREATS. JAMIE STANLEY WRITES.
which is essentially a very fast
right kink in the road but, due to
the bumpy nature of the circuit,
this makes it a truly terrifying cor-
ner and it should be treated with
the utmost respect. Depending on
your car, this will be a small lift or
easily flat.
This then leads to St Mary’s,
which should be treated in two
parts – the first taking a late turn
in and apex to get the car tight to
the right-hand side of the cir-
cuit. This will give you as much
room as possible for the second
part, which is steeply downhill
under braking. With the apex
unsighted until after you turn in,
you will need to be careful not to
allow the car to run out to soon.
From the bottom you will then
be looking uphill towards Lavant
Corner. There is a marshal’s post
to aim at initially which will give
you some guidance as to where
you need to position the car. Once
you arrive over the crest, you can
pick your braking point and turn
in quite easily. Once turned in, be
careful not to be greedy with the
kerb on the inside or outside of
the corner, as this is a tight cor-
ner. Be patient with the throttle
application as this is where 80%
of accidents occur at Goodwood.
The run down the Lavant
Straight is very quick with two
slight kinks, but these should
be treated with respect as a
mistake here is usually severe-
ly punished. The long straight
leads to Woodcote Corner and
the high-speed approach makes
it very tricky. Try to ensure that
braking is done in a straight line
towards the first of two turning
points. At the first you will turn
the car towards the second turn-
ing point. There is no first apex
from the second turning point, so
bring the car into an early apex
as this allows you to get on the
power very early for the run to
the final chicane of the lap.
After the exit there is a short
run in to a tyre chicane. This is
a very simple chicane, but care
should be taken for slower cars
that are entering the pits just on
the exit of the chicane.
Track
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