Starting Grid

The start line is on the new infield section of the track, and the first corner rejoins the original layout.

Clervaux

When thinking about your flying lap of Croft, my advice is to consider the first three corners as one. It is a long 180 degree turn, but spiced by two fast chicanes. A unique challenge that makes overtaking tricky, but rewards precision.

The first part Clervaux, is faster than it looks. Turn in late in such a way that allows you to thread through the first 'chicane' without correcting too much.

Hawthorn

The track then continues to turn into Hawthorn, which can be a frustrating corner in a front wheel drive or understeering car. If you are running out of road, try doing the slowing down between Clervaux and Hawthorn instead as it will allow you to continue accelerating through the chicane that follows, and onto the long back straight.

Chicane

If you have managed to tame the running wide through Hawthorn, you will find it easier to get onto the right hand side of the track to thread the needle that is the chicane. Only you can decide if you want to use the kerbs or not, but it is important not to compromise traction for the long drag that follows.

Tower Bend

The straight kinks left before presenting you with a hard braking point into Tower. Tower is more than a right-angle and therefore needs a very late entry point. The section that follows is slightly uphill, so you need to find a line that allows you to be on the power from the apex without running out of road. Move to the right on exit.

Jim Clark Esses

The next two corners, the Jim Clark Esses, are a great challenge. In many cars these are taken flat but require a very precise line. After apexing on the left kerb try and stay left for a car length before turning right to apex again. This late right turn will help you stay off the wide, but dirty run off area on exit.

Barcroft

Barcroft continues the flat out theme. If it is flat depends on your brakes, as the corner that follows arrives very quickly. On a track day, you may wish to be more cautious through Barcroft and get your car balanced for the following bend.

Sunny

Sunny is a double apex 180 degree section that takes you off the old track and back into the new infield. At the first apex try and stay off the kerb, but instead hug the kerb to use the camber of the road instead. As you run wide on exit, try to avoid the kerb again and keep looking ahead through the second apex. Focus on the exit point to ensure a flowing, uninterrupted application of power onto the next straight.

'S' Bend

The left hander into the complex is one of the rare bends where the usual slow-in, fast-out mantra can be thrown away. As it is followed by two slower bends you can focus on retaining speed into the corner, rather than preserving momentum on the way out. Try and keep a long apex, balanced on the power, whilst focusing ahead for the right hander. Be neat into the right hander and choose whichever line allows you the best squirt of power for the very short run up to the hairpin.

Hairpin

This is the slowest corner in the UK, and unique in being a left handed hairpin. This can make the apex difficult to see, but keep looking ahead. There is no useable exit kerb, so you must be neat and precise on exit to ensure you have momentum on the following straight.