UP HILL AND
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
There is only one correct answer to the question of which WorldSBK circuit is the Alpha? It’ s this weekend’ s venue of Donington Park. Not only is it the first-ever WorldSBK venue, way back in 1988, it’ s still going strong as a WorldSBK venue in its own right, and on its own merits. Join us on a lap down memory lane at this still-contemporary 4.023km long venue.
01 – 02
T1 / T2 Wheatcroft Straight / Redgate Corner
If the rider chooses to, he or she can drift out left to grab a little extra track as pitlane enters the track proper, to take on the deceptively tight and yet opening out Redgate Corner. The front straight is really quite short at Donington, but T1 is one of the classic overtaking spots if you are convinced you will have more pace into the next section.
03 – 04
T3 / T4 Hollywood / Craner Curves
01
The exit of Redgate- your line and pace on the exit- are more important than the entry process as the Hollywood and Craner Curves are increasingly fast- and really the first two elements of what is a complete and very long flowing complex of fast corners and curves.
Tarran Mackenzie says of the first part at Craner,“ On the previous tarmac, Craner could be quite tricky, especially in cold conditions at a BSB meeting or a club meeting. That left at Craner, I don’ t think there is any rider in the world- especially on the old tarmac- where you would turn in and not think that you needed to respect it. If you try and grab that little bit extra, then it can bite you- which I have experienced a couple of times, as part of the‘ Craner Club!’ I would say that this is probably the most enjoyable, fun part of the track- probably of the whole calendar. If you are wide at the top of Holly Wood then it’ s difficult for Craner.”
05 – 06
T5 / T6 Old Hairpin / Starkey’ s Bridge / Schwantz Curve
The Old Hairpin is the track’ s lowest point, in terms of absolute elevation, so you are climbing up for the next few corners. Starkey’ s is named after the bridge, not the corner itself. After the passing opportunity at the Old Hairpin at the bottom of the hill, it’ s very easy to go wide on the exit and lose any advantage. If you get the long, long left of T6 / Schwantz done correctly, you are quickly into the braking zone for the next right at McLeans.
Tarran Mackenzie, the Taz version again, says that almost the entire first quarter of the track is really one section at Donington.“ I think the best section is Craner Curves, and the Old Hairpin, and one of the classic complexes in the whole world. It is quite a long section,” said Taz,“ but if you get it right, and hit your markers, then Craner, Old Hairpin, Schwantz, is probably one of the most flowing parts. That section almost starts from the exit of T1, and if you get it right it is so nice and flowing.”
07 – 08
T7 / T8 McLeans / Coppice
02 03
11
There are two rights after that long left at Schwantz Curve. McLeans is just about a 90 °‘ normal’ corner but it is slightly uphill on the entry. The exit and run up to Coppice forms one of Donington’ s many short straights, and the exit starts out relatively flat. It is soon profoundly uphill to a veritable ridge line. Coppice is partly a long and complex right-hander, and partly a tricky flat plateau after that ridge. It is also completely blind on the approach, so knowing when to turn in and then start to get on the gas( even before you see the apex’ s rumple strips) is super important. Local legend Ron Haslam must have done tens of thousands of laps round here, and used to tyre test at Donington. He would deliberately turn into Coppice too hard and fast to see if the latest front he was evaluating would grip or start to slide … Not for us regular mortals, that kind of thing.
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