Possibly the best corner ?

[Ferry_vO]

The 'Eau rouge' combination at Spa-Francorchamps !

A steep up-hill combination of very fast turns, that require big :censored: to go through at high speeds.

Here we are, driving a BMW CSL, flat out downhill towards Eau Rouge. The narrow road on the right is the exit of the pitlane; Eau Rouge is the corner on the left.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/eau_01.jpg

Just before the entry, close to the curbs, still full throttle. You cannot see the exit from here, but the corner makes a hard left on top of the hill.
This is 'just' a touring car; a F1 car will probably do about 290 kmh here, and the best drivers will keep the throttle floored all the way through.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/Eau_02.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/eau_05.jpg

Half way through, now on the right side of the track, close to, but not on the curbs. You do not want to upset the car by hitting the curb too hard here! During a race I usually shift one gear down and release the gas a bit, but during qualifying I try it as fast as possible: Behind Eau Rouge is a long straight, and you need to carry as much speed as possible through the corner to avoid being overtaken on the straight.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/Eau_03.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/eau_06.jpg

Back on the left side again, at the exit of the corner. The kemmel straight is right in front of us.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/Eau_04.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/eau_07.jpg

On the straight, looking back towards the pitlane and the start/finish straight. You can see it right between the 'control tower' and the grand stands. Also note the considerable height difference! It's quite hard to walk or ride a bicycle to the top there.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Ferror/GT%20Legends/eau_08.jpg

Here's a guy who tries it in his Porsche,but hits the curbs a bit too hard and ends up in the tyres :

http://video.google.nl/videoplay?docid=-363122402423155696&q=eau+rouge+crash

Jaques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta showing how not to get through Eau Rouge: Both destroy their BAR's back in 1999.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGwN6FxtlTo

And finally a video of Jaques doing a bit better in 2003 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCusiLLXdtY&mode=related&search=

[kevib1]

Can't dissagree with you Ferry.

Spa is currently me favourite track to drive although I'm not that quick around.
I'm currently throwing the Lotus Cortina around and I am usually just off the podium at Semi-pro with all aids turned off.

As for Spa, The whole curcuit just flows so well with a really good variety of sections and corners and it really rewards smooth driving.
Eau Rouge just asks to be be driven as you accelerate hard down the hill over the start/finish line.

I find a slight lift and possibly dab on the brakes to settle the car just on entry at your picture 2 keeps everything smooth and not settled. I can then accelerate smoothly through the section with the pedal hard to the floor through the last left. There is a huge bump around the right hander that has sent me drifting into the armco on more than a few occassions if you get on the gas to hard to early but this usually gives me a slight advantage over the ai for the long drag up the hill. Like all the European TC cars, the Cortina doesn't have huge power so that looooong up hill straight but be a struggle.


I'm still loving GTL but I can't get a championship top 3 finish in the last 6 race championship in Challenge B and I refuse to drop a level from semi-pro.
It's too much of a bigger as I wanted the game for the TC '65 cars. Those angled '76 cars just do nothing for me at all.

Kev