- LOCATION:
Long Beach, CA
- TYPE: temporary street circuit
- LENGTH: 1.59 miles
- RACE
DISTANCE: 105 laps
(166.95 miles)
-
-
- SETUP
NOTES:
One of the clockwise-running circuits. Despite the turn 9 hairpin,
the course overall requires little downforce. Sixth gear is vital
for the two long straights, but the 1st-gear corners are important
too. Try setting the middle gears at even spacings, and set your
car up to run full speed without using the highest turbocharger
setting. Note that neither long straightaway has braking markers
at the end. You can outbrake your opponents into turn 1, and
out-accelerate them as you leave the turn 6 combination and the
turn 9 hairpin.
-
- A LAP: You'll cross
the start/finish line at the top of the gearbox on the front
straight (Shoreline Drive). Since there are no braking markers
at the end of this straight, you may want to use the grandstands
to your left as a reference point. As you find your braking point,
downshift rapidly to 1st or 2nd and stay in the groove through
turn 1. Without getting back on the power, tap the brakes once
again to slow even more, then dive into 2, a left-hander. Turns
1 and 2 are so close in proximity that they should be driven
as a smooth combination. Out of 2, quickly accelerate and upshift
to 2nd before braking again and taking turn 3, a 90-degree bend
to the right. Turn 4 requires an identical technique, low gear,
hard braking, and acceleration off the apex. The exit at turn
4 is fast, and many drivers make the common mistake of getting
back on the gas too soon here. Safely out of turn 4, accelerate
flat-out through turns 5 and 6; as you exit this left-right combo
you should just be getting back into 6th gear, which you'll carry
down the long straight. The turn 6 exit is one of the more popular
passing points on the Long Beach circuit. The long straightaway
is called Seaside Way, and like Shoreline Drive, there are no
braking markers at the end. Try using the tall building to the
left, or the white stripe that begins near the middle of the
track just before turn 7. Downshift to 1st or 2nd gear and take
7, a roomy right-hander, fairly fast. Exit cleanly, then try
to get back up to 3rd gear before braking again for turn 8. This
is a tight left that sets up for the hairpin - carve a perfect
line through here and you'll be right at the entrance to turn
9; get too eager and you'll be overcorrecting to salvage the
lap. Take turn 8 in first gear, then slow further around the
hairpin. Be patient in turn 9, waiting until you've safely cleared
the apex before stepping back on the accelerator to rush down
Shoreline Drive.
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