Turn by turn guide to the Mid-American Motorplex trackFrom TrackpediaIf you know this track then please try to start this guide. Once, someone starts then other readers should refine it to make the descriptions better. But, someone has to be first. Just click the edit button on the top of the page or the right and go.
Track Map
Turn 1Turn 1 is approximately a 90 degree right had turn at the end of the front straight. In a highend sports car you will be pushing around 100-120mph and want to be setting up for the turn on the left of the straight away. Brake hard between the 5 and 3 marker and complete your down shift to typically 3rd gear. Start your turn in aiming to hit a late apex and hammer on the throttle once you clip it. You want to exit this turn as close to the middle of the track to minimize the amount of movement back across the track required in the short exit shoot to setup for turn 2. Turn 2 and 3Treat turn 2 and 3 as a combined complex with a smooth left followed by a decreasing radius right. Turn two is basically just a quick flick to the left that can in some cars be taken flat out, but until comfortable it is best to tap the brakes when setting up for the turn on the right hand side of the track then flick the car to the left touching the gators while getting back on the gas. Once across the gators you will be slightly turning right while heading into the decreasing raidus turn trying to touch the passenger side wheels to the gators you see on your left. Hit the brakes once you cross the gators and proceed to turn in right riding the outside of the turn until you see the gators at the apex of the decreasing radius turn then turn in sharp for the apex exiting wide to the left. A throttle lift to bring the nose into the apex of three may be needed. Turn 4This is a full throttle left hand turn which you want to setup for by moving back across the track (from left to right) after exiting turn 3. Begin your turn in when you see the apex and be very linear with turn in while keeping the gas planted. Its amazing how fast the apex will pass and your car begins drifting back out towards exit. In most cars at or just past corner exit you will require an upshift to 4th for the second longest straight on the course. Keep the throttle open and check your gauges/mirrors here. Turn 5 and 6Turn 5 and 6 can be viewed together as an increasing radius left at the end of the second longest straight on the track. You will typically be approaching between 80-100mph based on your car and want to be on the right hand side of the track to setup for the turn. Begin braking between the 4 and 2 marker and then proceed to turn in and ride the outside right hand of the turn maintaining even throttle to carry momentum. Look for the gators on the left hand side of the track to appear as they demarkate the apex of the turn and when they show up turn in gradually towards them increasing throttle on your way in linearly. The turn is very wide at exit and you should easily be able to be on full thottle with most sports cars before the apex and drift out gently upon exit heading down the staight towards turn 7. Turn 7 and 8Turn 7 and 8 while they may look like they can be treated as one they should really be handled differently. For turn 7 setup wide left as your heading down the straight and begin your braking with the knowledge that you will throw away the apex for #turn 7 to set yourself up optimially for turn 8. You should target an imaginary apex about ten feet outside of the physical one and use that to guide you through your #turn 7 turn in and exit. Maintain even throttle at turn in then give it gas at the imaginary apex and drift out to the outside of the track. Now tap the brakes and begin turn in for turn 8 as soon as you can see the apex on your right. Balance the throttle at entry and then mash it when you clip the apex to get the best exit speed for the short straight ahead. Turn 9 and 10The turn 9 and 10 chicane complex is to me one major area to make up time on the track. Brake hard at entry to turn 9 while on the left hand side of the track and take as late of apex as possible into the right hand turn 9. Maintain balanced throttle at turn in and entry and then roll on it at apex while preparing for the quick steering flick and making the car transfer weight as smoothly as possible back to the left for turn 10. In turn 10 you can really feel the cars suspension working and it will tell you if you have it right. At turn 10's apex mash the throttle back on and drift out to the left as you prepare for the turn 11 sweeper leading onto the grandstand straight. Alternative: Brake hard and turn in early on 9, drive aggressively over the apex gators while rolling on the throttle and head for the apex of 10. Take 10 with the left tires well onto the gators and stay left setting up for a quick blip - lift - turn for 11. The goal is to set up for 11 and straight line this small complex taking as little time as possible to get through it. Turn 11Turn 11 is a smooth sweeper onto the grandstand straight. It is a fairly simple turn that is taken from the left side of the track with a slight lift of the throttle instead of a real braking zone. At entry on the left lift the throttle and late apex the turn maintaining even throttle to apex and then rolling on upon hitting the apex for the run down the straight to impress your friends. Turn 12 and 13Turn 12 and 13 are another right/left chicane combo. The optimal line here is to start on the left of the track and slightly brake for turn in to the smooth right handed turn 12 while saving your heavier breaking for the sharper turn 13. At the apex of 12 get back on the gas (more of a blip) until you are in the braking zone for turn 13 which comes up quick. Here brake hard and turn into a very late apex to stay to the left of the track as you need to setup for the final set of turns onto the main straight. You want to rotate the car around the apex of this turn as you balance it with the throttle until you clip the apex then full power at exit as you try to stay left. Alternative: Very similar to 9-10. Brush the brakes and turn in early on 12. The car should drift a bit, just missing the apex gator. If you turn in too late, you will miss the apex and be forced to slow down too much for 10, if you can get the car to settle enough to get on the brakes to make the corner. Neutral to rolling on the throttle and drive for the apex at 13. Brake *very* hard right to the corner and keep the car to the left setting up for 14. Should be right at or on the gators. The goal, like 9-10, is to take as little time and carry as much speed through the complex.
Turn 14 and 15Turn 14 and 15 can really be treated as a single turn. After exiting turn 13 try to stay left as much as possible at turn entry and brake appropriately (you might want to down shift to 2nd here) and wait patiently for your very late turn in point. Once you think you have run out of track waiting, turn in hard to the right. Clip the apex and then roll on the thottle smoothly as you drive out through turn 15 and onto the main straight. Then its foot through the floorboard and time to check your gauges and mirrors. |
