20 replies to this topic

[GregY]

I've been watching some of the F1 racing this season and it seems that most of the circuits have little to no elevation change. How do today's circuits compare with those of the past? I know that Watkins Glen has over 100 feet of elevation change, and I am sure the Nurburgring had plenty also. What are some of the other current and past circuits with significant elevation changes?

Thanks.

Greg

[Gary C]

Brands Hatch !!!

[FrankB]

Originally posted by GregY
What are some of the other current and past circuits with significant elevation changes?

Thanks.

Greg

http://forums.atlasf...light=elevation

[man]

Zandvoort was high quality in this respect.

[MCS]

Saw bikes swooping round Oulton Park earlier on - having given up on the Grand Prix after all of three laps...(only watched to see if Montoya could launch Schumacher over the grandstand at the first corner to be honest).

Isn't the lake at Oulton mesmeric - or is it just me? Whenever I see old pictures of F1, F2, F5000 and the bigger sportscars entering Esso with the lake in the background it still makes my jaw drop.

Oulton Park forever!

MCS

[RX-7]

Spa, Interlagos,Imola to name a few.

[David McKinney]

Spa, yes
But if the elevation changes at Interloagos and Imola are "significant", what would you describe as inisgnifcant?

[Rob Semmeling]

I know the altitude differences of the following tracks:

Nürburgring Nordschleife: 300 metres
Nürburgring Südschleife: app. 136 metres
Nürburgring Grand Prix course: 56 metres
Old Spa-Francorchamps: 170 metres
New Spa-Francorchamps: 105 metres
Clermont-Ferrand: 179 metres

Some further info on this subject:

Nordschleife: steepest incline: 17% (Quiddelbacher-Höhe) - this of course excludes the 27% steep Steilstrecke - steepest decline: 11% (Fuchsröhre)

The Südschleife had an avarage incline of 10% between Mülllenbach and the Gegengerade.

Nürburgring Grand Prix course: steepest incline: 8,8% steepest decline: 6,5%

I'm not sure, but if I remember correctly, the Eau Rouge at Spa is a 19% rise.

[FrankB]

Monaco has got the very steep climb up from Ste Devote to Massenet, and then the near continuous descent from Casino Square, through Mirabeau and the Station Hairpin to Portier - around 50 / 60 metres change from the harbour level up to the highest point?

[Ray Bell]

You might mention Laguna Seca and Elkart Lake...

Mount Panorama has a 600' plus climb from Murray's Corner to the highest point around McPhillamy Park, with a steepest grade of 1 in 8 (IIRC) coming out of The Cutting on the climb to Reid Park.

I recall once driving around there in a very ill Morris Oxford (side-valve...) and, having picked up a couple of hitch-hikers at the bottom of the hill I found that the car wasn't going to make it up that pinch in first gear... these guys jumped out and pushed to assist for me. It might not surprise you that I left that car in Bathurst, went home and bought something else...

Television never does it justice, but John Medley's comment the other night talking on the phone about the thread about corners was telling.

"In that hillclimb last year (driving a Ford V8 Special) I went into the entry to the cutting and just took a 'confidence' lift and I was thrown forward in my harness. It's that steep!"

[Magee]

Westwood Circuit, perched on Eagle Mountain, near Vancouver, Canada, had an elevation difference of close to 300 ft. This added to speed down the back straight to the hairpin and then slowed cars out of the hairpin and through the esses to the pit straight.
The access to the parking lot on the west side of the circuit was much steeper and very difficult during periods when heavy rain mixed with the clay base in places.
Pity that all of that is now a single-family housing development and golf course.

[gdecarli]

As regards old circuits, I have on my site these few infos (click to open my page with more details, map and profile) :

CIRCUITO DELLE TRE PROVINCE (Italy)

From 328 to 1388 m (difference: 1060 m)

This circuit was used from 1929 to 1931 and its located on Appennini, not far from Bologna and - to say a famous village - Maranello. On this circuit Ferrari asked Nuvolari a demostration of his driving style and later he described his experience in his famous book Piloti che gente. This is circuit profile:





BOLOGNA - FIRENZE (Italy)

From 49 to 968 m (difference: 919 m)

Well, this is not a circuit, but it's the famous section of Mille Miglia that cross Appennini from Bologna to Firenze on early editions and later (more famous) in contrary direction, from Firenze to Bologna. Blue section is used also by old Mugello circuit (see below).





CIRCUITO DEL MUGELLO (Italy)

From 205 to 903 m (difference: 698 m)

Old road circuit used from 1914 to 1969 (or 1971?); then he was replaced by new Mugello permanent circuit still in use.





CIRCUITO DEL LARIO (Italy)

From 201 to 754 m (difference: 553 m)

Road circuit used from 1921 to 1939 for motorbike races.




More old Italian circuits with significant elevation changes are Circuito del Garda and all circuits used by Targa Florio, but I have no profile yet.

Ciao,
Guido

[GBORSARI]

Didn't Zetwig have some rather large elevation changes ?

[WDH74]

A-1 ring (or whatever they currently call Osterreich/Zeltweg) still has some nice hilly goodness, as does Watkins Glen. Road Atlanta has a nice downhill section or two, too. And Lime Rock is just a motion sickness event waiting to happen, for me at least!

-William

[Geza Sury]

Don't forget Montjuich Park! I've just come back form Spain and had the opportunity to walk along the path of the old circuit. (Actually I covered two "laps" ) I was simply amazed Big elevation changes, nice long uphill and downhill corners and tight hairpins! It must have been a great circuit in the seventies!

I also worked in the Spanish Grand Prix as a journalist and on Friday, I went out to the spectator area. The circuit was much "hillier" than I had thought. Especially the straight before last corner was a big downhill section, so to see the cars taking that particular bend in fouth gear was a thrilling experience!

[Muzza]

Originally posted by Rob Semmeling
(...)
Nordschleife: steepest incline: 17% (Quiddelbacher-Höhe) - this of course excludes the 27% steep Steilstrecke - steepest decline: 11% (Fuchsröhre)

(...)

Is not Ex-Mühle steeper than Quiddelbacher-Höhe?

[2F-001]

Also, how does the short drop from Eschbach into Brunnchen 1 compare to Fuchsröhre? (It feels steeper momentarily, but it's always very hard to judge from inside a car).

[Rob Semmeling]

I have an altitude profile somewhere which also indicates the inclines/declines in percents. I'll have to look for it though. The figures I posted are right though, Quiddelbacher-Höhe is the steepest.

[Vicuna]

I remember when I first went to Bathurst - people said 'you won't believe how steep it is - TV doesn't accurately reflect the gradient.

Guess what?

They were right.

[Kjetil]

Monza has actually 12 m elevation change.

[Kjetil]

Originally posted by Rob Semmeling
I have an altitude profile somewhere

Here it is: http://www.nurburgri...ude-profile.jpg
I agree with Muzza. Ex Mühle certanly feels steepest when you drive the track. It's almost vertically!