A lap around Ellough Park
by Trevor RandallThe circuit has no gradients to speak of. The new track surface offers plenty of grip and dries out very quickly after rain. The circuit layout is fast and flowing until you reach the final two corners, which are slower.
Turn 1 is a quick 180 degree right approached at top speed from the far left of the track after crossing the start/finish line. Begin braking around the point where the old track surface (on the left) changes colour. Do not turn in too early, as you will run out of road on the exit. Get back on the throttle before apexing between a half and two thirds of the way around the inside kerb, do not touch this kerb as it will throw you off the racing line. Use all of the available road on the exit for a good run down the short back straight towards Turns 2 & 3.
The probability of a first corner accident is quite high here as although some braking is required, it is not really enough to pass someone of similar ability in the dry unless they have problems. During the race overtaking manoeuvres are possible if the driver in front has messed up the exit of the final chicane and you get a decent tow.
Turns 2 & 3 are too close to be treated separately. The first right is nearly flat out if you turn in at the point where the track surface join is. Stay a foot or more away from the inside kerb here as otherwise you will be off line for turning in to Turn 3. Turn 3 is considerably slower and requires braking, but not as much as you may first think as there is a large amount of grip available and the exit kerb is totally flat and as wide as the kart. Smoothness is the key throughout the lap but especially here as a good exit will set you up for an overtaking move into Turn 4.
It is possible to overtake into Turn 2, if you get a good run out of Turn 1 and your rival does not. However, this leaves you open to late dive attacks into Turn 3, which don't always work as the amount of braking required is often less than first anticipated.
The circuit is very wide on the approach to Turn 4, a long, sweeping slow to medium speed left with quite a nasty exit kerb. Ideally a very late turn in will give the best exit, but in race conditions this invites attacks up the inside so use between a half and two-thirds of the width. Brake deep into the corner to turn in for a very late apex, just off the inside kerb about two-thirds of the way round. Then unwind the steering lock for a smooth run down the short straight to Turn 5. There is plenty of friendly run-off available here if you overdo it.
If the driver ahead has entered Turn 3 too fast and compromised their exit speed it is well worth attempting an out-braking move into Turn 4, the circuit is very wide here allowing racing room.
Turn 5, a fast left, is approached flat out from the right hand side of the track. Build up to taking this corner without lifting but be warned that there is no room for error on the exit and often turning in too early is the reason for crashing here. Apex just after half way around the corner, off the flat kerb. Be ready to position the kart correctly towards the left side of the circuit for the hairpin.
This is not really an overtaking place against a driver of similar ability, unless they have messed up the Turn 4 exit.
The hairpin, Turn 6, is very tight, possibly the slowest corner in the season. Approaching this corner, the track curves to the left at the last minute, ideally use this extra piece of tarmac to turn late for a smoother exit, but braking needs to be done here also so you may end locking up whilst turning left on the approach to a tight right hairpin! Safest bet is not to turn left at all, brake in a straight line and turn in a little later than feels natural. The exit kerb is wide and 'friendly', i.e flat.
There is not really enough space to pass here unless the driver ahead allows it, as the track is not wide enough. If there has been rain, a puddle develops on the inside line to further discourage overtaking attempts.
The short straight leading up to the final right/left/right (Turns 7) chicane sequence can be used for overtaking if your fellow racer has made a bad exit from the hairpin. It is tempting to go into the first right too fast, this compromises exit speed. Instead brake quite hard using the pit lane entry markers as a guide before turning in to a late clipping point more than half way round, and just off, the steep kerbing before changing direction to turn through the slightly faster left which, depending on where the tyres are, may allow you to run over the flat kerb. From this point be flat out on the throttle and follow a smooth line, tight to the tyres, around the final long right-hander that opens out onto the start/finish straight.
The key difference between Ellough and most other circuits is the combination of an ultra high grip track surface and the long left-hander (Turn 4), which stresses the back muscles and ribs on the opposite side to normal.
Courtesy of Club100
