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A fast lap with David
Coulthard
Magny-Cours has got some nice high
speed chicanes, and the first couple of corners are very good. You
can run lower to the ground than normal because it's smooth, and
you're looking for a good balance aerodynamically. The smoothness
also makes it easier physically. It's a very enjoyable one on which
to qualify; as a circuit to drive alone, it is a challenge. However,
when you get in someone's dirty air it's hard to overtake, because
you lose downforce and can't get close in the corners.
The first turn, Grande Courbe, is flat, although it's not easy to
take flat when someone goes there for the first time. Then it's down
into the Estoril turn, where you go down a couple of gears. It has a
very fast entry, and is basically an understeering corner thereafter.
The run down to Adelaide is very straightforward. It's a very tight
hairpin and you brake hard. It's a potential overtaking spot,
although everyone is pretty much the same speed now and it's
difficult to get a run on someone.
From there it's up the gears for the run down to the Nurburgring
chicane, which is a very high speed chicane, taken in fourth gear.
You never really stop turning all the way down to the 180 degree
corner, which is a tight lefthander taken in second. It's very
difficult to get the balance right there.
Then you head up the hill to the Imola chicane, which is another
very fast chicane, taken in fourth gear. The Chateau d'Eau is a
second gear corner. It's fun because you're balancing the car,
sliding it all the way out to the exit. Then you drop down to the
last chicane, which again is second gear and very tight. There's
only one line, and it's off-camber. The last corner onto the pit
straight is very tight and slow, again in second gear, and it
doesn't create an overtaking opportunity.
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