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| November 10, 2005 News |
| EKN Trackside: SKUSA SuperNationals IX – Track Description |
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 | | SKUSA SuperNationals IX Track Design |
Simply put, the track layout for this year’s SKUSA SuperNationals is going to provide a very raceable venue. Designed by veteran 125cc driver Alan Rudolph, the track consists of 11 turns of differing approach and radii and has been quite favorably received by the drivers in the paddock. Feedback has included phrases like “flowing” and a “driver’s track”. The layout has very good rhythm and will require smooth driving, horsepower and a good set-up to find ultimate victory. The long backshute is going to provide a strong braking zone while there are a few important corners that will penalize poor form.
A lap around the track begins with a quick run down a straightaway into the decreasing radius right-hand turn one. The tighter nature of the corner will hopefully eliminate the contact that ensued in turn two last year, requiring the drivers to apply more brake pressure to get through the corner with any speed. Last fall, a blown corner could be made up for by a bonzai move down the inside of T2…this will likely change thanks to a new approach to the opening corner. A short chute from the exit of turn one leads to a very crucial corner, the cutback left-hand turn two. This corner must be taken smoothly to set up for the fast right-hand bend turn three. Failure to get out of turn two correctly will hurt the set-up for three, which leads to a very fast sweeping left-hand straight up to the 180 right-hand hairpin.
Out of the hairpin, the drivers pull onto the 800’ long backstraight heading to turn five. This will be one of the primary passing locations on the track as the drivers will be hard on the brakes for the right-hand 90 turn that leads onto a short straight to the double apex right hand turn six.
The pilots will power off T6 down the short chute to turn seven, which is a very straightforward 90-degree left hand corner that leads to another short chute. Turn eight is a constant radius left-hand sweeper that will see some high G-loads. Drivers will have to cut back hard on exit to set up for the increasing radius right-hand turn nine. The exit to the corner opens as the drivers roll up a slight incline to turn ten. This should also offer a good opportunity for overtaking. The run to the final corner takes the drivers downhill and then up through the drainage grades into T11, 180 right that leads onto the front straight and back to the start finish line.
The total length of the track is .75-miles and we are hearing that the SuperPros are currently turning laps in the mid 56-second range on a still very dirty racetrack.
The following link is a video of the course last night while SKUSA was testing the night lights. Joe Janowski is driving a Magnum 250 with RBI Racing’s A.J. Whisler video taping the course.
SuperNats IX Night Track Video |
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