Road America - Terry Borcheller's lap

A LAP OF ROAD AMERICA

by Terry Borcheller
written for the American Le Mans Series


I've been racing at Road America for more than 20 years and it's always been 
one of my favorite race tracks in North America.  Road America is a race track 
that enables you to gain advantages by using all of the race track - at 
turn-in, sometimes through the apex and almost always out to the exit.

Going into turn one, you want to brake late but brief, so you can pick up the 
throttle early and carry a lot of momentum through to the exit and turn two.  
You've got a short downhill straight leading you into turn three.  Use your 
braking references so you don't overdrive the downhill braking zone.  A turn-in 
reference is helpful to keep you from early apexing, a typical problem in 
this corner.  You've got a long straight afterwards, so being on the gas and 
flat-out early helps to get your top speeds.

Going into turn five, again the braking zone is downhill.  There is also a 
slight curve to the right side of the race track (turn four), so in 
straight-line braking, watch out for dropping a wheel on the outside of the entry.  The 
braking references are a huge key to not making a mistake on the approach.  Make 
a clean apex but don't get too greedy with the exit.  You can run out pretty 
wide, but the alligator teeth bite back.

This sets you up for a short straight, but it's almost straight up.  Early to 
the power helps a lot in climbing the hill.  Turn six, the left-hander at the 
top of the hill, can be very difficult to get right consistently.  The 
braking zone is uphill and you have to brake at the right time.  This helps to slow 
the car quickly, but there are some obstacles - the bridge, no number boards 
for a reference and the hill crests at the top, unsettling the car.  If the 
brakes are not applied at the right time with the right pressure, you'll likely 
miss your apex.  Carrying the correct speed through, consistently, is tough.

The next task is getting the car back to the left side of the race track with 
the weight off the right side of the car.  If turn seven is done correctly, 
you won't need much - if any - braking, maybe just a lift or left-foot brake.  
You can get away with using a little extra at the exit.  This really gives you 
a fast exit and run down the next straight.  Turn eight is also deceptive 
because of the downhill braking; use your braking references.  Patience with the 
turn-in will help achieve a proper apex.  This is important because you're 
headed under the walkover bridge and into the Carousel (turns nine and 10).

Having the car set up correctly will enable you to be wide open very early 
here.  Hold the car to mid-track and be very slow with your steering input.  
Patience pays on the way to the apex.  Your run through the Carousel sets you 
onto a fast exit, using all the track and down a short straight toward turn 11 
and the Kink.  The Kink is flat out - oh, wait a minute.  That's what I've 
always told anyone who asked, but is it true?  Cars with a lot of downforce and/or 
a driver who doesn't own the race car he's in can do it.  For everyone else, 
there's usually a lift or even a slight touch on the brake.  Whichever approach 
you choose, do it early so you can be back to full throttle asap.  Be very 
careful with an early turn-in and/or early apex - it could give you a bad 
headache.  If you decide to just "try it" flat, double-check the data afterwards 
before you boast, and definitely use all the curb at the apex and exit.

At the limits, the Kink is a rush every lap.  This takes you through the 
beautiful forests of Wisconsin and into turn 12, Canada Corner.  Use your braking 
references - you'll need them.  You see some of your highest speeds entering 
this corner.  Out of Canada Corner, up the hill through turn 13, under the 
drive-over bridge and into turn 13A.  This corner requires precision with your 
angle at the apex and a knowledge of how much track you have available at the 
exit.  You're committing to go flat-out all the way through before you ever see 
the exit.

Going into the final corner, turn 14, you don't want to get it wrong.  You've 
just worked so hard on that fastest lap and this turn could definitely change 
the outcome.  There is a strange angle to the entry, but you really need to 
create a straight line to do your hard braking.  A lot of momentum, early on 
the gas and early full throttle will help get you up a very steep front straight 
and back to the start/finish line.

Road America is a great race track, very wide and smooth, with a lot of 
opportunities for passing.  It always has excellent racing, terrific fans and 
wonderful scenery.

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945