Drivers of the #30 MOMO NGT 991 Porsche GT3 Cup, Henrique Cisneros and Kuba Giermaziak, explain step-by-step what it feels like to take on one of the most difficult turns in racing: Turn 8 AKA The Corkscrew at Mazda Laguna Seca.
You're crazy to have attempted that, but that makes since that you almost made it to turn 11. I salute you for even attempting that, yet alone not crashing in the process. That's a memory to be truly cherished for sure!
I'm glad this guy made a reference to video games. I myself love playing Forza with zero assist, feeling like a superhero. It's easy to drive fast when you can just reset a race tough. These guys are sweating out there risking everything. So many elements and variables that you don't get "virtually". Awesome video!
Corkscrew is hard yes, but man when the license requires you to pass with Dodge Viper is a fucking nightmare going through the corkscrew. But man the tears of joy of my brothers when we pass that license.
I remember a Top Gear episode where Jeremy set a lap time in an NSX on Gran Turismo then tried to set the same lap in real life. He said the corkscrew was so scary because you can’t see over the best. Scary.
I grew up in Carmel..went to many races..Sunoco Javeline...Can Am..Mark Donahue...Porsche 917....Kenny Robert's TZ 750....so many races. My father took me On The old configuration of the course with the big straight away, In a 1965 El Camino... The corkscrew was always a magnet for me! My wife got me the skip Barber class, in the Mazda miata... I finally got do The corkscrew..2 40 minute sessions... It was a dream come true... His helped when my friend's father was president of SCRAMP!!! :)
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="44">0:44</a> "where else in the world can you find a corner with such a drop from the top of the corner to the exit?" Answer: the dipper at Bathurst. Only difference is; corkscrew has sand traps and run-off areas, the dipper has concrete walls and no run-off areas.
According to wikipedia it no longer exists "the Dipper (the third corner in the sequence), is a sharp left hand corner so named because, before safety changes were made, there was a dip in the road surface and a steep drop not far from the edge of the road, and many cars were able to get two wheels off of the ground."
The thing about the corkscrew is that you approach it on a climb. In a low-slung race car, you really are driving-while-blind (thx ZZ) through part of it. And the altitude change is much more sudden.
***** Bruteskitwentyone wrote on another video. Chris has been busy racing Porsche cup at Le Mans, and then with Aston Martin at the Nurburgring 24 hours. I'm sure we'll see a video for at least one of those. They have just simple break, because they are not machines, and they deserve it. Period.
Hardest part of the turn is compressing the braking zone into short area once you crest. Otherwise, getting through the corner is just fun. Turn 6 and 9 are tougher to judge speed wise I think, and more critical for good track times.
I remember setting in the Corkscrew the first year Moto GP came back to the states! Seeing Hayden tear through there on the 211V was AWESOME..Then I finally did a track day there theres no other turn like that on earth.
I drove at Laguna Seca and did the corkscrew. I will admit I am not saavy on the various tracks and so was not ready for what this really was. Holy crap! That turn was narley. It is blind drop off to the left, then angled to the right with an immediate HARD turn to the left and again quickly to the right. Mind you, you are flying downhill for these turns. LOL--with quite a few spectators watching to see if you become a victim/statistic of the famous Corkscrew :)
2nd only to the Nurburgring for my all-time favorite circuits but the only track that I have ever seen in person! I spent a solid hour watching the Formula Junior Coopers and Lotus' as well as the vintage GT Class cars like the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB snake through the Corkscrew at the Rolex PreReunion. Just seeing the legendary 787b, Porsche LMP cars, and countless Ferraris is reason enough to go back or to make the pilgrimage for any enthusiasts if they haven't already. I love racing and hot lapping Laguna Seca in Forza and hope to someday drive it in real life.
Rode a bicycle race on that course. (A pre-cursor to Sea Otter.) I’ve also driven it several times in regular cars in support of bike races. Each time, I felt a pang of guilt for all those true Motorsport fans and gamers who would give up a body part for the chance to be on the course. It’s a blast.
In SW WA there is a country road that is nearly IDENTICAL to the Corkscrew. On the backside of Cedar's Golf Course just outside Battle Ground, WA. To be clear, it's the road directly on the West side (running North/South) of the aforementioned golf course if you ever find yourself in the PDX/Vancouver area. Just watch for oncoming traffic as it's just a country road.
There is a video of Marc Gene taking one of the good F1 ferrari (V10 normally aspirated) around this track on youtube. It's better than watching a current F1 race.. You really get that roller coaster ride feeling watching it..
I'm not sure but I think there's more elevation drop at Bathurst, but it happens over a longer length of track, I don't think it has any section as steep in one corner as the corkscrew.
I doubt it, the top average speed around Bathurst in a V8 Supercar is about 100mph dead while I think the best saloons at Laguna manage just over 80mph. Open-wheelers and 4wd hypercars at Laguna will go faster but they would too at Bathurst.
Bathurst is a very fast track so, comparing like with like (check out Button in an F1 car at Bathurst) I think Bathurst is every bit as challenging as Laguna.
in the games i allw ays break until the 3rd sign that tells u the corner comes. cause that is eactly 2 seconds till the steep cornering comes its brilliant
Similar to ''the dipper'' at Bathurst. A smaller tighter version of the corkscrew. Get your boy Harris to come down under with a supercar and test it :) www.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_5245_C3ss_0.jpg
+TheSUNGlassKid on a bicycle climbing up the corkscrew, its more of a "fuck... I wanna vomit" sort of feel. what is scary and fun decending in a car or motorcycle is a short stretch of misery on a bicycle. yes, I have climbed the corkscrew on a mountan bike, racing with a bunch of other lycra clad morons. the sea otter classic mountain bike race starts and finishes on the track at laguna seca.
Very, very few corners compare to the Corkscrew. Eau Rouge is definitely comparable, but it's essentially run the other way around, so a little easier (you're going up, not down).
I would say that Corkscrew was easier than Eau Rouge. I haven't driven Laguna but I have Spa and the speed through Eau Rouge is amazing. U need big balls to drive flat out there! On the subject of Spa; Pouhon is another great corner particularly given the camber. P.S. BRING BACK CHRIS!
David Britton I've not driven either (though I'd love to), but certainly the first part of Eau Rouge is easier as you can actually see the corner! No question that you need massive balls and a great car to do that corner flat though.
***** I know what you mean. It is handy to see what you are driving into! Don't forget though that the top of Raidillon is blind as well, although i appreciate you are not having to brake into it. For me though it's the much higher speed through the corner which is why i think that Raidillon is more of a challenge. I had a wicked time there!
