SimHQ.com - Motorsports Zone - Driving rFactor: A Fast Lap at Essington Park

Simulation Title: rFactor 1070
Developer: Image Space Incorporated (ISI)
Racing Mod / Series: Vapour's H6 Challenge 2006 v. 2.0
Venue: Essington Park
Location: Boldover, Derbyshire (UK)
Dimensions: 2.5 mi (4.012 km), 12 turns
Details: Fast road course, used for more powerful cars, GP circuit
Rules: Full Flag Rules
Weather: Sunny, Temperatures: Ambient 25°C Track 24°C
Difficulty: Auto Clutch - ON
Comments: A very fast track requiring some analysis of best lines and technical disciplined driving. Short and easy to memorize but with plenty of challenge. Note: The replay was recorded using rFactor version 1070. If viewed with the version 1080 Beta, some graphical anomalies will occur.

Introduction

When fellow SimHQ staffer "20mm" expressed some exasperation over the steep learning curve in high-fidelity racing sims, the veteran gearheads at SimHQ decided to share a few tips and tricks we've picked up during our long and more or less distinguished racing careers.

For the first installment, "Chunx" stayed in the US driving a Porsche very fast around Toban. In fact, the lap was so fast that it didn't even last the full length of the one-minute waltz.. Meanwhile, I was sent to England, to drive a very special car which was waiting for me at the very fast and exciting Essington circuit.

The track requires lots of high-speed skills and quite a bit of technical prowess; catch the wrong lines, or if you loose the rhythm in the fast esses, your lap-times will suffer greatly.

To help us around the circuit, first it is a good idea to study the track map. Suggested gears are indicated with the green "G"'s and the turns are named as "T1R" for Turn 1 Right, "T2L" for Turn 2 Left, etc.

rFactor's beautiful Essington

The fast nature of this course also means that you'll need to run with low downforce, so the car will be very lively and the mechanical grip will be all important.

Not only is the track a great and challenging drive, the car I drive here is a beast. It is the H6 Challenge 2006 v2.0 spec. Howston, a car which visually is very similar to the Maseratis used in the Maserati Tropheo Cup. I opted to run in fastest specification, without the bulbous hood which denotes that extra space has been made for the twin turbos.

Under the hood this car has so much power and grunt that it requires a very light foot on the throttle and brakes, and a sensitive hand on the steering wheel. It demands your full attention and respect and you will need a lot of self-discipline and restraint not to overdrive it. It is hard to drive, I'll grant you that, but oh boy is it fun when you start dancing it through the esses (T7L - T9L). Don't pick it up by the scruff of its neck because if you do, it will bite you back, hard. Instead, explore the characteristics of the car and suddenly it will reward you handsomely with a gracious and helpful rotation of the rear, as you gradually open the throttle out of the turns.

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