A little history, again! The 9m OD Hairpin turn requirement was put into the Rules after the events at the Ford Australia PG, where we had a single pylon, 180 degree turn to get onto the steering circle, and at Bruntingthorpe where we had similar turns to get between the go-kart track and the go-kart track pits for the Autocross, and off the hard standing onto the go-kart track for Endurance. Even then, some cars had a really hard time with a very poor turning circle.

As track designers we have to work with the facility we are given. At Lincoln, Roger J. has a very nice, large expanse of concrete, but no elevation changes!! At MIS, the course designers have to work with a very narrow (210 feet wide between concrete walls) but long strip. At VIR we had the elevation changes, but a narrow track that was just over a mile long. Nice for the drivers, but it meant a lot of cones and volunteers, and was difficult for communications. In Oz, the Werribee track has an elevation change, but it is very, very narrow. At Formula Student, we have had some FIA kerbing to cross in the past, and this year and last, Andy Ringland and co have done a very nice job laying out a track that appears to combine some tight parts while others give the car its head (I have not had the chance to drive it). At Formula Hybrid this year we had Endurance on the road course outside the oval. Exactly 1.0 km long with some significant elevation changes. We set it up nice and open to let it flow nicely.

So, as I said, we have to work with what we get! Usually, the facility will largely dictate the track layout, as it did at Fiorano for FSAE Italy. Normally we try to have some tight bits and some where the car can get up some speed, with some hard braking. Where we can, we like to include a nice long, fast sweeper or 180 degree turn. We were able to at the Ford Romeo PG for the Michigan event several years ago, but often the facility will not allow it.