The Racing Line at Dubai Autodrome - Grand Prix Circuit

The Dubai Autodrome is a is a fairly large circuit with four main configurations. Since opening in 2004, it has hosted FIA events, the Dubai 24 Hour endurance race, and many national events within the UAE.

The GP circuit features two long straights and a couple particularly interesting corners. Turns 3 and 4 are where a lot of the onboard footage differs from Al's approach - most drivers and riders stay wide and miss the first apex. It should be faster, however, to stay close to the inside and take both apexes. Coming up to Turn 6, vehicles other than the Motorcycle need to take 6 pretty fast, then wind on the throttle while still near maximum turning in order to carry the vehicle all the way to the left before sweeping back in to the apex of 7. Many pilots take 6 too slow and don't use enough of the track, or end up straightening the steering to get to the left.

Turn 8 has a bit of an odd shape, and the optimal line is something like a triple apex - that's not as important as staying pretty close to the inside. The Motorcycle swings out further after the first apex, but still doesn't come close to mid-track. After that, things are pretty straightforward until you get to Turn 13. Conventionally drives hang wide and take a late apex. As usual, Al has no interest in that approach, and sticks the inside, with a fairly shallow double apex. A writeup called Advanced Circuit Driving Techniques from Racelogic discusses this very corner, and basically confirms this approach (although the author does not mention a double apex, he definitely dissuades the reader from entering wide). Setting up for 14 depends how wide you exited from 13, but the GT3 goes through mid-track. None of the vehicles actually tracks back toward the left to any extent. Turn 15 is one turn where a slightly wide entrance is helpful, and then it's back onto the main straight.

Although I was able to find several videos for this circuit, most of them were quite slow and/or not good demonstrations of the line. If you know of any good clips, please suggest them using the link in the Additional Resources section.