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Virginia International Raceway

Alton, Virginia, USA
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Miata
GT3 RS
FZ1
F1
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MX-5 Miata
911 GT3 RS 4.0
Yamaha FZ1
F1 Car
Length:
3.27 MI
5.26 KM
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*PLEASE NOTE* The racing lines and simulations shown here are based on a simplified analysis that does not incorporate 3D effects such as camber and elevation, track irregularities, or surface conditions. It assumes perfect grip and perfect pilot control. Always temper your approach to a racetrack with common sense and an awareness of your skill level. Be safe out there!
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Lap Times Explained

Each column represents a vehicle driven on different racing lines. For example, the first row of the first column is the time for the Miata driven on its own line. The second row represents the Miata driven on the Porsche's racing line, and so on. It is expected that when a vehicle is driven on its own line (large font) the lap time will be the quickest. Otherwise, Al has not done his job very well.

Vehicle
Line Miata GT3 RS Moto F1 beta
Miata 2'16.49 +1.16 +1.29 +0.84
GT3 RS +0.87 1'54.24 -0.13 +0.91
Moto +1.66 +0.72 1'56.03 +2.16
F1 +0.37 +1.13 +1.38 1'17.91

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Virginia International Raceway

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You are welcome to suggest a resource for Virginia International Raceway. Valuable resources include:
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Resources which are excellent demonstrations or discussions of the racing line at this circuit will be added to the page. Thank you for contributing!

The Racing Line at Virginia International Raceway

Surrounded by fertile lands and bordering North Carolina, Virginia International Raceway is a big track with the intimidating corners and bigtime straights to match. Known particularly for the uphill esses (Turns 6C-9) and Oak Tree (Turn 12), VIR delivers elevation changes, high speeds, and narrow spacing, all serving to make it an adventurous and challenging circuit. The influence of elevation and surface effects are especially to be taken into account when comparing to the 2D optimized results above.

The full circuit is the most common configuration, and stretches for three and a quarter miles through the Virginia countryside. Partly due to the narrowness of the track, the differences between lines for different vehicles are somewhat subtle in most places. What differs much more substantially are the inputs, lateral Gs and braking points.

Coming into turn one, many pilots of both cars and motorcycles will carve a line that resembles the optimized F1 path, getting most of their braking done before apexing at one. The optimization, on the other hand, recommends for most vehicles later braking, with a sharper tightening of the turn and a clipping the apex at Turn 2. The apex at 2A is not required, nor is necessarily setting up for 3 from all the way to the right. You should be close to the outside, however, and through 3 the lines are all identical.

4 to 5 is a straightforward left-right, where turn-in to 5 comes just before bringing the vehicle back parallel to the track out of Turn 4. Use the whole track on the exit and maximize your speed through 6 out onto the straight leading up to the uphill esses. The optimization shows the Miata at full throttle from Turn 5's exit all the way to the braking zone for Turn 10, but this will depend on your grip level and surface conditions, and requires perfect track utilization. Your approach through the esses will depend greatly on your experience comfort level, and will probably be quite a bit different from the simulation videos, so don't be in a hurry to come barreling into 6C at 130 mph. Work your way up to it.

The key to getting through Oak Tree fast is not braking too early. Continue scrubbing speed all the way through Turn 11, while maintaining high lateral loading, before getting on the throttle shortly before the apex at 12. Now you can take a breather while you thunder down the mongo 3800+ foot back straight - just don't forget to brake at the end.

Approach Turn 14, start drifting left fairly early - it's really just a setup. Stay tight through 14A. Exiting 15, the Miata will not have enough speed to need the full track, but faster vehicles will. Turn 16 is again a setup for 17, which, in combination with 17A, leads out onto the front straight. Motorcycles may take the apex at 17A, but many vehicles will benefit from letting their speed carry them wide of that second apex.

The big tree on the right marks the apex for 17B, which shouldn't require braking for anyone except maybe Jay Leno's jet bike.

Mike Skeen - Scion FRS

Founder's Notes

Nice lap here from Mike. I think the line through Turns 1 and 2 represents the biggest potential area of improvement. The wide exit results in extra distance, as does missing the apex at 2A. Entering 16 from the outside may not be beneficial for this power class, but it probably doesn't hurt much.

Mike Skeen - NASA SpecE30 Lap Record

Founder's Notes

Here's another video from the same pilot, again demonstrating the wide exit approach from Turn 1.

Johnny Miller - C6 T1 Corvette

Founder's Notes

The first lap starts slow to make some space between the traffic, I guess. Or maybe it's to make a point by giving them a lead and reeling them in, an easy task for Mr. Miller in this 'Vette. The line seems pretty close to Al's line, despite the bumps and elevation changes, although he enters 6C from the outside as opposed to the middle.

Leh Keen - TSM Nissan GT-R Lap Record

Founder's Notes

Leh Keen soundly beats the GT3 RS optimal lap in this flying lap. There may be some extra power on tap, as Leh hits 174 going uphill on the back straight. The major differences from the optimal lap are in Turns 1 and 6C, as with the previous video, with Leh's line through 1 being the tightest.

Leh Keen in Stock GT-R

Founder's Notes

Quite a difference in lap times compared to the previous video. This car is running street tires and doesn't appear to be otherwise modified.

Matt Spinak

Founder's Notes

Sorry for the butt view - hopefully someone can recommend some more good bike vids of the full course. Solid riding though.

Dyson Racing LMP1

Founder's Notes

It's not exactly F1, but this driver follows the F1 line pretty closely, and the lap times are sub 1'40. Sweet!