Raceroom Advent Calendar 2019: Corners and Cars

Hello all!
From tomorrow until the 24th of December, I'll leave a post below with memorable corner (complexes) of R3E Tracks, give a brief overview about it and suggest a car or class you can try it out. It might show you circuits you haven't played for a while and you could fall in love with some cars you hated once before. I hope you like the idea. Have fun each day!

Greetings


Disclaimer: As R3E is free2play, some tracks and cars are playable by everyone while some need a small price to be playable. In this Advent calendar, both f2p and buyable content will be presented.

 

1st December: The Sonoma Esses with the Ford Mustang GTO
When asking about famous S-Sections in Motorsport, most think of the Suzuka Esses, Porsche Curves at Circuit de la Sarthe and Nürburgring Nordschleifes Hatzenbach. But this Series of Corners are only known to die hard racefans. Sonoma Esses (T7-T10) are fast and knive edge challenging for every driver in almost every car. It starts slow at the exit of a Hairpin, leading in some small left right flicks that are easy to master. Thereby, you build up some serious speed which you have to reduce slightly to get save through the last turns. Especially T10 is a real threat as there is little runoff at the exit-and even that is gravel! You have to be cautious enough to not end up in there and ruin your laptime. But in the same time you want to go through there as quickly as possible as the next and last overtaking opportunity of the lap, T11 lies just behind there. Keeping your momentum through the long corners and nailing the short ones is a special pleasure for every road course driver in the USA which many enjoy. And you can try it too by racing this track in Raceroom Racing Experience (Layout: Long or Sprint as they raced in NASCAR there, your choice!). For today, I suggest trying the Ford Mustang GTO, a loud beast with too much power in the back and little aerodynamics. It is challenging each corner and a real blast down the straights. Have fun!
Greetings

 

2nd December: Raceroom Raceway: Turns 6 and 7 with the Saleen S7R
This may be a fictional track, but some corners are more fun than real life inspirations! My favourites: Turn 6, the blind right hand turn and its follow up twin: The downhill Turn 7 where your rear is loose everytime. There is a lot of asphalt runoff, but the walls are closer to the apex than you might think. Your entry into this complex is complicated, as the fast chicane before is hard to master in low downforce cars. You break in the middle or shortly after it, aiming for an apex you can’t see. One tries to get as close to the wall as possible, but beware of the curbs which are likely to suck you in. As soon as you can see some of your curb, accelerate to the exit curbs, but don’t run too wide as this course is famous for its track limits. Turn 7 always tries to throw your rear into the barriers. As you go downhill, be careful with the throttle before entering the tunnel. If you get it right, it is always knife edge and fun. Your reward is the incredible engine sound of the Saleen GTR1 V8 in the tunnel today. Sliding the rear is this cars way to say hello. Have fun!

Greetings

 

3rd December: Norisring Schöller S with the 1995 Mercedes DTM
Norisring, located in Nürnberg (NOT Nürburg!) is Germanys last street circuit. While it may look like an easy track, it has some tricky braking zones and uneven tarmac. David Coulthard once said: ‘Only 4 Turns? Perfect! I’m quick on straights!’. But during these 2.3km, it is hard to always get on the throttle as quick as possible. Take, for example, Schöller S: The braking zone is one of a kind and close to the walls, touching ends up in spinning. It is really hard to navigate between the two apexes and taking the line that will give you the most speed on to the Back Straight. Driving here feels always very different from car to car, but the 1995 Mercedes DTM should give you an impression how far engineering went back in the days. The car feels balanced and precise, which is exactly what you need in this section. Have fun!
Greetings

 

Sorry for the delay :/
4th December: Mantorp Park chicane with the Porsche 911 Cup
Mantorp park is one of Swedens Hidden Gems in terms of racing. It is relatively fast with some interesting slow corners that require exact braking, turning and accelerating to gain much time. The trickiest of them might be the chicane before the dragstrippen, a section that was altered many times. Nowadays, you come out of Pariskurvan, pass a kink and position yourself for the chicane where you use all of the curbs and avoid spinning. The trickiest part is to get on the throttle, especially in mid to rear engine cars. Often, you think you could've accelerated earlier, but trying ghat out causes you to spin or to overshoot on the exit. The 911 cup car combines a wonderful sounding engine with no driving aid and a rear that wants to roll all over you. But on the positive side, the car is able to climb the highest curbs. Have fun!

Greetings

 

5th December: Autodrom Most Turns 5-10 with the Aquila CR1 GT
Ever wondered how the swimming pool section of Monaco might feel without the walls and twice as long? Most gives you the answer: Great and maybe even more of a challenge. Even though the Autodrom features a real S Section in Sector 3, this part of the circuit is even more unique and a blast. Positioning your car is everything, as well as killing all the curbs that try to stop you from going fully straight. And you even can go side by side in some cars (if you dare). The Hairpin afterwards might look like a passing opportunity, but even lapping cars is extremely difficult throughout the whole section. You can go defensive and wait until the straight afterwards or just send it in the corners. The f2p Aquila CR1 is capable of such things. His V8 is ready to roar and driving this beauty is easy for beginners, but pushing it to the absolute limits of the track is a challenge nobody expected from this relatively low powered car. Try out for yourself! Have fun!


Greetings

 

6th December: Macau's Solitude Esses (and the parts before and after) with the Chevrolet Greenwood Corvette
You seem to have been naughty, dear simracers. Alongside St. Nicholas, Krampus wants to visit us and brings a terrifying combination. The mighty Macau combined with the Chevrolet 'who needs aero and brakes' Greenwood Corvette. This beast out of Group 5 days is loud, fast on straights but completely unexperienced with everything that has to do with turning. And Macau features several corner combinations which, if you dont get it exactly correct, causes you to end in several walls facing the wrong way. Turning around is hopeless, I wonder how you all can even get to the Esses without damaging your car. The esses were named after a street circuit in Germany, which closed down decades ago. Macau remains and lets you feel the good old spirit again. Please don't ask me how you can get around Melco hairpin, maybe consider trying a 180 spin? This today is a special challenge, I wonder who can get around here fast and without mistakes? Krampus would be pleased...Have fun!

Greetings

 

7th December: Spa Franchorchamps Puhon with the Fr3
Might seem like a boring combination, right? The Fr3 only goes to about 260km/h and has very reliable brakes. But it has downforce that is comparable to Frx-17 standards (Of course scaled in the right proportions). Eau Rouge/Radillion, Blanchimont etc.: Flat out. It now seems to be very easy, but this thing got ice cubes fitted on its axles: Hankook Fr3 slicks are skety as hell during cornering and while acceleration. So your car is quite instable when taking these corners flat. And here is the biggest challenge of the track: Puhon is actually flat out as well. Try it, fail, try again, love the extreme thrill without cutting the corner or running wide!
Have fun!


Greetings

 

8th December: Stowe Full circuit T7-T9 with (Hawthorn's) the Silhouettes
Another Advents Day, another f2p combination: The 'Mini DTM' at a track that is tight and twisty. And this time you're facing a caroussel like turn between two fast short ones. Line, Time and keeping your momentum is key to master this complex and preparing yourself for the start finish straight. To those who think that is an easy task: Try to do it with no wing, no tc and no abs.
Have Fun!


Greetings

 

9th December: Indianapolis (Moto) T1-T5 with the FrJr
Ever thought: How fast can you change from fast and frightening to slow and fiddly? Well, here you go: The fast-left turn to start the lap is around the pit exit and makes you feel like an Indycar Driver-who is unexperienced with banking. This corner is near to flat in most cars, but AI might be faster than you anyways. You then try to break into a tight 180-degree right hander, but your car balance has a word against you. You then play with the throttle for a brief moment, the next slow turn tries to prepare you for some straights. There is a reason why the section was altered some years ago, but this is the more challenging one for sure. Try it in a FrJr- no downforce and locking brakes makes this complex even more tricky.
Have fun!

Speaking about Indy, could someone fix the invisible bump or curb in the left right left chicane?

Greetings

 

10th December: Suzuka Degner with the BMW E30 DTM
Ready for a classic trip in Japan? Try out the BMW E30 DTM and have the time of your life! The car is easy to capture after sliding and a blast on every circuit, Suzuka especially. But instead of focussing on the famous Esses, I've chosen the Degner Curves. Climb the Curbs, be as fast on exit as you were on entry, slide your car around the corner. It's a blast from the past and as long as the physics are the good old ones, have some last looks at this part of history- Touring Cars and Raceroom History to be correct. Have fun!

Greetings

 

11th December: Motorsport Arena Oschersleben: Triple (T4-T6) with a GTR4

Oscherslebens most technical corners (and that does mean something, as every part pf the track is technical) might be those which form the triple section, visible from almost every point of the track, this part is infamous for its tight line and play with the throttle. It also requires a perfect and stable, but not too stable setup. You always are fighting with something here. As it ends, you are facing a tricky breaking point, so be aware of that. In my opinion, Oschersleben is a track that might not get the love it deserves. Its flow differs from other known tracks, but does exist! So hop in the GTR4 car of your choice, I prefer the Porsche though the KTM is faster here, and experience some knife edge racing! And MAYBE in the next days you'll be able to drive the M4... Have fun!



Edit: As it's update time in our favourite sim, I hope you can handle two calendar doors to check out tomorrow -todays and tomorrows- combined with all the new content
The next doors wont focus on the new stuff, as it's obvious that you'll check that out, too.
We're all on the hype train and it's coming to its destination...
Greetings

 

12th December: Zuhai Circuits last turn with the P2 class
Zuhai is the land of hairpins and therefore overtaking opportunities. Yet it isn't the standard stop and go track you would think it is. One of the main reasons for that is the last corner. It is fast and challenging, you loose a lot of time when going off line and can gain tenth of a second by being as smooth as possible to your car. And nothing would be more fitting to that than the sometimes sketchy and always enjoyable P2's. With no ABS, you soon face some locking tires and find yourself spinning when going too hard.
Have fun!

Greetings

 

13th December: Hockenheimrings Motodrom with the NSU Cup
Another blast from the past is this combination. When the TTS was released, the Motodrom of Hockenheim was almost new. Its tricky slow corners invite you to drift a bit with the slowest canonball in the world. It is agile yet very 'swimming', loose and just fun. When driving, you really enjoy the simple way of Motorsport back in the days. And the Motodrom is also no exception. Without the new Porsche Center and the Motodrom completely covered with colourful seats, this is the stadium atmosphere one was praising for decades. Have fun!

Greetings

 

14th December: Zolder Chicane 1 with the DTM 2013-2016
As the DTM is racing in Belgium again, take a look at the second track in the country. Zolder is a fun and oldschool track which offers plenty of fun in a compact size. So consider a trip around here with R3E's DTM beauties. But be careful when approaching the first Chicane as breaks can lock, cars may spin and off tracks are the norm here. Have fun!

Greetings

 

15th December: Lakeview Hillclimb with the Hillclimb Icons
Your 3rd advent gift is the whole hillclimb course, as it's difficult to name one part of it thats the most fun. This is pure joy, driving your cars over public roads, crests, dips jumps and fast chicane sections. Everything here is fast. There is not one corner that seems to be boring or too slow. It is always flat out and enjoyable if you do it right. Especially these two hillclimb cars, that have new physics and are loud and screaming, can convey the fun of swedish roads. But don't end up in the Lakes Have fun!


Greetings

 

16th December
Salzburgring Hintere Fahrerlagerkurve with TCR
How tricky is it to drive a fast, almost flat out corner? Not very tricky, you think? Then try out the 'Hintere Fahrerlagerkurve' with a low downforce, low weight car. And please, try not to step out the rear. I know it's fun, but it's not fast. Salzburgring in general is a very fun, oldschool track. Its long and bumpy backstretch brings back the vibe of the golden era during the late 70's to the mid 90's. WTCC and TCR Internationaler chose this track to be part of the calendar for the reason it being a one of a kind experience in Europe. The elevation changes, the beautiful landscape and tricky turns form a circuit that might even top the Red Bull Ring. Bit as money rules in the modern days, Salzburgring has to take second place out of second in Austria, now used primarily for festivals or Bicycle Races. The DTM wants to arrive in 2021, so maybe this series could turn around the circuits future.
This is the perfect combination to just drive and enjoy for a brief time.
Have fun!

Greetings

 

17th December: Scandinavian Raceways banked turns with the Group 4's
Swedens premier track that even hosted F1 races still lives today as a main location for trackdays and club racing. Next year, it will go international again with the DTM visiting this very interesting track. This is a track that combines flat out straights, situated on a aircraft runway with slow hairpins and medium fast banked turns. Anderstorp has been always famous for being extremely tricky when going into the long 180 degree turns and twists and coming out fast again. Perfect for a classic visit are the Group 4 cars: The Porsche 934 and BMW M1 have raced there back in the days and will proceed under your hands today. Have Fun!

Greetings

 

18th December: Portimao Circuits Last Turn with the GT(R ) 2
Portimao is Portugals most fun track with elevation changes, a combination of all turn types and all of that in few acres of land. But its most praised for the last corner, leading on to the long start finish straight. It is a fast, almost flat out, long corner where applying the throttle is as important as carrying speed through. And you can try this old Circuit-de-Catalunya-esk turn with your new Porsche 911 GT2 or the old but revived GTR2 cars. Too much power with not enough aerodynamic packaging are the keys for a fun ride around here. Have fun!

Greetings

 

19th December: Shanghai Int. Circuit First Turn with WTCC Car
The snail-like T1 at Shanghai is one of the most famous new turns in the modern F1 era. It's declining radius results in a difficult turn that wants to sacrifice your tyres. It is also tricky if you drive a car that is instable when lifting off. So I choose the TC1 Cars from 2014-2017 as a perfect vehicle to drive here
They did race here that era so experience an one of a kknd feeling. The turn first raises and starts going right. After that, it keeps on going right into a tight left hairpin that winds all the way down again. And all the time you have a rear that wants to step out and front tyres that lock and understeer. Tricky, but, if done right, possible and extremely satisfying.
Have fun!


Greetings