| The
Rettifilio Tribune is the long start-straight leads to
the Variante Goodyear (also known as Variante del
Rettifilio). This is approached in top gear at around
215 mph and it is marked by the wide pit straight that
precedes it. It is a very fast but bumpy
left-right-left-right 2nd-gear chicane that’s
entered in 2nd at 60 mph and exited at 80 mph. Almost
immediately after is Curva Grande, which is a very
bumpy, longish right-hander that is hard work on the
steering. Drivers invariably use the kerb at its exit
at 185 mph and then it’s along the back straight
where 200 mph is touched.
The Variante della
Roggia is also known as 2A Variante. The braking area
prior to entering this left-right chicane is both
bumpy and slippy. Approached in top gear, it is
negotiated in 2nd at 60 mph and exited in 3rd at 85
mph. Curva di Lesmo is a contentious sharp
right-hander. Invariably taken fast, shifting between
4th and 3rd gears, with speeds ranging between 150 mph
and 95 mph. Coming out of the turn, the cars rocket
down Curve del Serraglio, a long straight that means
the driver approaches the next chicane at speeds
approaching, and sometimes exceeding, 200 mph.
Drivers hope their
brakes are in good order as they approach Curva del
Vialone, a left-hander, braking from 200 mph in 6th
gear to 4th gear at the 100-metre board. Then, on to
Variante Ascari, the second part of the chicane,
quickly flicking right, then left and changing down
into 2nd gear at 85 mph. Exited in 3rd gear at 125
mph, cars accelerate onto the Rettifilio Centro
straight and attain 200 mph on the approach to the
final curve.
The Curva Parabolica is
a long, looping right-hander that is important to
lap-times as the entry and exit to it determine how
quickly drivers can get on the gas as they come out of
it and on to the longest straight on the circuit.
Braking hard at -3.2g, cars decelerate to 100 mph and
3rd gear at its apex.As the curve opens out it is
exited in 4th gear at 170 mph as the cars arrive in
the long Rettifilio Tribune straight, before applying
full throttle and crossing the Start-Finish line.
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