A lap of COTA with Dindo Capello
He may not have driven competitively at the Circuit of the Americas but Italian Dindo Capello loves the challenge and contours of the undulating Texan circuit.
The three time Le Mans 24 Hours winner who retired at the end of the first 2012 World Endurance Championship season, is now an Audi brand ambassador and he took time to give the WEC a fantastic insight into the circuit on Thursday evening.
“This is a very good example of a modern track which has a good distinctive character,” said Capello. “I am sorry not to have raced here for Audi Sport Team Joest, but you know sometimes it is also nice to see how different drivers get to grips with a circuit which is quite technical and has a good rhythm to it.”
As Capello crossed the start/finish line to start a ‘hot lap’ in the specially prepared Audi RS3, he talked us through how to get the best from the 3.427 mile track, which is set amid 1,500 acres of natural hills and features an elevation of 40.5 metres at the peak of the circuit, which is up at the challenging Turn 1.
“The compression and gradient up to Turn 1 is nice, as you can use it to extend the braking zone and go nice and deep,” said Capello as he hurled the impressive-handling Audi RS3 into the corner. “It is quite deceptive from the cockpit where the apex is, pretty much blind I think. We then go downhill and the momentum builds, ready for maybe the best section at this track (T3 to T9).”
“This series of corners is very high speed and you need efficient aero here for sure. The key is change of direction and how best you can transfer the weight here,” continued Capello. “The aero of the R18 e-tron quattro will really work well. The kerbs are quite shallow and you can use them nicely.”
“The corner onto the long straight is good because you can brake much deeper than you initially think. The cars will be doing just over 300kph on the straight and as you can see now, at this time of the evening the sun is getting low and can affect the visibility a little. You know, in a coupe car it is slightly more of an issue, but in an open car you always have your hand to shield your eyes!”
Capello means what he says here, and there are several famous photos of both Dindo and his former team mate Allan McNish using their hands as a special ‘extra visor’ as they crested the rise at the Dunlop bridge at Le Mans when they raced the Audi R8 between 2000 and 2003!
“This corner (T12) is high grip in the entry zone and then you point the car into it and it is all about the traction, and how well you can accelerate away and into the next series of quite slow and technical corners.
“There then comes another very nice and challenging series of constant right hand turns (T16-T19),” continued Capello. “These are very high speed and it will be very interesting to see which drivers can get the best momentum here. The right-side tyres will take a big punishment as you are constantly turning right. They will take some punishment over a stint here for sure.”
“The final two left corners are quite straightforward but the first one (T19) is tough as you need the car to be reactive to different cambers and you drop downhill again slightly and brake late for the final corner and then use all the track to sprint across the finish line.
“Overall this track rewards commitment and with the elevation change it is super nice to feel the grip levels for the driver.”
Sam Smith
