Thunderhill Backwards!
I’ve heard about this track running in reverse, but never experienced it for myself. That changed this weekend.
First up I ran a few laps in my sim to have basic visuals on the turns. They are dramatically different than your brain thinks when inverting things. For the most part all corners become decreasing apexes and you enter many of them with way more speed than the normal direction. Making everything very new and exciting.
So glad SpeedSF opted to run the course this way, for potentially the last time (according to track). Using option of bypass instead of crows next for T5. Below are my thoughts on the track in case they do run the configuration again.
T15-14
High speed entry to this corner from the front straight. Heavy braking zone that required finesse to carry enough speed into T14, but not be out of control. I ended up down-shifting from 5th to 4th while braking towards the apex of T15. Finishing my braking in the brief ‘straight’ between the turns, down to 3rd for a very very late apex of T14. I feel I was still turning in too soon and thus not on power as soon as desired. Very exciting corner pair, entrance more than exit unlike running the normal counter clock-wise course.
T(13-12)-11
The first gentle right doesn’t require any reduction in speed aside from making sure the car is aligned for braking across the varying pavement with paint, rumbles and crest. The exit of this corner comes at you very fast once you crest the small hill, definitely could brake deeper here to gain a bit of time, but its not worth the gain vs risk. The run to T10 is so short and you can’t carry full speed through 10 anyways. A challenging corner that I never felt like I understood or had confidence. Fun, but difficult.
T10
A nothing burger, just your predictable right hand turn. Only minor item is a lack of any run off after the exit. Difficult to mess up too much, but also gives no margin for an off.
T9
Just like the normal direction, this turn is completely blind and uphill. Leading to over braking, which at least in reverse seems to be a lower time penalty. Essentially requires you to setup from middle parallel to the left white line, cresting the hill with your left tires on/near the white line. Getting some braking done near top of the crest before the car gets light. More stopping available than expected, but definitely feels like a knife edge that can bite if you are too hot. Sort of like T3 in the normal direction.
T8-7
A test of bravery just like its normal direction. Pretty sure our FR-S could have been flat through this right hander if I setup right. I opted for a lift, then turn in, let car settle and get back on power. Then shifting into 5th before getting to T7 which required another bravery check. Again I was lifting to let car settle before back into power towards T6, suspect I could have stayed flat on throttle.
T6-5-4-3
This complex is a blast in either direction, aggressive braking and throttle pay off while staying smooth between each corner. Feels very much like a back canyon carve. One huge difference with this direction is the air time possibilities over T5. I ended up with rears in air a number of times. One of those involved some counter steer to keep things straight. My path through T5 ended up being a very wide entry before turning up the hill. Essentially squaring off the turn at the base then flying straight over the top in left middle of track. Leaving plenty of space on right for landing on pavement. If you run close to left side the track is much bumpier and sends the car flying more. If you like air time take the far left approach and smile into T4. Turn 3 is tricky to get on power, you need to wait a very long time because of the off camber hill on exit. More than once I felt the car slipping out and required steering to open with a bit less throttle. Not unpredictable, but more tail happy than any other turn.
T2-1
Turn 2 is literally the same in reverse, long sweeper letting you test balance of the car. Wait for throttle on exit, it will eventually come. From which you can setup for T1 which I ended up taking a dab of brakes as we weren’t crossing blend line. I suspect if we were allowed to cross the blend line I could have run with a lift/turn or maybe even flat. Again didn’t feel like pushing too hard as this was a play day not for an F1 seat.
If you look closely the little Miata's left tires aren't touching the ground
In case you are wondering what FR-S with K24 swap does at THill backwards, I manage a 2:09 with numerous comfortable 2:10s.
Another great day at the race track. Also was fun to catch up with an old friend and give him the first experience on track. Mat had a great time I think and didn’t throw up!
Until the next event… After I fix the newly cracked header…
