CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

As opposed to showing you small sections of the track in the sector-time callouts, this year we expanded all five sectors to encompass the whole track in order to reveal where a car is gaining or losing time. Many of the split speeds are comparable to previous lap data, but the sector times are not.



Changes, The Remix

VIR is in the midst of some major renovations—most planned, one not (R.I.P. oak tree). This past winter, the owners repaved the Full Course (the track’s marquee outer ring) to make it more suitable for top-tier racing. In so doing, they widened some sections (shown in light blue above) to encourage overtaking, including Turns One, Three, 12, the straight between Snake and the Climbing Esses, and the exit of Turn 10. The wider corners made the track quicker. But we’re not Major League Baseball; you won’t see any asterisks on our lap times. Tracks change.



VIR Topography

A whopping 130 feet—roughly the height of a 10-story building—separates VIR’s lowest and highest points. That’s something pictures can’t really capture, hence this snazzy map.



Overall Results

4.1-mile Road

Course, Lap Time

Min:SEC/MPH Peak

Speed,

MPH

Bold = Best in Class

Sector_1

Horse Shoe: VIR added about six feet of width to Horse Shoe, which means more passing options for racers and even earlier throttle for us. The 918’s rear steering opposes the fronts below 31 mph, a speed it never dips to at VIR.



Results

Horse Shoe

Cornering

Grip, G Horse Shoe

Exit Speed,

MPH Sector

Time,

Sec

Bold = Best in Class

Sector_2

Climbing Esses: Topping 150 mph in the 918 before this “entry line” tests a driver’s conviction. Some braking may be required. The 918 didn’t take curbing as well as cars like the Z/28. Jumping curbs conjured images of a Mach 1 on two wheels in Diamonds Are Forever. A quick downshift to fourth before the last right-hander allows for a little burst of speed before braking for Turn 10.



Results

climbing

esses

Entry

Speed,

MPH climbing

esses

Average

Speed,

MPH climbing

esses

Exit

Speed,

MPH Sector

Time,

Sec

Bold = Best in Class

Sector_3

Spiral: At 120 mph, the 918 is 10 mph faster than the GT-R NISMO entering Spiral. Hard braking on the short uphill before the left helps exploit the 918’s tires’ extra load. Spiral’s last left is a 2.8-second, 1.26-g turn for 918 drivers. Unlike in other cars, no patience is needed. The 918’s forward visibility is great. You see the apex early, and that allows for a 7-mph burst.



Results

spiral

Entry

Speed,

MPH spiral

Average

Speed,

MPH spiral

Exit

Speed,

MPH Sector

Time,

Sec

Bold = Best in Class

Sector_4

Infield: Traction won’t be denied. The 918 trips the exit at 99 mph, more than 12 mph faster than the rear-drive Mosler MT900S. Finding a good rhythm is the key to crushing this sector. It starts with a smooth exit from the transition after Spiral. Kiss the end of the apex curb of the first left. Stay on the gas and, in faster cars like the 918, brake a bit for the second left.



Results

INFIELD

Entry

Speed,

MPH INFIELD

Average

Speed,

MPH INFIELD

Exit

Speed,

MPH Sector

Time,

Sec

Bold = Best in Class

Sector_5

Hog Pen: Above 50 mph, the 918’s four-wheel steering turns the rears the same direction as the fronts. This felt like understeer on greasy tires here. Just as in the Esses, too much curb at the entry of Hog Pen upsets the 918’s granite chassis. More than once we thought we were headed for the weeds.



Results

Hog pen

Entry

Speed,

MPH hog pen

Average

Speed,

MPH hog pen

Exit

Speed,

MPH Sector

Time,

Sec

Bold = Best in Class

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