It's a Korean cracker!posted in F122 | 10 | 2010
BATHGATE'S PAUL di Resta may not have driven the Force India Formula One car in this morning's opening free practice in Yeongam ahead of the weekend's Korean Grand prix, but here he gives us his views of the brand new track.
"I may not have taken part in this morning's free practice session," the 24-year-old (pictured centre) told Scotcars, "but I walked the new track with the Force India team yesterday and it's a pretty special, exciting place.
"At 3.493-miles, it's long and designer Hermann Tilke has managed to pack a lot of variety into the circuit. In fact it's almost like three tracks in one because each of the three timed sectors have their own distinct identity.
"The first section follows what is now the almost standard F1 combination. There's a massive long straight, followed by big braking into a tight corner, plus a complex which sort of turns back on itself. Between turns two and three there's a 0.7-mile blast which allows Yeongam to boast it currently has the longest straight in F1.
"The drivers though get a bit of a shock at the end of the 200mph-plus sprint when they come across a second-gear corner at Turn 3; the brakes will come in for a bit of punishment here. Get the entry and/or exit wrong here and you'll be under pressure from those around you through Turns 4, 5 and 6.
"The middle section is all sweeping, high-speed fifth and sixth gear corners which will sort the men from the boys. Then we're into the final sector which mirrors a street track in many ways because of the close proximity of the walls and limited run-off areas.
"It's a super circuit, but if the drivers have one concern it's the track surface. There's no concern of it breaking up, but because it was only finished at the last minute there are oils still seeping through; there's not going to be a huge amount of grip. And that wasn't helped by all the dust and trackside debris which settled on the track today.
"I think we're in for an epic weekend."
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Jim McGill