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Automotive

Porsche's "greatest hits" racetrack strings together 11 of the world's most famous corners

By Loz Blain
September 06, 2018
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Porsche's immaculate on-road circuit at Leipzig looks like an absolute beauty
Porsche
Track designer Hermann Tilke at the Porsche on-road circuit in Leipzig
Porsche
The first curve after the long straight is a bend straight from the USA: The original "Sunset Bend" can be found at the Sebring race track and is a fast right bend with high g-forces: "You have to hit the start of the bend at exactly the right point and then really hold down the accelerator so that you can move through the bend rapidly along the optimum line," explains Tilke. Moving out of the bend at around 170 km/h (105 mph), you reach the longest straight on the track
Porsche
The sharply banked carousel of the Nürburgring known as the "Carraciola-Karussell" is another of the bends to feature on the Leipzig circuit. Deep concentration is the only defence against the exaggerated banking of this bend with its 180-degree hairpin and 33-degree gradient. "You have to find just the right entry point then you can basically 'fall' down this bend – it really is steep," says Tilke. Choosing the right line and speed is important as you exit the bend. The g-force in the final third is vigorous. If you are going too fast at this point you have no chance
Porsche
The "Parabolica" is a 180-degree bend that has been transferred from Monza to Leipzig. You can drive through this bend with an almost constant steering angle, but it demands a lot from both the car and driver alike. "This bend never ends; once you get in, it feels like you will never come out the other end," says Tilke. Drivers must be prepared for high cornering speeds and strong lateral acceleration
Porsche
The "Lesmo" bend from the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Formula One race track in Italy requires a lot of courage to drive it properly. This extremely elongated bend can be driven faster than you may expect due to the barely perceptible incline to the inside of the bend. Here is Tilke’s advice: "Looking ahead is absolutely crucial here. As you enter the bend you have to really focus on the end of the curve so that you don’t come out of it too fast."
Porsche
The "Victoria Turn" is based on a bend in Rio de Janeiro that no longer exists. This left-hand bend with a barely perceptible incline has been recreated at the Porsche Leipzig course. Tilke’s assessment is as follows: "As you pass through the dip of the bend, you move from oversteering to understeering, which is what makes this bend so exciting." Before the bend, Tilke recommends braking smoothly, reducing the vehicle speed and then moving into the turn with precision but without understeering. And don’t hit the accelerator pedal too soon!
Porsche
The right-to-left combination at "Suntory Corner" was originally found on the "Fuji Speedway" race track in Shizuoka, Japan. After braking hard and downshifting, this curve requires a sensitive load change – this is the only way for the vehicle to exit the huge curve radius and go straight into the next extremely tight bend
Porsche
The spectacular right-left-right combination known as the "Corkscrew" is based on the legendary original at the Laguna Seca course in California. The rugged gradient of 12 per cent makes it impossible to look ahead into the curve of the bend. "You drive up into the sky, not knowing where you need to turn, before snaking along the steep downhill section; if you manage it – and really do it properly – you can be pretty pleased with yourself," says Tilke of this driving experience
Porsche
This right-to-left chicane can normally be found tormenting the drivers at the Nürburgring. When approaching the replica at the Leipzig circuit, drivers must decide just how much confidence they have in their own ability: The driver’s skill will have an impact on the speed, use of the curbs and the way they enter the bend. Hermann Tilke describes the "Mobile 1 S" as follows: "Cross this section fairly brutally, driving across the curbs and accelerating relatively firmly so that you can really feel the car properly."
Porsche
The "Suzuka S" bend in Leipzig replicates a challenging section of the “Suzuka International Racing Course” in Japan. According to the expert: "This is one for the technicians out there. It’s for drivers who can concentrate. You have to drive very smoothly and glide round really cleanly." Finding the right line is crucial for this left to right combination. "If you enter the bend too aggressively you can lose a lot of time." So, choose the correct braking point and avoid oversteer
Porsche
This is the famous "Bus Stop chicane" from the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium: The tight left-right-left combination demands courage and perfection. To master this bend, drivers must stay perfectly straight, then turn the car and accelerate out of the curbs under full load
Porsche
The "Loews Hairpin" is a right-hand bend with a slight incline, is known all over the world from Monte Carlo circuit in Monaco. "This bend is famous and notorious because it demands a tight steering angle. However, before you get to it you have to punch the brakes really hard, shift down smoothly and then steer cleanly into the bend," says Tilke.
Porsche
Porsche's immaculate on-road circuit at Leipzig looks like an absolute beauty
Porsche
View gallery - 13 images

Ex-racer Hermann Tilke is one of the world's leading racetrack builders, having designed bangers like Sepang, Sochi, Bahrain and the Circuit of the Americas. Now he's built a bit of a greatest hits racetrack for Porsche in Leipzig, recreating 11 of the world's greatest turns.

Where most racetracks are designed to flow around the natural topography of the area they're built in, Tilke was given a relatively flat piece of ground to start with at Leipzig, and the license to create any hills, bumps or bankings he needed to fulfil his brief: a track that strings together 11 of the most famous and storied corners in racing history. Quite a gig.

The heart-stopping drop of the Corkscrew at Laguna. The Nurburgring's brutally banked Karussell. Monza's never-ending Parabolica. They're all in there, ready to be used by Porsche's test driving team, raced on, or enjoyed by the public in various events at this multi-configurable course.

Take a look at a video below, then jump straight into the gallery to see each of the 11 corners of the Porsche on-road circuit in Leipzig explained.

Source: Porsche

View gallery - 13 images

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Loz Blain
Loz leads the New Atlas team as Editorial Director, after nearly two decades as one of our most versatile writers. He's also proven himself as a photographer, videographer, presenter, producer and podcast engineer. A graduate in Psychology, former business analyst and touring musician, he's covered just about everything for New Atlas, concentrating lately on clean energy, AI, humanoid robotics, next-gen aircraft, and the odd bit of music, motorcycles and automotive.
2 comments
guzmanchinky
I just drove Nurburgring, and that Karussel is a pain in the booty! Felt like the entire car was being slammed into the ground. Exciting though! But one of the best things about the Ring is that there are giant sections where you can get up above 100mph and stay there for almost a minute.
Riaanh
It seems as if you would need a navigator for this track. You can drive ten times around it and never twice travel the same road.
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