(In a stage whisper...) "If you re-build it they will come..."
The new Lime Rock Park configuration had it's first big test this weekend when the ALMS rolled into town. Many drivers whined about the new corners being slow, demanding, crowded and technical, but those changes were made and supported by the ALMS to slow cars that had been running flat from the old chicane through Westbend and the Downhill to a terminal velocity of 191mph before braking for Big Bend. Way too fast for such a small track.
Now at the Uphill and Westbend there are two hard brake zones with low gear acceleration and passing (or crashing) opportunities where there used to be none. For exactly these reasons all spectators are now many times more entertained.
The new uphill and westbend are transformed from afterthought camper spectator lounging areas to the most compelling corners on track. The high powered P1 & P2 prototypes are threshold braking, blipping down 3 gears, struggling for grip and rotation while managing slower GT traffic, to the delight of everyone within sight. The new Westbend outside spectator hill was packed with fans the whole day absolutely hypnotized as cars battled each other while dirt thrown up from clipped apexes made each lap a new challenge for everyone.
It was exhausting to watch because there was so much to see every second. A seemingly endless stream of cars battling each other while battling the track. David Brabham came from behind with an outside pass into Big Bend on the last lap to take the overall win with more drama and sub-plots in the other classes than I could possibly keep up with. Roger Penske shaking his fists in anger from his perch on pit road. Numerous contact incidents and penalties as more than 30 cars in multiple classes tangled in the newly configured LRP bull ring.
Don't think I've ever seen a bigger crowd at Lime Rock with a higher percentage of benevolent first timers with family and friends in tow. You can't tell from just one event but if this is a sign of things to come, Lime Rock's future looks pretty bright.
I'm sure the drivers will complain bitterly about the changes but, between now and next year, grass will grow so there won't be as much dirt thrown on the racing line and curbings will be adjusted to punish the cars less while keeping them honest to the course.
Everyone was holding their breath to see if the new pavement would survive the high downforce grippy tires of the prototypes and it came through unscathed. Lots of rubber build up but no track chunking. Kudos to the paving team that worked around the clock to dig up and rebuild the track to a very high standard in 30 days. Everyone involved pulled a logistical rabbit out of the hat.
The new turns and their spectator area's will revitalize the track in every way. The old turns are rebuilt and haven't even been tested yet, so nothing is lost while much has already been gained.
Wonder what configuration we'll use when we run it in September?