Watkins Glen International

Turn: 1
The 90

Turn 1 (The 90) is a deceptively difficult and incredibly important corner. It's a fast, downhill 90-degree right-hander. The downhill braking zone makes the car light, and a clean, fast exit is critical for setting up your rhythm and speed through the entire high-speed Esses complex that follows.

Turn 2, the critical, high-speed entry into the famous Esses complex. This fast right-hand corner is immediately followed by Turn 3 and sets the rhythm for the entire uphill sequence. It's taken at near-full throttle and is all about commitment, bravery, and precision.

Turn 3, the second part of the high-speed Esses, a fast, uphill left-hander. This corner is all about a rapid change of direction from Turn 2, maintaining momentum, and being aggressive with the curbs. It's a crucial link that sets up the final part of the complex.

Turn 4, the final, crucial corner of the Esses, an uphill right-hander that opens directly onto the long Back Straight. This corner is all about carrying as much speed as possible through the apex and maximizing your exit, as any speed lost here will be penalized all the way to the next braking zone.

Turn 5, The Inner Loop Entry, is the start of a critical, low-speed complex at the end of the high-speed Back Straight. It's a tight Right-Left chicane that requires heavy, precise braking. Your entire goal here is to get the car through cleanly to set up for Turn 6.

Turn 6, The Inner Loop Exit, is the second part of this complex, an immediate Left-Right chicane. It's a violent, quick change of direction where you are trying to "thread the needle" to get the car perfectly placed for the all-important Turn 7, Outer Loop.

Turn 7, The Outer Loop, is the final and most important corner of this entire sequence. This right-hander is your "money corner." Your exit speed here dictates your speed all the way down the Chute to Turn 8. All the sacrifices in T5 and T6 are to maximize this one exit.

Turn 8, The Chute, is a fast, blind, downhill left-hander that drops you into "The Boot." The corner itself is quick, but the downhill braking zone and the immediate need to prepare for Turn 9 make it a pure setup corner.

Turn 9, The Toe, is the tightest and slowest corner in "The Boot," a 90-degree right-hander at the bottom of the hill. This corner is all about a late apex and a powerful exit, as it leads onto a long, uphill, accelerating run.

Turn 10, The Heel, is a long, uphill right-hand corner that requires a heavy braking zone at the top of the hill. With the long straight from T9, you have ample time to position the car correctly for a clean entry, this is a critical corner that begins the entire final sequence of the lap.

Turn 11 is the first of two critical left-handers and serves as a high-speed "momentum" corner. After sacrificing your exit from Turn 10 to get a good entry, your entire focus here is on maintaining that speed through the apex, as this sets you up for the long run to the Turn 12 braking zone.

Turn 12 is a fast left-hander, but its role is completely different from T11. This corner is a pure setup corner, and you must sacrifice your exit speed to get the car perfectly positioned for the final, all-important Turn 13.

Turn 13 is the final, critical right-hand corner that leads onto the long Pit Straight. Your exit speed here is one of the most important on the entire lap. All the setup and sacrifice from T12 pays off here.