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Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
About
Circuit Zolder is a renowned and historic motorsport race track located in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The circuit was established in its modern form in 1963, and its 4.011 km (2.492 miles) layout features 10 challenging turns that test a driver's precision, braking, and throttle control. Its unique location, bordered at one end by a canal and nestled within a forested park, provides a distinct and memorable setting for racing.
The track is known for its fast yet technical layout, which can be broken into distinct sections. The first part of the lap is a high-speed blast through fast kinks and the tight first chicane. The middle section is characterized by a series of slower, stop-start hairpins and bends before the track flows into a final sequence of fast, sweeping corners, culminating in the challenging Jacky Ickxbocht before the main straight.
Historically, Circuit Zolder hosted the Belgian Grand Prix ten times in the 1970s and 1980s and is remembered for both exhilaration and tragedy. It saw the debut of the iconic Lotus 79 in 1978 and was tragically the location of Gilles Villeneuve’s fatal accident in 1982. These moments have cemented the track's profound place in motorsport history.
Today, Circuit Zolder is a vibrant center for motorsport, hosting a wide range of events from GT racing to the famous 24 Hours of Zolder endurance race. Its combination of tight corners and fast sections demands a balanced car setup, with a focus on braking stability and good traction out of the slow hairpins. This makes it a thrilling challenge for drivers and a favorite destination for motorsport fans throughout Europe.
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Track Information
Location: Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
Time zone: CET (UTC+1)
FIA Grade: 2
Surface: Asphalt
Length: 4.010 km (2.492 mi)
Turns: 10
Grid Size: 34
Downforce Level: Medium-High
Capacity: 65,000
Owner/Operator: Private
Opened: 19 June 1963
Race lap record:
Time: 1:14.089
Driver: Sébastien Bourdais, France
Car: Panoz DP01
Date: 2007
Event: Champ Car
Website: circuit-zolder.be/en/
Wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_Zolder
Downforce Requirements
Circuit Zolder for GT3 cars requires a medium to high downforce setup. The track’s technical layout featuring slow chicanes, medium-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and relatively short straights prioritizes cornering grip and stability over outright top speed.
Stability through the quick first-sector sweepers, responsive handling for the bumpy mid-sector, and compliance over aggressive curbing are all crucial, making sufficient rear wing and splitter settings essential to preserve grip without sacrificing too much straight-line performance.
Setup Tips
Core Setup Philosophy
Your primary goal is to create a stable aerodynamic platform that allows the suspension to do its job over the curbs. A car that is too aerodynamically "on the nose" or runs too low will be nervous and difficult to control over the chicanes, which are essential for a good lap time.
Key Setup Tips
Rear Wing: For most GT3 cars, a good starting point is in the higher half of the available range. For example, on a car with 12 wing levels, you would likely start testing between 7 and 9. This high wing setting provides crucial rear stability on corner entry and prevents snap-oversteer when quickly changing direction through chicanes like the fast Villeneuve section.
Front Aero (Splitter/Canards): The front aero setting needs to balance the high rear wing. Front Splitters are car dependent, but the goal is to dial out any high-speed understeer that the rear wing might create without making the car overly "pointy" or nervous on turn-in. A stable aero balance is often faster than a nervous one.
Ride Height: This is arguably the most critical setting for a good Zolder setup. While a very low ride height is optimal for generating maximum downforce on a smooth track, it's a significant disadvantage at Zolder.
Recommendation: Run a higher front and rear ride height than you would at tracks like Silverstone or Paul Ricard. A higher ride height (e.g., a few millimeters above the minimum safe setting) provides the necessary clearance for the suspension to travel and absorb the curbs without the car's floor "bottoming out" and causing a sudden loss of grip or instability.
Race Pace Targets
GT3 Record
1:27.257
Alien
100%: 1:27.360
Competetive
101%: 1:28.234
102%: 1:29.108
Top Split
103%: 1:29.982
104%: 1:30.866
Midpack
105%: 1:31.734
106%: 1:32.602
Backmarker
107%: 1:33.475
108%: 1:34.349
GT3 Lap Record
Lap Time: 1:27.257
Driver: Nico Müller
Car: Audi R8 LMS Evo
Team: Team Rosberg
Event: DTM Zolder, 2021
Track Walk
Turn: 1
Earste
Turn 1, Earste, is a deceptive and incredibly fast 90-degree left-hand turn that follows the main straight. This corner is all about commitment and carrying minimum speed, as a good exit is vital for the run down to the next braking zone. It punishes hesitation and rewards a brave, smooth line.
- Brake Marker: Look for the end of the pit exit wall on your left as a reference. 100m mark.
- Brake Input: Apply 100% brake pressure initially in a straight line, then progressively ease off as you begin to turn in, trail braking towards the apex to maintain front-end grip.
- Apex Gear: 2nd
- Apex Speed: Aim for 95-100 km/h
- Line: Approach from right of the track. Aim for a late apex, get on the power early and straighten the car for the exit.
- Exit: Let the car track out naturally towards the exit curb on the right. Use all of the available track to carry as much speed as possible onto the straight leading to Turn 2.
- Focus: Getting the braking point right is critical. Braking too late compromises your exit speed for the next sequence, while braking too early makes you vulnerable to an overtake.
Turn: 2
Sterrenwacht
Turn 2, Sterrenwachtbocht, is a high-commitment, flat-out right-hand kink. This corner is all about bravery and maintaining minimum speed, as it directly flows into the braking zone for Turn 3. A smooth line here is essential to position correctly for the next corner.
- Brake Marker: No braking is required
- Brake Input: 0%. You might need a slight lift in a low-grip or aero-sensitive car
- Apex Gear: 5th or 6th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 220+ km/h.
- Line: From the middle-left of the track, guide the car towards the inside curb at the apex without scrubbing speed
- Exit: Your exit is the setup for Turn 3, exit to middle-left on to set up for Turn 3.
- Focus: Smoothness and stability. Your entire goal is to execute this corner cleanly to ensure the car is perfectly positioned for the critical exit phase in Turn 3.
Turn: 3
Kanaal
Turn 3, Kanaal, is a deceptive and fast right-hander that tests your ability to brake while the car is still loaded from the previous corner. The exit is critical, as it can setup an overtake down the straight and into the heavy braking zone for T4, Lucien Bianchibocht.
- Brake Marker: Brake as the car gets settled in a straight line after Turn 2, around the 75m mark.
- Brake Input: 70-80%. Trail brake gently into the corner to keep the nose planted.
- Apex Gear: 3rd
- Apex Speed: Aim for 135-140 km/h.
- Line: Approach from the left side of the track. Aim for a mid-to-late apex, taking a good amount of the inside curb to shorten the distance.
- Exit: Be patient on throttle, use all of the track and exit curb maximize speed.
- Focus: Sacrificing a little bit of entry speed for a much faster exit will pay dividends all the way down to Turn 4
Turn: 4
Lucien Bianchi
Turn 4, Lucien Bianchibocht, is a classic right-hand and a prime overtaking spot. It follows a long straight, making the braking zone incredibly heavy and a true test of your car's stability. A perfect exit is vital for the long blast towards the Kleine Chicane.
- Brake Marker: Reference the 100m board on the left side of the track
- Brake Input: 100% peak pressure in a perfectly straight line. Bleed off the brakes as you turn in, trail braking deep into the corner to get the car rotated
- Apex Gear: 1st
- Apex Speed: Aim for 65-70 km/h
- Line: Approach from far left. Brake late and turn in sharply towards a very late apex.
- Exit: Be aggressive but smooth with the throttle. Use the full width of the track on exit, running over the flat exit curb to carry maximum speed.
- Focus: This is a key opportunity to attack the car ahead. If defending, protect the inside line but be careful not to compromise your exit speed too much.
Turn: 5
Kleine Chicane - Entry
Kleine Chicane, Turn 5 Entry, is about shedding speed effectively and positioning the car to attack the second half of the chicane. Your braking and initial turn-in here will define your entire performance through the complex. The two phases must be treated as a single, fluid motion.
- Brake Marker: Reference the 100m board on the right side of the track
- Brake Input: 90-100% in a straight line, then bleed off the pressure quickly as you turn in for the first apex.
- Apex Gear: 2nd
- Apex Speed: Aim for 105-110 km/h over the first curb.
- Line: Attack the apex curb aggressively, cut as much as possible without launching the car
- Exit: The car's trajectory should be a straight line aimed directly at the second apex. Immediately prepare for the rapid change of direction.
- Focus: Controlled aggression. Be forceful on the brakes and turn-in, but hitting the first curb too hard will throw the car off-line and ruin the exit to phase 2 of the chicane
Turn: 5
Kleine Chicane - Exit
Kleine Chicane, Turn 5 Exit, begins the moment you complete the exit of phase one. This is where you make up all the time. The focus shifts instantly from braking to managing the car's weight transfer and getting a powerful launch out of the second apex.
- Brake Marker: None
- Brake Input: None
- Apex Gear: 2nd, shifting up to 3rd
- Apex Speed: Aim for 115-120 km/h over the second curb.
- Line: As you come off the first curb, the car should be pointing directly at the second (right) apex. Cut the second curb similarly to the first. This creates the straightest, and therefore fastest, path through the chicane.
- Exit: Be aggressive with the throttle. Back on power just before the second apex to stabilize the car and get the best possible drive out. Use all of the green exit curbing on the left.
- Focus: The key to a fast exit is applying the throttle early and confidently. This helps pull the car through the second half of the corner and maximizes speed onto the straight.
Turn: 6
Butte
Turn 6, Bute, is less of a corner and more of a high-speed positioning phase. It's a flat-out left-hand kink is all about setup and placing the car perfectly on the left-hand side of the track to prepare for the incredibly fast and daunting entry into Turn 7, Terlamen.
- Brake Marker: This section is flat-out
- Brake Input: 0%, None
- Apex Gear: 5th or 6th, depending on car's gearing.
- Apex Speed: Aim for 210-220+ km/h.
- Line: After the Kleine Chicane keep the car tracking towards the left side of the circuit and to the apex of the kink. The goal is to create the smoothest, straightest line possible.
- Exit: The exit of Bute is the entry for Terlamen. As you pass the apex, your immediate goal is to keep the car glued to the left-hand side of the circuit
- Focus: This entire corner is a single thought: "Where do I need to be for the next one?" Your focus should be 100 meters ahead, looking at the entry for Turn 7 and ensuring your car is stable and as far to the left as possible.
Turn: 7
Terlamen, Phase 1
Phase 1 of Terlamen is the most demanding and complex sequence at Circuit Zolder. Phase 1 is the chicane entry, approaching at over 220 km/h this initial right-hand turn is about settling the car and accurately placing it for the rapid change of direction that follows.
- Brake Marker: Look for the start of the curb on the right.
- Brake Input: 30-40%, A very quick, sharp dab on the brakes is needed to aid turn-in
- Apex Gear: 5th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 195-200 km/h.
- Line: Turn in smoothly from the far left, aiming to clip the apex curb on the right-hand side.
- Exit: There is no traditional exit. As soon as you pass the apex, your focus is immediately on getting the car back across the track for the left-hander in Phase 2.
- Focus: Commitment. You have to be confident in the car's front-end grip to turn in at this speed.
Turn: 7
Terlamen, Phase 2
Phase 2 of Terlamen is the chicane exit and critical change of direction, requiring precision in car placement. It's the slowest point in the sequence and the pivot that sets up the line for the two fast right-handers that follow. Smooth, quick steering is paramount.
- Brake Marker: None. This phase is about transferring the car's weight.
- Brake Input: 0%.
- Apex Gear: 5th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 175-180 km/h.
- Line: Use the inside (left) apex curb to help rotate the car.
- Exit: Allow the car to run out to the exit curb on the right-hand side. Using this curb is essential as it effectively widens the track and opens up the entry for Phase 3.
- Focus: Manage weight transfer. Be smooth with your steering inputs to avoid unsettling the car as it rapidly changes direction.
Turn: 7
Terlamen, Phase 3
Phase 3 of Terlamen is the first long, sweeping, high-G right-hander where you feel the full effect of the car's aerodynamics. It's a test of nerve and the car's high-speed balance.
- Brake Marker: None, be back to full throttle as you exit Phase 2
- Brake Input: 0%.
- Apex Gear: 5th, possibly shifting up to 6th mid-corner
- Apex Speed: Aim for 200-210+ km/h.
- Line: From the exit of Phase 2, bring the car into a long, continuous arc, holding it close to the inside (right) apex curb for the entire duration of the bend.
- Exit: As the corner opens, let the car drift naturally towards the middle of the track. Avoid going all the way to the left, as you need to prepare for the final phase
- Focus: Maintaining minimum speed. Be incredibly smooth with your steering and throttle to avoid scrubbing any speed
Turn: 7
Terlamen, Phase 4
Phase 4 of Terlamen is the final, tightening right-hander of the sequence. It leads onto the back straight, so a good exit is vital for setting up a potential overtake into the Bolderberg-Haarspeld hairpin.
- Brake Marker: There is no distinct brake marker.
- Brake Input: 0%. Throttle lift to about 80% is usually sufficient to keep the nose planted
- Apex Gear: 5th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 185-190 km/h.
- Line: From the middle of the track, guide the car back in to clip the final right-hand apex. Aim for a slightly late apex to get on the power earlier.
- Exit: Unwind the steering and squeeze the throttle to 100%. Use all of the exit curb on the left to maximize the width of the track and carry speed onto the straight
- Focus: Patience on the throttle. Getting back to full power too early will cause the car to understeer wide and compromise your exit speed.
Turn: 8
Bolderberghaarspeld
Turn 8, Bolderberg-Haarspeld, is a critical overtaking point. After the high-speed commitment of Turn 7, this corner forces a massive deceleration into a tight, technical right-hander. A clean exit is non-negotiable for carrying speed through the following Jochen Rindt.
- Brake Marker: The 100m board on the left is your primary reference.
- Brake Input: 100% brake pressure in a perfectly straight line is required. Begin to bleed off the brakes as you turn in, trail braking deep into the apex to help rotate the car
- Apex Gear: 1st or 2nd. 1st gear offers better rotation, while 2nd can provide a smoother exit
- Apex Speed: Aim for 70-75 km/h.
- Line: Approach from the far left of the circuit to open up the entry. Focus on a very late apex; turning in too early will cause you to run wide on exit and kill your momentum. Be patient and get the car fully rotated before accelerating.
- Exit: Once the car is pointing down the next straight, be firm but progressive with the throttle. Use all of the available track and the exit curb on the left to maximize your exit speed.
- Focus: Overtaking and Exit. This is a textbook place to attack or defend. If attacking, brake as late as you dare. If defending, protect the inside line but be wary of compromising your exit too much, which will leave you vulnerable into Turn 9
Turn: 9
Jochen Rindt - Entry
Turn 9, Jochen Rindt, is a fast, flowing left-right mini chicane that demands smooth inputs and rewards bravery. The entry phase is about carrying momentum from the exit of the T8. A confident turn-in is required to positionthe car for the immediate right-hander that follows.
- Brake Marker: There is no braking zone for this corner.
- Brake Input: A brief lift to 90% throttle as you turn in is needed to settle the nose
- Apex Gear: 3rd or 4th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 155-160 km/h
- Line: After exiting Turn 8, let the car drift to the right side of the track to open up the entry. Turn in smoothly, aiming to use all of the flat, inside (left) curb to straighten the line.
- Exit: As you come off the left curb, your trajectory should be a straight line aimed directly at the second apex. Avoid tracking out wide, as the change of direction is immediate.
- Focus: Carry momentum. The goal is to lose the absolute minimum speed from your hairpin exit.
Turn: 9
Jochen Rindt - Exit
Turn 9, Jochen Rindt, This is not a corner about heavy braking, but about maintaining the highest possible average speed. A good line here is critical for a strong end to your lap. This phase is about getting back to full power as early and smoothly as possible to maximize your speed on the short straight leading into the final chicane.
- Brake Marker: None
- Brake Input: 0%. Back to full, 100% throttle before you reach this second apex.
- Apex Gear: 4th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 165-170 km/h
- Line: From the first apex, aim directly at the inside (right) curb of the second apex. Cut this curb aggressively to create the straightest possible path.
- Exit: Use all of the exit curb on the left side of the track. This is crucial for carrying the maximum speed towards the braking zone for Turn 10.
- Focus: Early throttle application. Getting back to 100% throttle before the second apex is the key to a fast time through this section and a strong run to the final chicane
Turn: 10
Jacky Ickx - Entry
Turn 10, the Jacky Ickx, is the final and one of the most important challenges of the lap. The entry to the final corner requires precise braking and aggressively attacking the first apex to set up the perfect line for the exit.
- Brake Marker: Look for the 100m board on the left as your reference.
- Brake Input: 90-100%, bleed off the brakes as you turn in, trail braking to the apex
- Apex Gear: 2nd
- Apex Speed: Aim for 80-85 km/h
- Line: Attack the inside (left) 'sausage' curb. You want to get as much of the car over it as you can without it launching you off-line or causing damage
- Exit: The exit of the first curb is all about positioning for the second. You should be aiming straight at the right-hand curb, with the car's platform as settled as possible for the quick change of direction.
- Focus: Nailing the braking point. Braking too late will cause you to miss the first apex, which completely destroys your line through the second part and kills your exit speed
Turn: 10
Jacky Ickx - Exit
Turn 10, the Jacky Ickx, A good exit run through here can set you up for an overtake into Turn 1, while a mistake will ruin your lap time. The exit defines your lap time. The focus here shifts entirely from braking to a perfectly timed and aggressive throttle application for the run to the finish line.
- Brake Marker: None
- Brake Input: 0%
- Apex Gear: 2nd, short-shifting to 3rd as you straighten up on exit.
- Apex Speed: Aim for 90-95 km/h
- Line: From the first apex, aim straight for the second (right) curb. Cut it as aggressively as the first one to create the straightest possible path
- Exit: This is the most critical exit on the track. Be patient, then apply the throttle aggressively as soon as the car is stable and pointing towards the exit. Use every inch of the curb and the pit entry lane on the left to open up the line and carry maximum speed.
- Focus: Exit speed is everything. Every km/h you gain here is one you carry all the way down the main straight. It's better to be slightly patient and get a perfect exit than to rush the throttle and get a compromised run.
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