Pro Tips For Bolivar Pro Tour
| press release | 8 July 2016 |
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As the Rotax Pro Tour enters the business end of the season, a new circuit on the series calendar comes by the way of a first time visit to South Australia since the series was introduced - Bolivar and Southern Go Kart Club will play host to the fifth round of the 2016 season.
Above: The Bolivar circuit, on the outskirts of Adelaide
It is a track favoured by many drivers; just over 750 metres in length, it is fast and features multiple passing opportunities, tight hairpins and a competitive sweeping final corner onto the main straight and is sure to provide plenty of close racing across next weekend.
Three people well known to the Pro Tour; Troy Woolston, Jason Pringle and Troy Hunt have taken the time to break down the track into three separate sections to give you a close preview of some of the features of this complex Adelaide track.
Start Line / Turn 1 / Turn 2 / Turn 3 - by Troy Woolston, DD2 (Compkart/CC Racing)
Turn 1 and 2: The Bolivar circuit doesn't tend to hold a lot of grip, so turn one should be approached with caution until your tyres come up to temperature. Stay on the inside at race start so you can hold the outside on turn two and set up an inside pass into turn three. Pick a braking marker into turn one, say just before the patch of dirt on the right. Be smooth and don't get crossed up on the way in. Hug the left curb but don't run a wheel over it. A quick flick right will pick up revs so do this as early as practical. Ensure to stay off the right curb as this will hurt your run to turn three. Allow the kart to drift naturally to the runoff on the left but ensure not too wide so you can steadily make your way to the very right of the circuit ready for turn three.
Turn 3: A tricky and critical corner with no camber as typically found on similar corners. Only a short stab on the brakes is required. Anticipate some initial understeer by allowing some roll time before approaching the corner. Stay off the curb on the apex and get on the throttle nice and early to maximise the flow onto the back straight.
Turn 3 / Turn 4 / Turn 5 / Turn 6 - by Jason Pringle, DD2 (CRG Australia/Pro Karting)
Exiting Turn 3: It’s important to get the kart squared up to get maximum drive avoiding getting the kart unsettled on the exit curb as this can result in dirt and marbles on tyres which will effect set up for turn four.
Turn 4 and 5: You want to have a clean run through the chicane, keep off the inside curbs as they are very steep and will kick the kart around. Most classes will be near flat out through this section of corners and it is very import to keep the speed and use all of the exit curb through turn five to protect your line for entry to turn six but also keeping the kart as straight as possible to minimise washing off any speed. This important set of corners acts as one of the best passing moves on the track into turn six. So you want to ensure the kart is handling well on high speed corners and not getting any slide.
Turn 6: You want to slow merge out to the right at the last minute to set up braking to avoid leaving a huge door open for the person behind and get on the brakes as late as possible without washing off to much speed as the corner does open up . Keep a smooth hand on the wheel and trail brake all the way into the corner.
Turn 6 / Turn 7 / Turn 8 / Turn 9 / Finish Line - by Troy Hunt, Driver Coach (Top Gun Driver Training)
Turn 6: The following corners are the best part of the track in my eyes. The entry to turn six is a great passing opportunity and being late on the brakes is very important.
Turn 7: Turn seven is one of my favourite corners and really promotes the driving style that I coach. A lot of corner entry speed is ultra-important. Be careful as various lines can be used and it may change over the weekend. This is also another great passing opportunity.
Turn 8 and 9: Finally, the ultra‐important turn eight and nine. There is a bump on the entry here and your entry line is very important. This corner is very critical to get a good run down the main straight. This I think is also a very difficult corner to get right.
Above: The event doubles as the South Australian State Championship for Rotax classes
Round 5 of the 2016 Rotax Pro Tour, the Jason Richards Memorial Event takes place at the Bolivar Kart Circuit, South Australia from 15-‐17 July.
The event will be the first time the Rotax Pro Tour have run an event in South Australia, and will be recognised as the 2016 South Australian Rotax State Championships.
To follow either event online throughout the weekend, like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.rotax.com.au/streaming.html
