A lap at Kartodromo de Evora:  by Russell Strate

Once on track and seated in the kart you accelerate down the 100 meter start finish straight.  It ends in a 90 degree left hand turn that leads into an almost 180 degree right hand turn.  This combination requires you to sacrifice a little exit speed from turn one so the entry to turn two can be maximized.  A medium apex of turn one allows the kart to be set up to enter turn two for a later apex.  The exit of turn two is slightly uphill so maximizing momentum on the exit is very important.  Slight braking on entry can help in settling the kart to allow full power through the turn and on up the hill.  Turn three comes at the crest of the hill allowing it to be taken at full throttle.  Using a late apex on this almost 90 degree right turn lets the kart take advantage of the 110 meter slight down hill straight that follows.  From the outside of the track on exit of three a move to the opposite side of the track should be made in a smooth yet direct line.  Turn four is entered going downhill with a lot of speed being carried.  It has some banking but due to its 100 degree left radius a controlled application of the brakes will allow a better sweep through the turn.  Going too far to the outside puts the kart on a very rough surface (as is the case with many turns at Evora) causing unsettling of the kart.  Exiting four you take a smooth line through turn five, which is a very modest left curve.  Maintaining speed here is important because you are again going uphill for about 90 meters.  Using the straight line through five puts the kart at an outside position to enter turn six.  Six is a 90 degree left turn that leads to turn seven which is a 180 sweeping right turn going up hill off camber.  This pair of turns must be taken with the exit of seven being taken as the priority.  Too much speed through seven will have you sliding wide and losing momentum going up the hill.  Using a late apex on six will allow the kart to be placed so a late apex of seven can be accomplished.  Some use of the brakes can keep the kart on line so power can be applied earlier while not forcing the kart wide as you sweep up the hill.

From seven there is a short straight (50 meters) that leads to turn eight, 90 degrees to the right.  A late apex puts the kart at the outside of the track on the exit.  Quick repositioning of the kart is needed to set up for turn nine.  It can be called a right left “S” or a chicane.  Going through it smoothly is important because it is the start of the longest straight on the track.  This portion of the track goes downhill for 150 meters making it the fastest part of the track.  Using as little steering input as possible to position the kart for the straight will maximize speed.  At the end of this straight is a 180-degree hairpin turn to the right.  Although, the exit opens hard braking is required to bring the kart down to a speed that can be carried through the turn.  Keeping a late apex is absolutely critical for the upcoming turn, which is a tight, left before turns twelve and thirteen.  These are both right hand turns that result in 180 degrees of direction change.  There is a short straight connecting these turns however, using the full width of the track a single sweeping turn can be made of these two turns allowing full throttle application leading onto the start finish straight.  You exit the final turn staying off the rumble strips at the exit and you have completed one lap at Evora.  Now you have twenty-three hours and fifty eight minutes (and some seconds) to go as well as the traffic from thirty other karts to deal with.

Making a pass can be a lengthy discussion, but here are a couple thoughts on where the best places might be:  If someone tries to maximize their speed through turn one there is often an opening to make a move to the inside of turn two and gain the preferred line through two.  The same goes for turn four; if the kart you are closing on has carried too much speed into four you can move to the inside and pull him up the hill and have the inside line for six into seven.  At turn seven there is the chance someone will press too early on the power and push to the outside.  This gives the opening for an inside move up the hill.

The most dynamic and daring spot to attempt a pass is at the end of the long straight going into turn ten.  With extreme threshold braking a move can be made to the inside, keeping tight to the inside in the turn will force the other driver wide through the turn slowing them down and allowing you the better exit line.  But misjudge this move and you are at best off the track and in the hay bales.  Poorly executing a pass here will leave those drivers around at the time with a lasting impression.  It is a long race so not making negative memories with the other competitors is a sound strategy.

In turns twelve and thirteen there can be an occasional chance to pass by taking a tighter line if some one has not carried speed through eleven.  A clean pass is needed, if not you will be on the outside going into turn one.

The 24 Horas de Evora draws the best teams and drivers from Europe and other parts of the world.  Driving a clean, smooth, and consistent race will maximize the results.  Keeping out of trouble is paramount.  Using the bromide of smooth, consistent, concentration, and alertness is the best advice for taking on Kartodromo de Evora.  It is for twenty-four hours, both you and the kart have to be there at the end to fully enjoy the event.

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