Lime Rock Park’s “Downhill”

While every turn has technical challenges, there are very few corners anywhere that require equal measures of skill, perfection and testicular fortitude as the “Downhill” at Lime Rock Park. A major misconception about the Downhill is that it’s, well, downhill. The fact is, while the approach is steeply downhill, the road levels out just after the turn-in point (cars don’t turn the instant you move the steering wheel). Then, beyond the apex, the corner actually goes slightly uphill and then rolls off-camber before the track-out.

One of the basic concepts in racing is knowing where to go slow to turn a fast lap. On fast sweepers, such as Lime Rock’s Uphill, West Bend and Downhill, a safe bet as you approach the limit is to do all speed adjustments in a straight line and then add power to stabilize the chassis as you turn in. Since the Downhill leads onto the longest straight, exit speed is all important. There is no question that some cars can do the Downhill flat—but you must not think that this is the goal.