Le Mans Series - A lap of Silverstone with Nigel Mansell

Eurosport - Thu, 10 Sep 11:30:00 2009

Three-times British Grand Prix winner at Silverstone Nigel Mansell takes us on a lap of the circuit prior to the Le Mans Series meeting there this weekend, where he will race Team LNT's LMP1 car with his son Greg.

Nigel Mansell - 0

"Silverstone is one of the most fantastic circuits in the world, even with all the changes, and it is the home of motor racing. If you drive between 95 and 98 per cent of your ability you will win pole; if you are able to drive at 100 per cent you will take it by a second. In 1992 in Formula One I took it by two seconds.

"The start/finish line leads down to Copse, the first 90-degree right hander, which is off-camber at the exit. It is a very important corner because you need to carry as much speed as possible for the next straight. Moreover, there is a very good opportunity for overtaking before that corner.

"A short burst of power takes you to the most fantastic complex in the world, the Maggots-Becketts-Chapel s-bend. It is very important to take the right and left flicks flat out, and to carry as much speed as you can. If you have very good pace, and the car has good balance, you should do a quick lap.

"Hangar Straight is the first time you can breathe! This straight leads to Stowe, a right-hander with a blind entry due to the late nature of the apex. You can climb on the kerb at the exit, so you can accelerate from second gear.

"You have to change gear very quickly while rolling down on The Vale. This straight takes you to Club, a long right-hander. This corner is very tricky: you have to accelerate through the corner.

"Then you go down the short straight to the left of Abbey corner with its quite hard braking. There is a very short straight before a flick right then you go up and over the hill into Bridge corner, which is taken flat-out if the car is well-balanced.

"A very short burst of acceleration and you are in Priory, a left-hander where you have to stay on the left side of the track to take the corner properly.

"You accelerate briefly and hard on the brakes for the next left-hander, Brooklands, and then the right-hander Luffield. You have to avoid oversteer in that corner.

"The sweeping right of Woodcote is the final corner, which takes you back on to the pit straight to start another lap."

Watch the action from Silverstone LIVE at 11.30am & 4.45pm on Sunday September 13 on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Eurosport

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account