Carlos Sainz has been the first driver to take to the asphalt of the new MADRING circuit in Madrid, aboard a Ford Mustang GT. Although he had been studying the track's blueprints for months, turn 12, named La Monumental, gave him a major surprise. The driver confessed he expected a 24% banking, but found that it is also a blind corner, where the exit is not visible until you are inside it.
The technical challenge of a blind corner with variable banking 🏎️
La Monumental not only demands precision due to its steep 24% banking, but its design as a blind corner adds a layer of complexity. The driver must rely on track memory and prior references, as the exit remains hidden until the last moment. This type of geometry, combining inclination and lack of visibility, forces adjustments to the racing line and braking point. For engineers, it poses a challenge in fine-tuning the suspension and steering.
Sainz: the plan was easy, the curve didn't warn him 😅
Sainz arrived with his homework done: blueprints studied, banking memorized, and even a model at home. But turn 12, like a rude neighbor, didn't warn him it was blind. Now the driver knows that circuits, like people, keep secrets. Good thing he was driving a Mustang and not a compact car, or the surprise would have ended up in a garden.