Oulton Park Foster’s circuit guide
Oulton Park has three exciting layouts. The International, Island and Fosters circuits provide huge challenges and thrilling racing for all riders and drivers.
Oulton Park Foster’s Circuit is the smallest part of Oulton Park course, 1.66 miles (2.7 km). It is comprised of seven corners: Old Hall, half of the “Cascades” corner, it then heads onto Knickerbrook and up the 13% gradient of Clay Hill, to work its way round Druid, Lodge and Deer Leap corner to the start/finish.
Corner one – Old Hall
On the approach to the first corner, make sure you position the car as far to the left as possible. This will help achieve the straightest possible line through the corner.
This corner has a fast entry and will require good trail braking to help get the car turned in. Look towards the end of the inside curb for the apix, which will hopefully help prevent running out wide onto the grass.
Corner two – Cascades
When entering this section there is a flat-out right turn leading into a downhill section and then into an important left-hand turn. A good exit is important here so you can carry speed onto the long straight.
Corner three – Knickerbrook
This section of the track only uses the final right hand turn of the complex due to where this track layout meets the international layout. Depending on what car you are driving it will either be a flat out right turn or a balanced throttle – but definitely no braking
Corner four – Clay Hill
Slowly ease the car over to the right-hand side of the track, ready for the gentle left curve at the top of the hill.
The base of the hill is your rough guide to start turning the car left into the corner. Bring the car over half a car width to the left curb under the bridge and follow the middle of the track. At the brow of the hill, look for a large tree in the distance, on the right-hand side of the track. As you come over the brow of the hill it will feel like a straight line aiming at the tree.
Allow the car to exit the hill on the right-hand side of the track and use the access road on the right as a turning point to enter Druids corner.
Corner five – Druids
Subtly reduce the power keeping the car balanced; increase the steering angle and don’t lift off the power whilst turning, as this will unsettle the car. Depending on what car you are driving, this can be a flat out left turn.
Through the left turn aim to bring the car towards the left hand side of the track with a positive trail brake into the right hand corner. When turning into the double apexed right hander: bring the car close to the first apex, then allow the momentum to push the car deeper into the corner and then back for the important second apex. It is possible to do this corner on one steering arc if you get everything right
Corner six and seven – Lodge and Deer leap
The final right hand corner of the lap is another important corner as good momentum from this can be carried up the hill and onto the pit straight. The braking point is around the arrow board located on the left hand side of the track. Good trail braking into the corner is needed to help bring the front of the car into meeting a late apex which is by the end of the inside curb.
Exiting this corner, use the full width of the track and keep full power on as you go over the brow of the hill close to the tree on the inside of the barrier as an apex.