P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Friday favourite: America’s hidden gem with corners rivalling Spa
“overlooked” compared to other tracks in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, he highly respects it and considers it a great place to test and race. He compares VIR to Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen, calling them all circuits that demand a lot of dedication and skill. The Esses section at VIR, which includes an uphill sequence of corners, is particularly challenging and requires a high level of commitment and accuracy. Vilander believes it is on par with the famous Eau Rouge-Raidillon section at Spa. He also mentions the narrow racing line and long areas of green grass, emphasizing that going off track gives drivers a long time to think before hitting the barriers. Vilander recalls his early troubles at VIR, damaging the car on his first laps with Risi Competizione. He learned that there are “wrong ways” to find lap time at the circuit, particularly at the oak tree double right where a slight lock can result in hitting the barriers. Overall, Vilander sees VIR as a track where a mistake can cost you the race, and he emphasizes the importance of carrying enough speed through the entry to maintain balance and maximize exit speed.
