Lakeside Karting 900m track - Thurrock

Lakeside is a great track, nice length and features a jump that's not for the faint hearted. It can be quite physical but there are lots of overtaking opportunities, and many different approaches to try. Across the page are my thoughts on how to approach Lakeside but I'm well aware that there are a few alternatives that are just as good.

Found this great video of Lakeside, many thanks to Stucoates at YouTube for this.

Back

Turns 1 and 2

Come into turn 1 at full throttle, you can go over the chevrons here and brake sharply on the right hand side before turn 2, if you turn too early you'll exit wide and there's not much tarmac before turn 3.

Turns 3 and 4

Again, over the chevrons a little and stay wide right and make a late apex. Most people make an early apex here but making it late means you can keep up your revs and overtake on the exit.

Turn 5

Turn 5 is pretty simple, middle apex and try to keep your revs high to get up the hill

Turn 6

Turn 6 is flat out, just be wary of some bumpy tarmac on the inside of the track that pushes you to the outside and karts coming out of the pits on your left.

Turn 7

Again full throttle, use some of the 'extra' tarmac provided and drift through the corner

Turn 8

Pick your spot and take no prisoners, nothing to it just take a straight line right through the chicane

Turn 9

Weld your foot to the floor and from the right side of the track drift to the left at the top of the drop, leave your seat for a couple of moments and then brake reasonably strongly.

Turn 10

If you imagine 9 and 10 as one big corner and stay wide around the first part (keeping good pace) and then make a late apex on the second area you will have good exit speed and can catch plenty of people on the finish straight. It does leave you open to be overtaken though, so if you're in a battle take a more traditional line.