Formula One: The Chequered Flag Roundtable (Round 2)

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Ryan Wood - Sepang

Choosing your favourite Formula One track could be likened to choosing your favourite child, if you have any. Luckily I don’t, so I’ll crack on with my decision.

I’m expecting a few fans to choose Spa Francorchamps as their favourite track. It’s hugely popular with fans and drivers; however, it’s not even in my top four.

As we saw in 2007, not a lot happened. The top seven were almost identical to qualifying, as only two drivers, Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld, traded places.

My personal choice has to be between Malaysia’s Sepang circuit and Canada’s Montreal circuit. In the end, I had to choose Sepang.

Sepang has been regarded as the benchmark circuit for many F1 venues. If you can get anywhere near the atmosphere, track, and facilities, then you have yourself a fantastic circuit.

The track itself consists of many high-speed corners with two huge long straights which really push the car in every area. A total of 15 corners, the majority being quick sweeping curves with just a few tight corners, notably 2, 4 and 9, proves a real challenge for the mechanics and drivers to get the correct set-up.

If the car is weak in any area, it really effects the times, and you can’t expect to qualify in the top 10.

With most F1 venues favouring a certain team, it can become predictable. This doesn’t quite apply to the 2008 season, as McLaren have been successful on what have been in the past regarded Ferrari tracks.

However, Sepang has never leaned towards a single team. Over the past six years, Ferrari, Renault and McLaren have each taken the chequered flag twice, and in those 6 years it hasn’t been won by the same driver/team combination. This can make for a truly exciting race.

I may not have driven the circuit in reality; however, I have driven around it on numerous occasions on the PS3. This may not be an accurate representation, but it’s the closest I’ll get.

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