It's not long to go now until it's lights out and away we go for Season 2 of the V10 R-League!
This month will bring new teams, drivers and a new format to the series. We'll also see new and returning circuits to the calendar. One of those that is new to the V10 R-League is the Home of Motorsport itself, Silverstone.
Silverstone is generally regarded to be one of the best racing circuits in the world. With some of the fastest and most challenging corners in the world, it's no wonder it's a favourite among the drivers and fans.
How will the V10 R-League machines handle it though? We've got the low-down right here!
Hang on for dear life
Silverstone Circuit is located in the English midlands and is a very flat track. Normally, this would mean that it's not great to watch racing around, as elevation changes always add excitement. However, the ex-WWII airbase has been one of motorsport's premier venues for over 70 years.
Silverstone's high-speed nature suits the GRS V10R '20 down to the ground. Aerodynamic efficiency is key, as you need to be flat or near-flat through the high-speed bends that make up most of the laps. Copse, Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel, Stowe and Abbey are all corners which separate the amateurs from the professionals.
It's not all about fast corners though, as slow-speed turns like the Vale chicane, The Loop and Luffield test the car's mechanical grip. Furthermore, there are also the long Wellington and Hangar straights, where overtaking is always a possibility.
If you get a good run out of Aintree or Chapel, the slipstream can allow you to pass down the inside going into Stowe or Brooklands.
You may see passes going into Copse, Maggotts, Vale or the Village, but these are less common overtaking opportunity. In truth, though, overtaking is possible at all points of the track, thanks to its width and the high average speed.
Compromise on setup
Setting the car up for Silverstone is very tricky and something that the teams must nail to be fast.
It's tempting to go for wing angles which produce high downforce levels, as you'll be faster through the corners. However, that's a very risky strategy, as you'll be a sitting duck down the Hangar straight.
As with most circuits, a compromise has to be made, and downforce that's around middle of the road is usually the optimum. Tyres have to be configured to last, as the front left in particular takes a pounding around Silverstone.
Strategy
Only the relay and team races remain for Season 2, as the Head-to-head contests are out. Strategy shouldn't alter a great deal though, as we'll still see last-minute dives down the inside into Stowe and Vale to try and win the races.
Silverstone is all about carrying the speed through the high-speed bends to build up your momentum. A mistake into Copse, for example, will cost you time going all the way into Stowe.
When a driver is under pressure, they normally guard the inside line, but that rarely works in Silverstone. The inside and outside lines are almost equally as fast in Silverstone, so defending the inside line is often counter-productive.
Strategy is very interesting in Silverstone, as pushing hard through the fast corners yields a lot of time out on track. The problem with that though, is thermal degradation of the tyres. Go over the limit, and you'll shred your rubber and be left with little to no grip after just a few laps.
However, with the short races we see in the V10 R-League, it's also crucial to push up to the limit. This is why the drivers in this series are some of the best in the world, as they can judge this to perfection.
We may see some teams opt for high downforce, particularly for the relay races, as this is the fastest in clear air. If the driver behind has higher downforce, they can pit at a different time and do an undercut or overcut to gain the advantage.
In the team races, also don't be surprised to see drivers drafting down the Hangar straight. This is risky though, as following closely through Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel often costs a lot of time.
We can't wait to see what surprises Silverstone has to offer in Season 2!
How to watch
V10 R-League Season 2 kicks off on Monday, 12 April.
Viewers in the UK can watch all the action from the best matchup of the week on BT Sport every Monday, with the remaining matches shown throughout the week!
Fans in the Middle East and North Africa can get all the action through StarzPlay.
ESPN will be showing the races to all those in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Oceania.
Make sure to check local listings and video-on-demand services for exact times!
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