Cosworth’s Circuit Tracker for this weekend’s Indian Grand Prix is now available for download by clicking the PDF link/icon below.

The ‘Cosworth Circuit Tracker’ takes a look at the Buddh International Circuit from an engine’s eye view with more topical insights direct from the race track.

Cosworth also details specific metrics that are intended to give an ‘at-a-glance’ look at the demands placed on the engine.

An Engine’s Eye View

• The Buddh International Circuit features an interesting mix of corners. The first half of the lap generally comprises low speed turns, before the pace picks up at T8. The circuit also incorporates a long straight between T3 and T4, which includes a couple of pronounced humps as well as a generous DRS zone to assist with overtaking. Note that for this event, the FIA have also included a second DRS zone along the start-finish straight.
• As at Yeongam two weeks ago, the circuit features three relatively long straights. The power sensitivity, in terms of lap time per horsepower, is therefore slightly higher than average.
• 7th gear selection will as usual be governed by the longest straight, as well as the compromise between qualifying and race DRS usage. With the start-finish straight running in the opposite direction, any wind direction change is at least partially negated by the corresponding benefit along the opposite straight.
• T10 and T11 are likely to be amongst the most challenging of the circuit, from both a driver and engine perspective. Although the peak lateral acceleration here is not the highest of the lap, it will be sustained over a large period of time. As such, it will test the integrity of the oil system. Although in the opposite direction, these two corners feel similar to Suzuka’s famous Spoon curve.

Cosworth’s Circuit Tracker - Indian Grand Prix

From the Race Track

• Walking the track on Wednesday, one immediately obvious feature of note was its width. It is particularly wide at the entry of T3 and T15. Presumably this has been done deliberately to open up the options for drivers to take alternative racing lines, and thereby promote overtaking.
• Another feature apparent upon arriving at the circuit is the fact that it is very dusty. This could prove problematic if this passes into the engine. Dirt ingress is prevented via the air filter, which Cosworth will inspect regularly during Friday’s running. If this becomes blocked, engine power reduces as a result. As with nearly all aspects of engineering, filter design is a compromise. The thinner the filter, the less the blockage and the better the engine performance. However, go too thin and dirt will pass into the engine which will have similar, if not worse, results.
• As at any new venue, absolute fuel consumption is a relative unknown. Whilst this can be simulated, it will be governed to a certain extent by grip level. The track will ‘rubber-in’ more than usual over the course of the weekend because it has not been used before, which will increase lap-by-lap consumption. Clearly the pre-race strategy will account for this, but the driver can select different engine maps to increase or reduce fuel consumption during the race should it differ from predicted values.