From Hagerty News By Brian Makse
Ontario’s latest race circuit reveals its thoughtful design
Modern racing circuit design uses plenty of tech, from digitally-precise site surveys to the final CAD layout, and drivers like us are better for it. Before a tire ever touches the tarmac, circuits are composed by designers and engineers seeking a careful balance between modern safety requirements and the types of challenges that drivers demand.
For Ontario’s latest circuit, Oro Station, site development is well underway, and a fleet of construction vehicles moves about the land every day. While Canadian earth is being scooped and piled and graded, the circuit itself is being designed with care and precision across the pond in the United Kingdom by Driven International in the little town of Hook.
Ben Willshire, the managing director of Driven International, is digitally creating the multi-purpose facility together with his team. They’re starting with a master plan of the entire campus, which will house a private members’ club, private villas, garages, industrial and educational space along with its centerpiece, the 4.1-kilometer road course.
Although it’s a digital design at the moment, Oro Station doesn’t want for human touch. The layout began with site walks and hand sketches, just like the old days, but from there, all of the engineering work is done on computers. Today’s motorsport simulator technology also means the track can be driven well in advance of drivers turning their first laps in physical cars.
pleased to see me when ever we crossed paths which, of course, was at one auto event or another. He never forgot what car I was currently working on and wanted to know how it was progressing. He was eager to make a suggestion and never forgot what I was to try next and would remember to ask about it. I wish that this was the case for anyone who might be trying something for the first time.
Anyway, he sent me to Performance Motors. Gord asked me to leave the car for a couple of hours, so I went away on foot to look for food & drink. Upon my return, he told me to take the car around the block to see if it was any better. I thought that it was someone else’s car! Just proper adjustment of the S.U. carbs, new points & condenser and reset the timing. A few bucks and I was on my way. Out on the highway I could hardly hold it down to 70 mph.