You’ve heard of Eau Rouge, Maggots-Becketts and the Senna Esses, but have you heard of Honda Curve?
Me neither. At least I hadn’t until earlier this week.
Having now sampled it first-hand, I believe it deserves a place on the list of all-time greats. Don’t just take my word for it - ask Karun Chandhok.
“It’s a corner with an apex speed of 115mph, so it really gets the downforce working,” says the ex-HRT and Lotus Formula 1 racer as we stand trackside at Pembrey Circuit. “And then there’s a nice bump on the exit which can catch you out.”
Ford Focus RS driven at Spa-Francorchamps
Wales has kindly placed a puddle in said bump today, and as we observe BMW Blancpain GT racer Alexander Sims flash past in a Formula 3 car, he conveniently has a big moment as his left tyres splash through it. It takes a quick armful of lock and a heavy right foot to keep things in check.
Next up it’s my go. Gulp.
“On a good day, Honda is taken flat,” Anthony Hieatt, team principal of Double R Racing, says as I’m being strapped into his car. “Just ask any of the drivers in F1 about it - I guarantee 90% of them will know it well.”
Chandhok (pictured below) tells me to build up my pace slowly, but I’ve only got two 10 lap stints of Pembrey to absorb all I can about its recently updated layout. I try and convince myself to do Honda Curve justice as the 237bhp 2.0-litre Mercedes engine vibrates into life behind me.
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