Profile: Monza
- Location: Monza, Italy
- Direction: clockwise
- Lap Length: 5.793km
- Race Laps: 53
- Race Legnth: 307.029km
- Lap Record: 1:21.046 (Rubens Barrichello, 2004)
- Located 15 miles north-east of Milan, Monza was built in 1922. It combines fast, sweeping corners with long straights � the most famous being Parabolica and Lesmo.
Monza has been staging the Italian Grand Prix for all but one year since 1950. The circuit is notorious for big bumps and its long straights require extremely low downforce. Low wing levels lead to poor grip in the low speed turns, which can cause problems if drivers. In an attempt to rectify the problem, the pilots usually opt for very stiff settings on the front of the car.
With extreme speeds, Monza is an �engine breaker� and reliability during the race is vital.
A lap with Alex Wurz�
Starting a lap of Monza, you power up through the gears along the wide Rettifilio Tribune straight reaching the top speed of all the circuits on the calendar, 220mph / 350km/h in seventh gear. The right-left Rettifilio Chicane is located at the end of the straight and sees your speed drop as you brake dramatically to 71mph / 115km/h in second. As you exit, you immediately reach the Curva Grande. This long, bumpy right-hander is taken flat out and your speed increases to some 181mph / 290km/h in sixth before arriving to the Variante dello Roggia. You brake from some 200mph / 335km/h in sixth to 71mph / 115km/h to negotiate the left-right chicane, which has a tricky entry as it is very bumpy and slippery. Another short straight follows and takes you to the double apex right hander of Curva di Lesmos. You enter the first turn at 104mph / 168km/h in third. A quick burst of acceleration sees your speed increase up to 140mph or 225km/h before you then brake for the second apex, which is negotiated at 94mph / 150km/h also in third. It is important to maintain a good speed through Lesmos, as it takes you onto a long straight, which has a slight left curve. You reach 212mph / 340km/h in seventh as you blast towards the Curva del Vialone. Another hard braking zone takes your speed down to 90mph / 145km/h in third to negotiate the left hander, the entry of the famous Ascari chicane, which is immediately followed by a right-hander leading into the next left hand corner. This is quite an exciting section of corners, which then flicks you onto the back straight, achieving speeds of 212mph / 340km/h in seventh gear as you approach the famous Parabolica. The tight entrance to this long sweeping right hander is taken at some 100mph / 160km/h and as the curve opens out your speed increases and you are swung back onto the start-finish straight to begin another lap.
Circuit maps as featured in F1 Championship Manager.
