Kalinago Circuit: Creative Track Design Still Exists

Doublezero deserves WAY more recognition for his work

Indeed another masterpiece from Doublezero.

Brilliant track and especially like the 2 shorter versions, National A and B, for slower cars but the whole track has a great flow to it.

Looks nice. There is a section that visually reminds me of Sebring a lot, but I suspect it's quite different to drive through it.

I wish it was available for AMS2

I think it's probably the best Grade 1 proposal overally that this modder has done, but on that note about "creativity", I would say there certainly are some fairly standard elements of "modern" track design included in this particular effort.

I wouldn't mind seeing some of those aspects lightened up on a bit.

That looks super interesting, will try that for sure. Time for a fictional track "top list" as well I guess.

Taruffi said:

I think it's probably the best Grade 1 proposal overally that this modder has done, but on that note about "creativity", I would say there certainly are some fairly standard elements of "modern" track design included in this particular effort.

I wouldn't mind seeing some of those aspects lightened up on a bit.

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Interesting, which aspects would you like to see changed or altered?

Connor Minniss said:

Interesting, which aspects would you like to see changed or altered?

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I don't want to totally just copy/paste the comment I made on the video for this track on the modder's YT channel, but I'll see what I can do here.

Like I noted, generically, I'm looking at elements present in the layout that are pretty common now in "modern" racetrack design.

Maybe the clearest example is the T1/2 combo. It's not as extreme as T14/15 at Shanghai, or T11/12 at the proposed Hanoi Street Circuit, but I think you can kind of get the idea.

Another thing is, whether intentional or not, they tried to integrate quite a few more overtly geometric elements into the circuit, certainly when you look at the map in plan form. But it tends to be tricky to get those to mesh well with more flowing sections, and I think there are places where the mix didn't come out quite right.

T16 compared to T17 and 18 would be one, along with the fact there is a T13, when it seems like the road could have just gently curved between T12 and T14.

An item I mentioned in my YT comment was that there are also some corners, like the 4-5 pseudo-hairpins, that are positioned and oriented sort of like they're mirroring/displaced from each other, and trying to balance one another out, I guess you could say. The "formula" of it just strikes me as a little too obvious in the overall shape.

So anyway, if I were looking at more specific alterations, the most pressing ones would be to ease Turns 1, 12, 13 (so it basically doesn't exist), and 16.

Maybe just have T1 smoothly arc into T2, and perhaps T2 ends up being about right at 90 degrees, instead of notably more than that.

Ideally, I think I'd like to really ease the T11/12 esse, while still keeping it as a real challenge, and then have the road curve that bit more on the run into T14.

Round off T16 somewhat, so it doesn't stick out so much compared to T17 and 18 that follow.

Again, ideally, maybe have gentle curves to the road heading into and out of the T15 hairpin.

I don't think it's impossible to get the flowing and geometric elements to work together harmoniously, but it's definitely a difficult balance to try to achieve.

But like I said in my 1st comment, I don't think the design is 'bad" overall. And actually, I noted in my comment over on YT that this track doesn't suffer from one of the main pitfalls I feel impacts a number of doublezero's other designs, which I've commented on over there as well.

I'll finish up by saying I think the T4-T10 section is quite good, and I like how the elevation change is used.