Le Mans Ultimate Track Guides (Updated)

The ninth circuit to join Le Mans Ultimate, Circuit of the Americas is a controversial facility with a tricky rhythm. Let us try and help you get into the groove with our LMU COTA Track Guide.

Another Le Mans Ultimate content drop, another new circuit to guide you through. A few weeks ago, prior to the real world FIA World Endurance Championship's visit, we established that the Circuit of the Americas is a controversial track. Nevertheless as the sixth round in the 2024 WEC season, it is now available to race in LMU.

A tight and technical layout opened in 2012 just outside the Texan city of Austin, COTA is a 5.513km racetrack designed by the renowned Hermann Tilke. In Formula One, the lap record may sit at the 1:32 mark. But in a hypercar, would will do well to approach the low-1:50s. Meanwhile, modern GT cars cannot break the 2-minute barrier.

Bumps aplenty with technical sections mixing poor visibility and track limit caution, here is a guide for getting you round the course.

Le Mans Ultimate COTA Track Guide​

In our LMU COTA guide, we ran the equally fresh Alpine A424. A tricky car on the brakes, other models may be able to stop quicker. GT class cars however will be able to run far more kerb.


The Alpine A424 is now in Le Mans Ultimate. Image credit: Studio-397

In recent years, COTA's aged surface may have received touch ups in places with the Le Mans Ultimate scan getting new tarmac for the first two corners. But the majority of the circuit is extremely bumpy. As such, you would do best to soften you springs and drop Damper ratings both front and rear before even getting on-track.

But keep in mind that many corners around the circuit require you to lean on the front end. As such, a softer rear than front will minimise oversteer in the longer turns.

Not only do racers love to hate COTA for its bumps, the venue's track limits are something of a joke across the internet. Think of NASCAR and Indycar events in Austin as an example. To avoid invalid laps, remember that the white line determines track limits in LMU and as such, you must keep two wheels on the tarmac. Often, this requires restraint.

Opening Corners​

Famously, Turn 1 at COTA features a very long run up a steep hill with four lines beside the track. This makes it a great spot for lift and coast when fuel saving. We recommend lifting off the throttle at the second white line and braking just after the third.


Boards away from the track help see brake marker lines. Image credit: Studio-397

At the end of the braking phase is a large portion of track meaning you can attack the apex in a variety of ways. Diving to the inside is tempting when overtaking but when running solo, squaring off the corner and optimising the exit is faster.

Running down the hill, Turn 2 is a fast sweeper that most hypercars can take flat out on warm tyres. But a slight blend on the throttle is required aboard our A424.


Open the entry to Turn 2. Image credit: Studio-397

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A Technical Sector 1​

The rest of Sector 1 is an onslaught of fast sweeping turns that should become a rhythmic sequence. Coming over the crest towards Turn 3, do not venture too far to the right and aim for the boot of the second Goodyear logo from the left. Run over the T3 kerb and lift off the throttle until the T4 kerb, which you should also use.


Cutting Turn 3 allows a straighter run through 4 into braking for T5. Image credit: Studio-397

Straight line your run towards Turn 5 whilst braking and downshifting into fourth. Hold this gear and gently accelerate through to the apex of Turn 6. Take this as an early apex and blend off the throttle once more. Use the front wheel resistance to slow you towards the corner's second apex which you can cut without unsettling the car. This will put you in a perfect position to open up the next sequence.


COTA anti-cuts in Le Mans Ultimate are no bother, especially Turn 7. Image credit: Studio-397

Turn 7 is a quick, fourth gear left hander requiring a small dab on the brakes that you will want to push on exit, but it is important to keep left and open up the next turn.

Similarly, for the uphill right-hander of Turn 8, a short brake down to third gear will suffice. A longer turn, we advice you to lightly trail brake all the way round and hold your inside wheels on the apex kerb.


Turn left as this kerb disappears. Image credit: Studio-397

When the Turn 8 apex kerb becomes fully white as it fades away, turn in to Turn 9 and apply the throttle, optimising your exit. You can run all over the kerb here, including the large anti-cut on the apex as long as you keep two wheels within the white line. In the race, running wide onto the green paint is not a problem as you will not gain any track limit points. But you will lose your lap in qualifying by doing so.

Circuit of the Americas Sector 2​

By comparison, the second sector at COTA appears a doddle. From the sky, a long straight separates a pair of angular hairpins. However, given the long nature of said straight, perfecting the exit is crucial to a good lap time.

For Turn 11, the first hairpin in Sector 2, brake just after the beginning of the grass to the right-hand-side of the track. Turn-in is tricky as spotting the apex is near-impossible in a left-hand drive racer. But building on the lock as the end of the right-hand-side kerb comes into sight is a good marker. Square off the exit and power your way down the back straight.


Turn for T11 towards the end of this outside kerb. Image credit: Studio-397

At full pelt, the 150-metre marker is where to brake for the next corner. But lift off at 250 metres and you can hit the brakes closer to the second board. This apex is far easier to spot and, head downhill, you can run over the apex stone without issue and use your differential to turn the car on exit.

Spot the Apex​

A short spurt to Turn 13 sees you upshift to third gear. As you do so, lift off and gently brake around the 50-metre board as you turn towards the apex in second gear. Very light throttle application will help turn the car, do not be afraid of running two wheels on the exit kerb.


Brake straight from the white bit of kerbing between the two Sector 3 hairpins. Image credit: Studio-397

Once again, a short sprint pushes you to third. When the T14 exit kerb ends, once again hit the brakes and straight line the braking zone towards the outside of the course. Spotting apex of T16 is difficult, but as you drop to first gear and approach the entry on the outside of the track, apply the lock and you should find yourself straddling the kerb. Short-shift into second as you do so and run over the green exit.

Flowing Final Sector​

Turns 17 and 18 are a double apex complex merging into a single turn. But you will notice that the angle tightens in the middle. Power up to fourth on the way in and coast round the first half of the corner. Once you have passed the first inside kerb, gradually get to 50% throttle and let the power build as it drags you to the outside. We recommend not quite falling all the way to the outside however if you want to simplify the approach for the penultimate corner.


Turn 17 at COTA requires a gentle entry, slow in fast out. Image credit: Studio-397

Bring the car back to the right-hand side of the track whilst aiming for the second Avis board and break between that and the first board. If you lift off at the first board, you should be able to brake at the second whilst turning in. Trail brake to third gear until the apex and get on the power to rotate the car. Make sure not to overrun the exit, causing a track limits violation.


Trail brake to the apex of the final corner, prioritise getting on the power early. Image credit: Studio-397

The final corner is a great spot for additional lift and coast. Lift off at the overhead sponsor banner and hit the brakes at the right-hand white line that should signify 50 metres. Fall down to second gear and aim for the orange apex anti-cut. Understeer will push you wide, perfectly clipping the apex. Make sure to get the car slowed however as getting on the power here is crucial to a good run onto the start/finish straight.

Navigating Traffic in Texas​

Hotlapping on an empty track is far different to racing against a 40-car-strong field mixing hypercars and GT traffic. If you are aboard a faster prototype hoping to make moves, or in a GT looking to safely let faster cars by, here are your best places for going side-by-side.

Obviously, the inside of Turn 1 is a great place to dive. Failing that, faster cars can easily drag up alongside to the left on the exit and pass around the outside of Turn 2. Opting for the right-hand side on the approach to Turn 3 is viable, but risky. If you cannot pass before then, you must wait single-file for a few corners.


Managing traffic in COTA is crucial to LMU success. Image credit: Studio-397

The long right-hander of Turn 6 is a good place to set up a pass around the outside and, provided you are close enough by the apex, the inside of Turn 7 will work. So too will either side of Turn 8 up the hill. If you right behind a GT into Turn 9, squaring off the exit and flooring it will get you past before the tricky kink.

Sector 2 is far more traditional for passing traffic. Though please do not make desperate lunges into the hairpin as that will slow your exit onto the long back straight. Following the straight-ending hairpin is just enough time to power alongside a GT before the single-file pair of switchbacks.

After the switchback hairpins of early-Sector 3, the long right-hander offers a good chance to pass up the inside on entry. But fail to do so and you will have to wait until the exit as running the outside line can be risky.

Time your run well out of the long right-hander into the second-to-last turn and you can go either inside or out. But once again, diving to the inside is slower than waiting behind, optimising your exit and passing into the final turn.