The A1-Ring circuit at Spielberg in Austria has the reputation for being a simple circuit for the drivers, but it often produces some really good races.
On this site originally was the famous Osterreichring circuit that produced some classic races but unfortunately was too long for the demands of modern racing and television coverage. In 1997 the new circuit was opened after a £15 million investment.
This track is very smooth and the non-abrasive surface of the track is very easy on tyres, but this results in very low grip so the cars have to have a large amount of downforce which can make the set-up of the cars very difficult. Also there is a fair amount of gradient on the circuit and a couple of uphill corners (especially Castrol Kurve – the first corner) mean that the cars brake very late and this puts extra strain on the cars, particularly the rear suspension.
The order through the first two corners on the first lap can often determine the result of the race, so the start is very important. As this is a very quick lap time it is not long before the leaders start coming across the back markers and this can lead to some very interesting situations.
Another major factor at this track is the dust that collects on the track. Although this is a very scenic area of Austria, this track nestles in a valley and the area can be very windy and this blows a lot of dust onto the track. Any driver taking a different line other than the normal racing line can expect a trip into the gravel traps. During the qualifying session this normally results in a very long period before any of the main drivers will venture onto the track as they are all waiting for the dust to be cleared away by the other drivers.
Normally this circuit produces good races and some unusual, interesting results.
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