Somerset Rally Circuit
This is one of two true `figure-8` tracks in Evan. Coming off the starting line the cars are channeled into a right-turn, downhill canyon. Trading paint and dented armor are normal right after the start of any race here. You may even be forced up one of the canyon walls by other racers!
This leads to a long, downhill straight that crosses the `figure-8` portion of the track. Then comes a VERY tight 180 degree hairpin left-hand turn. Your 100+ mph entry speed is scrubbed off to about 40/60 mph after you exit the hairpin.
Now comes the fun part!
Crossing the `figure-8` section just after the start of the race is not too much of a problem as most of the racers are bottle-necked at the last turn.
The REAL problem comes later in the race when the pack is spread out. 4 lap races become real nail biters when you cross this section of the track.
After crossing the danger point, a short straight stretch allows good acceleration into the true Canyon of this map.
The Canyon is a 90 degree left turn that is squeezed down to about 2 car widths making this a genuine hazard in itself. The sides of the Canyon are unforgiving, rough and will tear your car to shreds if an opponent bumps you up the walls here.
This turn exits onto a relatively flat and wide stretch of road but the racing line will not allow you to run a `middle-of-the-road` racing line because of an uneven and insidious half-hair-pin right hand turn to come.
A LARGE hill fills your windscreen just as you start the right-hander. DO NOT misjudge this corner! If you slide up the hill you will drop behind and be caught behind the long concrete barriers placed just past the turn apex. These barriers have also cost many gangers their lives after being bumped into them by other racers.
Once past the barriers through the sweeping right turn, you come to the `switch-back`.
What looks like a simple, quick right-left drift is made much more difficult by the bank of the turns to the outside of the corners and a slight hill after the first turn. This small hill makes your ride light with less traction on the exit of the chicane.
This leads to a slight uphill easy right turn to the start/finish line. (It would be VERY rare to have a one lap race here.) You can gain LOTS of speed up to the start/finish posts but you should be wary of your speed as you get to the first canyon described earlier. Your higher speed here can make you vulnerable to a "hip-check-bump" from an opponent forcing you up the wall on your left.
By now the pack should be spread out enough to give you some concern about the cross-over you have to maneuver through.....
Good Luck!... You`ll need it!
Many Somerset citizens claim that this track is the work of the devil. The Somerset Rally Circuit has been responsible for most drivers` demise, be it in Deathraces or normal races. Even under the control of professional racers, cars often end up smashing one another near the starting checkpoint, due to the way the track is designed.
Nevertheless, many still attempt to race here - whether they do it for the thrill/excitement, or to attempt never-before-seen stunts involving explosions and splinters, this still remains one of the more popular tracks in Somerset.