Track Tuning / Oulton Park · UK
Cheshire · UK
Oulton Park is a relatively short, narrower, technical circuit with frequent elevation changes and very little time for the car to stabilise between events. The focus here is not sustained top-end power, but response, balance and repeatability through constant transitions.
Character of the lap
For the main straight (Old Hall straight into Cascades and up Clay Hill), I still build a higher-output strategy, but it is not as aggressive as a high-speed circuit. The straight is relatively short, and immediately followed by a loaded, cambered corner at Cascades that feeds into an uphill section.
Power here must be usable under load, not just maximised. The calibration prioritises clean torque delivery, stable lambda under transient load and consistent boost control so the car does not overshoot targets or trigger intervention as the chassis loads up.
The key sections at Oulton Park — Old Hall, Cascades, Island Bend, Shell Oils Hairpin, Foulston’s Chicane and Druids — demand a very different approach to delivery.
Lap zones
Traction-limited
A traction-limited exit into a long, loaded arc.
I reduce initial torque spike and shape boost to come in progressively. The aim is to allow earlier throttle application without rear instability, maintaining speed through Cascades rather than correcting oversteer.
High-speed commitment
The car is heavily loaded laterally at speed.
Torque delivery must be stable and predictable. I keep torque request and throttle mapping linear, avoiding any mid-corner fluctuation that could unsettle the car. Ignition and load targeting are stabilised to prevent micro-corrections from the ECU.
Slow-speed rotation
One of the most important corners on the circuit.
Focus on low-RPM response and controlled torque ramp-in. Instead of chasing peak torque, I shape a broad, flat torque curve that allows the driver to pick up the throttle early and drive out cleanly without overwhelming traction.
Rapid direction changes
The car is constantly transitioning between load states.
Aggressive boost or torque spikes here will make the car nervous. I smooth torque delivery, refine throttle sensitivity and ensure boost control remains tightly damped to avoid oscillation.
Critical for lap time
Final corner onto the straight — exit speed defines the lap.
Similar approach to Shell Oils, but with slightly more emphasis on mid-range torque to maximise exit speed onto the straight, while still maintaining traction control through smooth delivery.
Thermal management
Thermal management at Oulton Park is critical, but in a different way to longer circuits. The constant acceleration and braking cycles mean heat builds quickly in charge air, oil and coolant systems. I implement thermal strategies that prevent rapid heat soak from degrading performance across short sessions, keeping the car consistent lap after lap.
Calibration strategy options
A single “perfect hot lap” calibration integrates everything into one continuous strategy. For more control, a multi-map setup can be configured.
Strategy 1
Optimised for the main straight and uphill pulls such as Clay Hill. Increased boost and torque request with controlled ignition advance, designed to maximise acceleration where the car is stable and traction demand is lower.
Strategy 2
Designed for the majority of the lap — Old Hall, Cascades, Shell Oils Hairpin, Foulston’s and Druids. Reduced peak torque, smoother boost onset and a flatter torque curve for predictable throttle application, improved traction and better chassis balance.
Strategy 3
For damp or wet conditions. Significantly softened torque delivery, reduced boost aggression and refined throttle mapping to prioritise grip, stability and driver confidence through low-speed and transitional sections.
Cheshire · UK