[JasonB]

What would you say were the most important basic requirements when you're designing your layout?

In other words, what are your "must have" elements for a track, and what are the important things to consider?

Personally, I have a few things that I would always try to include, and most of them are about encouraging drivers to make full use ot the throttle...

1. A long straight. I think there should be one place on every track where you can get up to full speed. If I'm designing for a small space, I'll start with the longest straight possible, and work from there.
   
   
2. Parabolic Corners. Well maybe not strictly speaking parabolic, but I always try to make corners which change radius. I usually try to soften the entry to any corner, because it makes things a little easier for inexperienced racers, whilst still being challenging for the experts. But I also like corners that open out on the exit, because it's more challenging if you are constantly increasing speed as you come out of the corner.
   
   
3. A wide range of corners. I like a tight and twisty section on my track, but I think that should also be balanced by a wide open corner where the cars are teetering on the edge of spinning out at high speed.  If those corners can also include some elements of #2, and lead onto or off #1, then I think you might well have a good track on your hands.
   

Well that's my simple recipe for keeping the trigger finger active, the laps interesting, and the mind working.

What's yours?