The Bend International, turn by turn

All 18 turns

Shapes come from Purple Sector’s registry geometry.

Turn 1

Turn 1 is a roughly right-angle right-hander, turning through about 84° with a radius of about 30 m. Turn 1 comes 1,055 m after T18, and T2 follows 120 m later.

• Warren Luff: Few landmarks, so use the brake marker boards. Turn in early and use the flat concrete behind the kerb. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 2

Turn 2 is an open left-hander, turning through about 62° with a radius of about 65 m. Turn 2 comes 120 m after T1, and T3 follows 125 m later.

• Warren Luff: Use the concrete behind the kerb and aim to straighten the run from Turn 1 through to Turn 3. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 3

Turn 3 is a tight right-hander, turning through about 149° with a radius of about 35 m. Turn 3 comes 125 m after T2, and T4 follows 200 m later.

• Warren Luff: Turn in early and let the car run wide; build throttle gradually while the car is still loaded sideways. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 4

Turn 4 is a right-hand kink, turning through about 22° with a radius of about 160 m. Turn 4 comes 200 m after T3, and T5 follows 230 m later.

• Warren Luff: Flat; it is about placing the car for Turn 5. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 5

Turn 5 is an open left-hander, turning through about 56° with a radius of about 120 m. Turn 5 comes 230 m after T4, and T6 follows 410 m later.

• Warren Luff: Do any lift before turn-in, then get back to throttle to settle the rear; tyres decide the speed. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 6

Turn 6 is a left-hand hairpin, turning through about 160° with a radius of about 35 m. Turn 6 comes 410 m after T5, and T7 follows 165 m later.

• Warren Luff: Downhill braking needs care even with ABS. Rotate the car early; the uphill exit gives good drive. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 7

Turn 7 is a right-hand kink, turning through about 28° with a radius of about 145 m. Turn 7 comes 165 m after T6, and T8 follows 215 m later.

• Warren Luff: Turns 7 and 8 act as one corner: sweep up high through 7, small lift before the drop into 8. (MOTOR / WhichCar)
• Jack Le Brocq: Expect understeer on entry to the long right, with the car rotating better lower down the hill. (Supercars (23 Aug 2018))

Turn 8

Turn 8 is an open right-hander, turning through about 63° with a radius of about 120 m. Turn 8 comes 215 m after T7, and T9 follows 165 m later.

• Warren Luff: The exit of 8 sets up the approach to 9, so position the car for 9 rather than 8. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 9

Turn 9 is an open right-hander, turning through about 50° with a radius of about 60 m. Turn 9 comes 165 m after T8, and T10 follows 130 m later.

• Warren Luff: Lift early and float through; going too deep into 9 ruins 10. Get wide for the approach to 10. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 10

Turn 10 is an open right-hander, turning through about 49° with a radius of about 50 m. Turn 10 comes 130 m after T9, and T11 follows 230 m later.

• Warren Luff: Slightly blind turn-in and the track tightens on exit; the biggest trap for newer track-day drivers. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 11

Turn 11 is an open left-hander, turning through about 56° with a radius of about 80 m. Turn 11 comes 230 m after T10, and T12 follows 115 m later.

• Warren Luff: Use every bit of kerb to improve the angle for Turn 12; it is easy to over-slow here. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 12

Turn 12 is a roughly right-angle right-hander, turning through about 119° with a radius of about 55 m. Turn 12 comes 115 m after T11, and T13 follows 530 m later.

• Warren Luff: About rotation and early throttle; the track widens on exit where another layout joins, so don’t drop a wheel. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 13

Turn 13 is a roughly right-angle right-hander, turning through about 85° with a radius of about 60 m. Turn 13 comes 530 m after T12, and T14 follows 290 m later.

• Warren Luff: Steep uphill entry gives more front grip than expected; release the brake and turn in early. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 14

Turn 14 is a roughly right-angle left-hander, turning through about 100° with a radius of about 40 m. Turn 14 comes 290 m after T13, and T15 follows 165 m later.

• Warren Luff: Uphill braking with plenty of grip; treat 14 and 15 as two corners and avoid turning early for 15. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 15

Turn 15 is a roughly right-angle left-hander, turning through about 108° with a radius of about 50 m. Turn 15 comes 165 m after T14, and T16 follows 150 m later.

• Warren Luff: Tightens on exit into 16: get the turn-in right and keep the nose turning to manage understeer. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 16

Turn 16 is an open right-hander, turning through about 49° with a radius of about 115 m. Turn 16 comes 150 m after T15, and T17 follows 360 m later.

• Warren Luff: With a good Turn 15, 16 is barely a corner; consider a short shift instead of a full lift. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 17

Turn 17 is a roughly right-angle right-hander, turning through about 110° with a radius of about 25 m. Turn 17 comes 360 m after T16, and T18 follows 285 m later.

• Warren Luff: Tightens on exit: turn early, use the concrete behind the kerb and keep coaxing the nose in. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Turn 18

Turn 18 is an open right-hander, turning through about 69° with a radius of about 45 m. Turn 18 comes 285 m after T17, and T1 follows 1,055 m later.

• Warren Luff: Uphill onto the main straight: release the brake early, turn early, let it run wide. Don’t overcommit to 17. (MOTOR / WhichCar)

Questions

Map, layouts and turn numbers: The Bend Motorsport Park track map. More maps: every track in South Australia · the track list. Other circuits turn by turn: Mount Panorama · Phillip Island · Sydney Motorsport Park · Queensland Raceway · Lakeside Park · One Raceway · Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit · Sandown Raceway · Adelaide Street Circuit · Euromarque Motorsport Park (Ruapuna) · Hampton Downs Motorsport Park · MotorMall Wanneroo Raceway · Winton Motor Raceway · Calder Park Raceway · Ipswich Kart Club · Morgan Park Raceway · Hidden Valley Raceway · Symmons Plains Raceway · Baskerville Raceway · Mallala Motor Sport Park · Highlands Motorsport Park · Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon · Taupō International Motorsport Park · Teretonga Park · Luddenham Raceway · Collie Motorplex · Pheasant Wood Circuit · Wilby Motorsport Park.