Aston

Overview

Added in the S2 release of Live For Speed, Aston is a large track complex with gradual rolling elevation changes, sharp turns, and winding fast sections. It bears a resemblance in its style to the real-life Spa-Francorchamps circuit, including a fast uphill (or downhill) s-turn section similar to the famous Eau Rouge/Raidillon turns. Aston's gutsy fast sections often lead directly into its sharp turns, which create plenty of passing opportunities on the more popular configurations.

Configurations

Aston has seven configurations, which is currently the most for any track in Live For Speed. With various branching roads for all the possible layouts in the Aston complex, drivers should be well aware of the configuration they are currently driving. Otherwise, it can be very easy to inadvertently prepare to turn off onto the wrong section of track and lose valuable time.

Cadet

• Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
• Grid Size: 32 cars
• Laptime Range: 0:41 - 1:09

Cadet is the smallest possible configuration at Aston, starting with two sharp hairpins. The second hairpin leads directly into a faster section that contains two 90-degree bends and Aston's famous s-turn. Considering its size, Cadet is probably best suited for slower cars in any size grid -- the faster open-wheel cars will have their hands full here and feel a bit constrained. The configuration also would work well for beginners or inexperienced drivers without overwhelming them.

Club

• Distance: 1.9 miles / 3.1 km
• Grid Size: 32 cars
• Laptime Range: 0:48 - 1:27

The Club configuration is an extremely fast layout in which two hairpins separate two sets of straightaways and fast turns. Maintaining a high speed through the faster turns will be necessary for a fast time, especially for setting up passes at the hairpins. The southernmost hairpin is somewhat tricky, however, requiring braking on a curved downhill section of track. Drivers who do not exercise ample caution here will most certain find themselves off-course in a gravel pit.

National

• Distance: 3.5 miles / 5.6 km
• Grid Size: 32 cars
• Laptime Range: 1:24 - 2:33

National extends both ends of the Club configuration, creating longer high-speed sections while adding some technical turns to the mix. The northern end of the track extends to a more open and fast hairpin, while the back straightaway is interrupted by the double hairpins utilized in the Cadet layout. The track then curves around to a less unwieldy hairpin in the southern section, before leading downhill into a set of technical s-turns right before the start/finish line. While a fast exit in these turns is important for the long front straight, drivers must take care when entering the s-turns, as it can be easy to upset the balance of the car and crash into nearby concrete barriers (or even worse, opponents). According to online statistics, National is the most popular configuration of Aston.

Historic

• Distance: 5.0 miles / 8.1 km

• Grid Size: 32 cars
• Laptime Range: 1:54 - 3:31

As one of three configurations that use a majority of Aston's track, Historic represents a faster and slightly more dangerous version of the circuit, as if perhaps this version of the circuit existed in an era of racing before safety precautions took precedent. Historic takes the National configuration and adds a large extension of track where the back straightaway used to be. This "addition" is over a mile of winding curves, including the Eau Rouge-style s-turns, and an even faster back straightaway.

Grand Prix

• Distance: 5.5 miles / 8.8 km
• Grid Size: 32 cars
• Laptime Range: 2:12 - 4:00

Grand Prix could be considered a safer and more modern version of the Historic configuration with the intent of its minor changes. The Eau Rouge-esque esses are avoided, and the track instead veers off to face the double hairpins used in both National and Cadet before exiting onto the back straight. In addition, Grand Prix adds a chicane to the back straight, likely to slow cars down before the right-hander at the straightaway's end.

Grand Touring

• Distance: 5.0 miles / 8.0 km
• Grid Size: 32 cars
• Laptime Range: 2:08 - 3:50

 
Grand Touring, the last of the three configurations that use most of the Aston complex, has only one major change from the Grand Prix configuration. The first hairpin is removed, instead utilizing the sharper and slower hairpin from the Club layout. While minor, this change could be considered helpful in keeping overall speeds down heading into this first crucial turn. According to online statistics, Grand Touring is the least popular configuration of Aston.

North

• Distance: 3.2 miles / 5.2 km
• Grid Size: 32 cars
• Laptime Range: 1:31 - 2:44

The naming of the North configuration could almost be inspired by the real-life circuit Nürburgring, and its Nordschleife course. Both eschew the faster and more spectator-friendly sections of track, and use only the winding and isolated bits of track. Unlike Nürburgring Nordschleife, however, Aston's North course is rather short and not nearly as intimidating. Some of Aston's tightest and most technical turns are a part of this configuration, and the usual fast hairpins present in many of the other layouts are absent here.