Forza Motorsport 2 Track Guide:  Mugello Autodromo Internazionale

Forza Motorsport 2 on Xbox 360 is a racing simulator, and as such, much of the competitive action in the game takes place on real-world tracks, each with a unique place in the annals of racing history. The purpose of this Mugello track guide, of course, is to give you a turn-by-turn analysis of how you should approach each corner for best results. Accompanying each turn description is a demo video showing you the optimal strategy for each corner. And when in doubt, always practice your hot laps with the Suggested Line driving assist turned on!

Mugello Autodromo Internazionale Background

The Italian Mugello circuit took its current form during the 1970s under the ownership of Ferrari, which uses the course as its test track. The facility also hosts both motorcycle and automobile racing. Back in 1914, Mugello was a 41-mile (66 km) track on dusty public roads north of Florence in Tuscany. One of the early race winners on the old course was Enzo Ferrari in 1921. During the 1950s it was shortened to 11.8 miles (19 km). Now the 5.4 km (3.4-mile) length of this modern circuit is divided evenly between its 15 turns and straights of varying lengths, and includes an altitude change of 135 feet (41.2m). For more information, visit the official Mugello website (http://www.mugellocircuit.it).

Tuning Your Car for Mugello

Mugello has a lot of fast straights broken up by sharp turns, making it tricky to tune for this track (i.e., if you set your car for top speed, you may lose precious time coming out of the tight corners and vice versa). Overall, Mugello calls for a well-balanced car adjusted to your driving style.

• Tires: Increase tire pressure slightly since you won’t have to worry about cornering as much you would on other tracks.
• Gearing: Here's the tricky part for Mugello. Although there are lots of straights in Mugello, they're short compared to other tracks, which might not give enough room for your car to get up and maintain maximum speed. Plus, the turns are sharp so you're going to be slowing quite a bit. Try sliding Final Drive a touch left to help with acceleration out of the turns, but not so far that you lose top speed—which you still might get to if you have a particularly fast car that can take advantage of even a short straight.
• Alignment / Camber: The turns are sharp so you will want to decrease camber to maintain steering on the corners.
• Anti-Roll bars: For Mugello, stiffer will probably serve you well as there's a fair amount of back-and-forth sloshing through some of the track.
• Springs / Springs: Mugello isn't a particularly bumpy track so adjust to your driving style.
• Springs / Ride Height: Mugello is flat and smooth so you can afford to bring your car down as far as you're comfortable.
• Damping: If you want to take Mugello's turns in a drifting manner, stiffen up, otherwise leave them according to your own preference.
• Aero: Your car will likely dictate how much you adjust aero. If it—and your driving style—benefits from downforce, don't be shy.
• Braking: The sharp turns require quick stabs on the brake. If you find sharp turns intimidating then you might want to soften the brakes so you don't over brake, but if you're comfortable with turns, increase pressure slightly to make sure you're getting as much as you need.
• Differential: Tune according to personal preference.

Turn One

A long straight sets you up for a high-speed entry into a surprisingly tight decreasing radius turn. It’s tempting to hit the turn going very fast—and that’s how the first turn traps you! Learn the proper brake point so you don’t fly off the road.

Turn Two

This constant radius turn shouldn’t be a problem. Get to your apex and you should be in and through it without difficulty.

Turn Three

Another constant radius turn sets you up for a smooth acceleration for a short straight, making this a good place for cars tuned for acceleration (it’s too short for cars tuned for high top speed). Since turn three runs uphill, instinct will tell you to let up on the gas because you can’t see what’s on the other side. Fight it and give it some gas to pick up some speed—but not too much, because you’re heading for another trap.

Turns Four and Five

As you come to the end of the straight before turn four, slow up. Much like turn two, turn four is set up to penalize racers who take it too fast. Turn five runs in an opposite direction to four, and, again, sets you up for a nice straight that will favor cars with high top speed.

Turn Six

Although the map shows turn six as being a bit tight, it’s actually wide and smooth. You should be able to enter this turn fast, hit your apex, and exit in preparation for turn seven with some good speed—which you’ll need very soon.

Turn Seven

Enter turn seven boldly and try to exit with as much speed as you can, because it comes just before a straight where everyone’s going to be putting on the speed for the wide sweeping turns eight and nine. Focus on getting your speed up and the car to the left of the track for the wide right turns of turns eight and nine.

Turn Eight and Nine

After picking up speed on the straight after turn seven, you’ll be able to enjoy it some with these sweeping constant radius turns. They’re not tight turns so you should be able to keep up a high constant speed and let the car run for a bit. Remember to watch your apexes for both turns. Let up the gas only as much as you really need to take the turns, and keep a good constant speed, and you should be OK.

Turn Ten

A lot of cars are going to hit the kitty litter from approaching this turn too fast. Know the brake point for your car and hit it, then try to avoid the other cars that are going to fly off the road.

Turn 11

Turns ten and 11 are almost close enough to each other to be a chicane, but they’re really not. Turn 11 is a constant radius turn that sets you up for a straight that’s really too short to get worked up about. Exit turn 11 as fast you can, but don’t get too excited—you’re about to hairpin.

Turn 12

Turn 12 is like all good hairpins: just when you think you’ve hit the apex and can accelerate out of it, it turns sharply and sends you into the dirt. Keep your wits about you and take the first part of the hairpin on the outside so you have enough room to turn into the last part of the hairpin without losing too much speed.

Turn 13 & 14

These turns aren’t the easiest chicane, but they’re close enough that you should be able to keep a good speed and not have to turn all that much.

Turn 15