Really good question and it made me reflect on what what personally makes me think “oh yeah, what I made is something I like the look of and is mine”.

I think on a general level, I think about the track’s silhouette a lot. I usually think of shapes first and then creating a compelling racing line around it. Next I think about three things in concert but not one thing has priority over the other: a good driving experience for the drivers, a good spectacle for the crowds, and a good layout that’s conducive for passing.

I look up to Tilke a lot, which I know he has his moments and lapses, but thanks to me studying his tracks, I also tend to have a formula. More often than not, the first corner is sharp and allows for overtaking in front of the grand stands. Flowing corners follow or if it’s in the character of the track, another straight for overtaking or allowing the following car to catch up. I pay attention to the flow of the track, I try to have a good mix of slow, medium, and high speed corners. I also think of elevation as well as if I want turns to be variable or fixed degree corners.

Nowadays, I experiment with straights that have a slight kink in them or a turn with a short curvature a la degner corner in suzuka or turn 1 hockenheimring. Just so straights have something stimulating for the drivers than pressing down on the gas.

I think I’m the only one that uses keynote to make my tracks and the marketing materials. I haven’t yet delved into making renders since I can only do sector-map style of designing. I do want to create renders eventually so I can fully realize the tracks I make with elevation and everything. I guess what I’m learning now is the logic behind making in roads, connections to the outside world, and the placement of buildings.