An ill wind blows no good
Daniel Erickson has qualified in third position for the first two of this weekend's three British Formula Ford Championship races at Brands Hatch - no thanks to an unexpectedly strong wind that swept across the Kent circuit.
According to the official lap times from yesterday's single 20-minute qualifying session, which weren't released until this morning, Daniel set the third fastest lap time of 47.863s around the Kent circuit's 1.9km 'Indy' layout. His time was barely a tenth of a second behind the 47.731s fastest lap set by American Josef Newgarden, and only 0.008s behind the second-fastest lap of Briton James Cole.
Those times determine the starting order for the weekend's first BFFC race, Round 19 of the championship, this afternoon.
Daniel's Kevin Mills Racing Spectrum 011c will also start tomorrow's second race, Round 20, from third on the grid. Positions for that race are set according to drivers' second-fastest qualifying session laps. This time, however, the CAMS International Rising Star will start behind Cole and Newgarden!
Under British Formula Ford Championship rules, grid positions for the third race, Round 21, on Sunday will be determined by drivers' fastest laps during the second race.
Daniel said that the strong wind made conditions tricky yesterday.
"There was a tailwind down the main straight, so the car's top speed was higher going into the first corner, Paddock Hill Bend," he said. "Then the tailwind became a crosswind as the car turned into the corner.
"Formula Fords have narrow tyres, so the crosswind caused some understeer. It took careful use of the throttle to get back onto the power early for the run up Hailwood Hill. Then there was a headwind along the back straight, so we were slower into Surtees corner."
Daniel explained that each tiny difference, maybe just a few hundredths or even thousandths of a second, might add up over a full lap to a couple of tenths - usually the gap between first and tenth on the grid.
Despite being disappointed not to repeat his dominant performance at last month's Ford-sponsored 'Indy' circuit test day, Daniel remained confident of scoring at least top-three results in this weekend's first two races.
"I should be able to score podiums, because my Kevin Mills Racing Spectrum definitely has the pace to run at the front," he said. "I just have to make sure I get off the startline well and hold my position, then we'll see what happens from there."
SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 5
Race 1 (Round 19) - 2.50-3.08pm UK time (11.50pm Saturday-00.08am Sunday AEST)
Sunday, September 6
Race 2 (Round 20) - 3.05-3.23pm UK time (00.05-00.23 Monday AEST)
Race 3 (Round 21) - 5.05-5.35pm UK time (02.05-02.23am Monday AEST)
NOTE: 'Live online timing' is not available for this weekend's BFFC races, however results and news will be posted on Daniel's website as soon as they're available.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Mike Jacobson
Jacobson Communications
Ph.: 0438 590 136 or (02) 9632 2381
email: jaccomms@optusnet.com.au