September 5, 2009

 

Brands 'Indy' baptism ends in fourth

 

Daniel Erickson charges up Hailwood Hill at Brands Hatch. Photo courtesy of Jakob Ebrey Motorsport Photography.

 

 

To the uninitiated, the Brands Hatch Indy circuit might look a bit 'Mickey Mouse' - but mastering the five-corner, 1.9km layout in a race situation is anything but child's play, as Daniel Erickson discovered today.

 

Daniel finished fourth after starting from third grid position in his first ever race on the Indy circuit, Round 19 of the British Formula Ford Championship. A less than perfect getaway by the CAMS International Rising Star allowed Dutchman Rogier de Wit and Briton Chrissy Palmer past on the first lap. Daniel repassed Palmer before the chequered flag, but by then de Wit had scampered away.

 

The 18-minute race was won by American Josef Newgarden, with de Wit second and Briton James Cole third.

 

Daniel said after the race that his fate was virtually sealed at the start. "I didn't get away all that well," he confessed. "I was trying to be careful not to get too much wheelspin, but instead I bogged it down a bit.

 

"Rogier de Wit went to my outside on the entry to the first corner, Paddock Hill Bend, then he snuck down the inside off the exit. He ran me wide on the run up the hill to Druids, and Chrissy Palmer got past as well, so suddenly I was back to fifth.

 

"I followed Chrissy for three or four laps, and then managed to get by him on the inside through Surtees and McLaren corners. We touched wheels but I made the move stick, and pulled away from him after that. By that point the leaders were long gone, so it was impossible to catch them."

 

Daniel said that racing on the short, simple-looking Indy circuit had proved harder than setting quick laps in testing and qualifying.

 

"On most circuits I've been able to make up ground on other drivers fairly easily, but here it was extremely tough," he said.

 

He vowed to get away from the grid faster in Sunday's remaining two BFFC races.

 

"To be honest I'm a bit cranky with myself, because my Kevin Mills Racing Spectrum definitely has the pace to run at the front," he said. "I'm determined to get better starts tomorrow."

 

 

RESULTS (23 laps, 43.7km)

 

POS. DRIVER                        CAR                    TIME

1. Josef Newgarden (USA)   Mygale SJ09       18.37.944

2. Rogier De Wit (NED)       Mygale SJ07       18.38.162

3. James Cole (GB)            Mygale SJ09       18.39.517

4. Daniel Erickson (AUS)  Spectrum 011c   18.44.961

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

Sunday, September 6

Race 2 (Round 20) - 3.05-3.23pm UK time (00.05-00.23am 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

Skype: mike.jacobson6

 


The Team Erickson members' V8 Race Drive prize draw was held on October 29, 2011, and the winner is Mark Golding (ticket number 0175). Second prize goes to Mark Fogarty (ticket number 0510), and third prize goes to Scott Kennedy (ticket number 0257). Congratulations to the prize winners, and thank you to everyone who participated in this Team Erickson members' fundraiser!