September 17, 2009
Brands 'GP': Another new circuit to master
Daniel Erickson will race at Brands Hatch this weekend, just a fortnight after the British Formula Ford Championship's last visit there - but he'll be driving on the full 'Grand Prix' circuit instead of the truncated 'Indy' portion (see map, below).
The legendary racetrack, a little over 30km from London in Kent in south-eastern England, dates back to 1926 as a grass track motorbike racing venue. It is most famous for co-hosting the British Formula 1 Grand Prix with Silverstone until 1986, and continues to hold rounds of the World Superbike Championship, the German DTM touring car series and numerous national racing series.
It's also the home of the Formula Ford Festival, the junior development category's annual showcase event, each October.
Despite the 'Indy' and 'Grand Prix' layouts sharing the same piece of undulating rural real estate, as racetracks they're chalk and cheese (see map):
Despite their common location, 'Indy' and 'Grand Prix' are chalk and cheese:
- At 1.9km, 'Indy' is the shortest of the BFFC's nine venues; the 3.7km 'Grand Prix' is the second-longest.
- 'Indy' has only one really challenging corner, Paddock Hill Bend; 'Grand Prix' has several more very fast corners.
- 'Indy' is notoriously difficult for overtaking slower cars; 'Grand Prix' has several genuine overtaking points.
They share one other trait as far as Daniel is concerned: their 2009 BFFC rounds are his first races on both circuits. This is nothing new to the CAMS International Rising Star, of course. He's never raced his Australian-built Spectrum 011c before at any of the venues hosting the prestigious series!
But that hasn't stopped him from racking up some very impressive 'rookie' results: three pole positions, one round win, four podiums and a fastest race lap. Invariably he's among the frontrunners in qualifying, only coming up short in lack of wheel-to-wheel racing experience around these unfamiliar circuits. Currently he lies sixth in the BFFC pointscore and closing rapidly on fifth, which would make him the highest-ranked driver with no prior local racing laps under his belt.
Going into the weekend, Daniel says that he's excited just to be competing at the celebrated venue. "I haven't driven around the Brands Hatch 'Grand Prix' track before, so I'm eager to get out there in my Spectrum. The circuit has so much history that I'm honoured to have the opportunity to race there."
He isn't daunted by the prospect of yet another debut on a strange track. "I haven't driven on the full circuit before, but that hasn't been a problem for me at the other circuits this year. I was quick in qualifying on the 'Indy' circuit a couple of weeks ago, so I'm hoping to translate that to the longer 'Grand Prix' circuit.
"One thing in my favour is that my team, Kevin Mills Racing, had a win at this race meeting last year with Adrian Campfield. Naturally I'm hoping to continue the tradition!"
Daniel's first foray on the 'Grand Prix' circuit will be in Friday's two unofficial test sessions. Official qualifying for starting grid positions in the two BFFC rounds takes place late on Saturday, with the two races on Sunday.
BRANDS HATCH TIMETABLE
To access free online 'live timing' while Daniel is on the track on Saturday and Sunday (and perhaps on Friday), click the links below and then click the Brands Hatch icon for the appropriate date.
Friday, September 18
12.05-12.40pm UK time (9.05-9.40pm AEST): testing
4.45-5.20pm UK time (1.45-2.20am Saturday): testing
Live Timing (subject to confirmation)
Saturday, September 19
6.05pm UK time (3.05am Sunday AEST): qualifying
Sunday, September 20
11.55am-12.13pm UK time (8.55-9.13pm AEST): Round 22
5.10-5.28pm UK time (2.10-2.28am Monday AEST): Round 23