October 18, 2009


Daniel sets fastest lap in Festival semi, finishes gallant 8th in final

 

Daniel charges out of Druids Bend in his battle-scarred Spectrum en route to eighth place in the Formula Ford Festival final.

 

 

Daniel Erickson wound up his first overseas racing campaign with a gallant 8th place result in the Final of the annual Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch today. The 21 year-old Australian was unable to start the 25-lap, 49.7km race on new tyres after problems in qualifying, and faced an uphill battle just to retain his 10th grid position to the finish.

 

But he did that - and more besides.

 

Lacking the optimum traction enjoyed by rivals who'd been able to reserve their fresh rubber for the all-important Final, Daniel lost one position to Jordi Cunill as soon as the starting lights went off. For an agonising 16 laps he was forced to follow the recalcitrant Spaniard, who blocked every overtaking move. Eventually Cunill spun off the track, helped by some 'gentle persuasion' that left a deep scar on the nosecone of Daniel's Spectrum!

 

With a clear track ahead, Daniel put in another of his trademark comeback drives. He refused to throw in the towel despite the virtual impossibility of even a podium finish, and closed the gap to the next driver, Sepp Koster of Curacao, from 5.8 to 3.2 seconds, by the chequered flag. His persistence was rewarded when two drivers ahead struck trouble, moving him up the finishing order.

 

"I just didn't have the grip to find a way past Cunill," Daniel said.  "But even if I'd been on new tyres I wouldn't have been able to catch the leaders - they were too far ahead by then."

 

The Australian Motor Sport Foundation International Rising Star showed in his semi-final that he had the speed, if not the grid position, to match it with the leaders. Starting sixth, he set the fastest lap and advanced one position by the end of the 18-lap race on the notoriously difficult-to-overtake 'Indy' circuit.

 

 

2009 BRSCC FORMULA FORD FESTIVAL - BRANDS HATCH 'INDY', KENT, ENGLAND

 

Sunday, October 18

 

Final - 25 laps (49.7km)

 

1. Chrissy Palmer (GB)         Mygale SJ08            20min. 09.018sec.

2. Liroy Stuart (NED)            Mygale SJ09            20min. 10.110sec.

3. James Cole (GB)              Mygale SJ09            20min. 10.406sec.

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8. Daniel Erickson (AUS)       Spectrum 011c        20min. 20.428sec.

 

 

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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!