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race series in the UK. Brands Hatch is located on the A20,
signposted from junction 3 of the M25 (3miles).
The Club House is the Kentagon with hot and cold food and
a fully stocked bar, there are camping facilities on site
and a cash machine located to the left and rear of Paddock
Hill grandstand. Spectating at the circuit is unparalleled
in Europe, with almost uninterrupted views of all the Indy
circuit from Paddock Hill grandstand.
The shorter Indy circuit is one of the true classic
tracks starting with paddock hill bend the braking point is
difficult to judge but the turn in point is level with the end of
the access road at the very top of the hill just before the
start of the gravel trap. Its important that once you have
taken the apex that you let the car out using the full width
of the track on the exit. Running up to Druids, use the
bridge to judge your braking point. There are several
options for a turn in point. The apex point is a long way
around the corner and care should be taken not to pick up
the power too early to avoid under steering off the track.
From the exit draw a straight line to the turn point at
Graham Hill bend in line with the green and white board on
the barrier. Care should be taken in wet conditions not to
run wide on the exit of Graham Hill bend as the kerbs and
eco block can be extremely slippery.
Running along Cooper Straight to Surtees, the turn in
point is the seam in the tarmac that runs the full width of
the track, and the apex is around two thirds along the kerb on
the left side of the track before making a straight line to
the turn in point for Clearways keeping the braking in as straight
a line as possible. After turning into Clearways ensure you
either take both the apexes or prolong the initial apex long
enough to let the car then drift out to the outside edge of
the circuit. You should be right out to the edge of the
circuit meeting in the same point where the white line
crosses the track. Then bring the car back to the right-hand
side of the track right by the marshals box ( post 24) and
hold the car to the right hand side of the
pit straight. At about the pole position point begin to
move the car back to the left for Paddock Hill bend.
The longer GP circuit leaves the Indy circuit at Surtees and
rejoins at Clearways. The turn in point at Surtees is at the
end of the kerb on the right hand side of the circuit. You
can get away with an earlier turn in but both have
advantages and disadvantages. The circuit then runs under
Johnny Herbert Bridge and down Pilgrims Drop before the
slight climb to Hawthorns. A late turn here is important to
open the corner out but be careful on the exit as there
is little room for error. The run into Westfield's is very
fast and use the seam in the tarmac to judge your braking. It
is important to take the apex because if you are slightly wide
here it will force you even wider on the exit. From the
bottom of Dingle Dell you will be looking up hill towards
the marshal box on the left at the top of the rise before turning into Sheene
Curve and ensuring you use the full width of the
circuit on the exit. You only have a short distance to get
the car back to the right before Stirlings. The camber
means you can carry a good deal of speed into the apex but
be careful of the kerb on the exit as this can pick the car
up quite a bit. Bring the car back to the left for the fast
approach to Clearways using the bridge to judge your braking
point, and the access road to the left as a turn in
reference. The rest of the corner is similar to the Indy
layout as is the end of the lap.
Words
kindly provided by
Jamie
Stanley |
