Brands Hatch (Indy) 25-Jul-2004

First corner mayhem at Paddock Hill   [photo Johnny Storm]

Our "biggest" race of the year and at SELOC's home circuit, Brands Hatch Indy. It was here that I did my first proper track day in the Elise 18 months ago that planted the first thoughts in my head about going racing. I've driven this circuit four or five times in the Elise and once in the BMW (although wet). I love the track! Paddock Hill Bend is simply awesome, as is Surtees. The rest isn't quite as exciting but as a whole it flows really well and it's the sort of place you can pound round for lap upon lap without getting bored.

As we head out for qualifying I soon find myself behind Jez. We run together for a few laps and then I get a little quicker and he lets me past. Jez then hangs on to the back of me and we stay very close for the rest of the session. I wasn't entirely happy with my performance and it took me a long time to get all the corners hooked up properly. It's not until lap 15 that I get it all sussed by which time my tyres are starting to go off and I find traffic. The last few laps are frustrating as I know the individual corners are better than before but I can't put a whole lap together. I'm expecting to be on the 2nd row of the grid.

When the times are published I find myself 5th fastest. Disappointing but not unexpected. What's worse, is although I thought I was faster than Jez, he has gone a tenth quicker to be in 3rd and is therefore in front of me on the grid. Alan Wileman gets pole with Geoff Weeks (guesting) beside him and Ben Wilamowski to my left in 4th. However, there's only a half-second separating the first 5 and then another half-second back to Guy in 6th. If I can make a good start then I could be in contention for a top-three finish.

I almost miss the race when I fail to hear the tannoy announcements whilst looking over a rather nice racing Elise in the paddock. I didn't know you could put a race suit on that quickly! Rather stressed I arrive at the assembly area with enough time to calm down and tie my shoelaces. I sit quietly in the car and have a think about the first corner. I'm on the inside for Paddock so if I can get away well and hold the inside line all the way to Druids then I could make up a place or two.

As we start the green flag lap I test how much traction is available and it's pretty good. I also try to get the tyres warmed up for the first time round Paddock. Waiting for the lights to go out seemed to last an eternity but my reaction was excellent and I could see I had the jump on most of the cars in my peripheral vision. Unfortunately I let that knowledge affect my start and I stood on the gas way too early, lighting up the rear tyres and ending up with a terrible start, losing 2 places as we approached Paddock. Guy had gone past and I had Paul Skivens beside me, edging away. I kept the inside line round Paddock but as we faced down the hill we were greeted by the sight of Jez and Geoff totally sideways, as they both lost their fight for second position!

I pretty much figured out which way they were going and decided to keep to the right and pass the spinners as they exited onto the infield. However, I then found Paul Skivens very much sideways in front of me as a result of his own avoiding action. Now I needed to go left! With some locked brakes and a little timing I managed to get the car left and then haul up the hill to Druids with the inside line (at least something went to plan!). Despite going into Druids 3 cars side by side I was very pleased to come out of the bend in 4th place behind Darren and Guy with Alan making a clean getaway out front. This could work out OK after all!

The next two laps were spent right behind Darren as we chased after Guy. I was able to hold station with Darren's 320i except along Cooper Straight where the power delivery of my 318i forced me to change from 3rd to 4th earlier than Darren at which point he would gain half a car length which I would then reel back in through Surtees only to lose it again along Brabham Straight before catching back up down Paddock Hill Bend. Darren then made a pass on Guy and I figured that if he could get past then so could I, especially as I out-qualified him. But then I had the same problem with Guy as I did with Darren. I was quicker but the 320's extra grunt would always put it out of reach on the entry to the corners. However, my faster corner speed through Paddock allowed me to capitalise on a mistake by Guy when he went in too fast and had to back off. I was able to power my way past as we started to go up the hill and keep enough of a gap to take a decent line through Druids. I'm now into 3rd!!!

Fortunately I passed Guy shortly after Darren so I was able to get back in touch with him quite quickly and started to apply as much pressure as possible. Knowing that I would be unable to pass him in a straight line I needed another mistake to provide an opportunity. He seemed unsure of himself at McLaren which allowed me to close right up around Clearways but once onto the straight I could only watch as he pulled out a small lead. Nonetheless I was able to push him hard. Too hard as it turned out. On lap 13 (of 16) my tyres went off dramatically and my lap times fell by half a second. The next thing I know I've got Guy back close behind me and as I struggle for grip round Clearways he gets a run at me down Brabham Straight and there's nothing I can do about it. No point taking the inside line as he'll just drive around me. I push as hard as I can but we're on the last lap now and the best I can manage is to finish six-tenths of a second behind. Another lap and Jez would have got past as well, who had a heroic drive after his spin put him in tenth position to finish 5th!

So a 4th place finish. Not what I was hoping for but a decent result given the circumstances and enough to maintain my 12 point lead on the series. It was also my most action-packed race so far from the opening-lap mayhem to passing Guy, chasing Darren and then losing a position back to Guy. Fantastic stuff! However, if I had managed my tyres better I would have been able to keep third place and come home with another trophy. My experience during qualifying should have told me that the tyres might not last the entire race. Hindsight, eh?!

fourwheels racing © 27-Jul-2004