Brands Hatch Saturday 8th November

The final two races of the MR2Racing.com series saw everyone head over to a rain soaked Brands Hatch circuit. Thankfully, this is the closest track to us so the journey there was short, but it still meant a 5:30 am start. When we arrived the track was wet and it was drizzling. We signed on and got the car scrutineered all without problems. Approaching qualifying it started to rain heavier and by the time we went out on track it was pouring down.

It had been a long time since I’d driven in the rain, but the wet line for Brands Hatch is, on the whole, the same as the dry line so that made life a little easier. The first few laps I took a bit cautiously as I was still feeling for the grip, but then the red flag came out.

It turned out that one driver had gone off the track at Paddock Hill Bend on a stream of water running across the track and another had hit the same stream of water about 30 seconds later, sending him careering off the tarmac into the first stricken car at very high speeds. Both drivers were taken into ambulances and rushed to the hospital. No one really knew their condition for a long time afterwards but the latest we’ve heard is that the second driver had been discharged later that night and returned home safely, all be it with a few bruises and one broken rib. The second driver had a longer stay in hospital as he faired worse in the crash, but he also appears to be OK but will take a while to recover. Our best wishes go to both of the drivers involved and hope they both make a speedy recovery.

After the track was cleared, the organisers shortened qualifying to only 5 minutes to make up for lost time. In these 5 minutes I felt I was getting faster and faster (as the time sheet proved), so to see the chequered flag quite early on was frustrating. It turned out I had qualified 7th, not brilliant.

Race 1
The first race was again wet. Off the line I got a reasonable launch, but going into Paddock I lost a place due to someone diving down my inside. At Druids everyone got bunched up and I lost another place as someone went around the outside of me. The field started to spread out and after a couple of laps I had regained the two place I’d initially lost, putting me back up to 7th. I now had some clear track ahead of me (thanks to the lack of spray from cars close ahead) and could see the leading pack ahead of me. I got my head down and reeled them in lap by lap, and about 3 laps later I was on the back of them. The first driver I came up behind was Jason Jesse. I found a very good line around Druids (later turn in, later exit, better run down the hill) giving me a better chance into Graham Hill Bend. After a lap or so this got me right onto the back of him, and one lap I was close behind him coming up the hill into Druids and Jason left the door open slightly, so I took the gap and slipped up the inside, putting me into 6th. I then caught onto the back of Adam Lockwood and got past him using that line around Druids, giving me the run down the hill. I was in 5th when one of the leaders spun out, putting me up to 4th. The 3rd place car was not far ahead and I was gaining on him, only for the chequered flag to come out. Had I had one or two more laps I think I could have got onto the podium.

Race 2
For the second race (wet again) I started 4th on the grid (Race 1 finishing positions). This was my best starting position all season so I was hoping for a very good race and a podium finish. When the lights went out I got a great launch and took to the outside of the car ahead. There were about 4 cars wide going into Druids and someone had to give, this time it was me otherwise I would have just been squeezed off the track. I lost 2 places as I had to get off the throttle, but by the exit of Druids I’d made those places back up again into 4th place. The front four of us then pulled out a gap from the rest of the pack and I was right on the back of the two guys infront, looking to get passed for 3rd or even 2nd place.

On one lap, they both took a very tight inside line around Druids so I decided to brake a bit later and go around the outside of them. I was alongside the 3rd place car exiting the corner, but it appeared he wasn’t aware of my presence, and by taking his usual line and in the process unwittingly forced me off the track onto the run-off grating. Because of the rain and mud, this was like ice and as soon as I hit it the back end stepped out. I corrected with full opposite lock almost immediately, but it wasn’t enough and the MR2 span about 540 degrees and nosed directly into the barriers (only slowly) and ended up pointing me in completely the wrong direction up the hill. I got the car started again and managed to get it back on track, losing over 30 seconds in the process.  See video for spin footage.

There was no visible car ahead of me and I was royally p’eed off (as the language on the video shows). However, I got my head down and tried to make up for the time I lost. After a few laps I’d caught up with a few cars in front of me and passed two in one lap, then another a couple of laps later. By the end of the race I’d got back up to 7th place and was catching the car only a couple of seconds ahead.

Afterwards I was very annoyed at myself, but as Dad said it had to happen at some point. It’s just frustrating it happened when I had a chance of getting my best result of the season.

Also, the TV crew from MotorsTV were there throughout the day. They interviewed me just before the start of race two, mentioning my good progression through the field in the earlier race and the fact I was the youngest driver in the series. After the second race they interviewed me again, and I explained what happened and why I spun. I actually really enjoyed the interviews, managing to get into a couple of laughs and jokes. When the footage is on TV, we will let you know.

So, a very wet end to the season. The pace both the car and myself showed in the two races was back to how it was towards the beginning of the season, my best laps times in both races being a very small amount off the pacesetter’s Before Brands I hadn’t done a wet race and was hoping I wouldn’t have to, but after having done it I can now say I really enjoyed the challenge of it and am no longer hoping all the races next season will be dry. It certainly sorts the men from the boys...

To see the rest of the pictures from this meeting, SEE HERE

For on-board videos of both races from this meeting, SEE HERE.

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