20.02 Couldn't wait for the A1GP so responded to e-mail sent to me by Motorsport Vision the owners of Brands Hatch. The only downside is that it is the weekend of the Malaysian GP, no problem take the radio and get the qualifying and race on Radio 5. Bit of an early start but there you go can't wait.
31.03 Weather forecast looks good for weekend so might get down there on Friday night set up and have few beers etc.
03.04 Weather is going to be good so get my work done and it's off to Brands Hatch this evening. Bought the beer and provisions just need to get some bread and its off this evening around 17.00. Should get there for 18.30 and be set up before dark. Read the Autosport article regarding the Hamilton incident at Melbourne and thought what a fuss over nothing, if F1 doesn't watch out it will be a laughing stock. Great weekend started off 1/2 hour late intending to get away by 17.00 but was late leaving work and had to go to Sainsbury’s to get some bread. However not too bad I thought but the traffic was appalling 10 miles queue to the Dartford Crossing, so didn't arrive at Brands until 19.30. Anyway got set up OK luckily it stayed light late enough to get the tent up, so by 21.00 was ready to have something to eat. I forgot so many things but not to worry you always get rusty and this is the first trip away this year.
04.04 Got up early to hear the qualifying in Malaysia, but they didn't start until 11.00 so went off to find the nearest shops, this was a small village called Swanley think it should be renamed ASDA as all the shops had closed and there was just a massive ASDA in the centre of town. Bought 2 folding chairs and some sausages and bacon, no film for the camera in the girl in the photo shop didn't even know what film was. Luckily there was a Boots across from ASDA and got some in there.
Back at Brands it was finish listening to the qualifying in Malaysia and off to the races. Free Practices in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon. I always do any photography on the Saturday so I can concentrate on the races Sunday. So wandered around and checked out the shops and stalls, walked around the track taking photos and enjoying the sights and sounds of being at the races. By now it was time for lunch, back to the tent and a couple of bacon sandwiches and 3 mugs of tea, radio on and it was Tottenham away to Blackburn and at the time I went back to the circuit we were 1 - 0 up so all is good in the world. Weather OK but not great, dry but a bit cloudy, now and again the sun got through and it was nice.
I did another circuit of the track spending more time at Druids taking photos of the Porsche Carreras and the formula Renaults then thought better get a move on as the qualifying for the BTCC will start soon, just made it to the Grandstand at Paddock, I think it is essential to take a grandstand seat at the races. This is the only time of the season were the cars will run with no success ballast. So for the qualifying and the first race we will see the true pace of the cars. It was dominated by the Vauxhalls and the BMWs no real surprises there. So I watched the BTTC qualifying and the Clio Cup race from the grandstand and it was time for another walk and some photos. From the grandstand at paddock you can see almost the entire track at Brands when the races are on the shorter Indy circuit. From a purist point of view I prefer the GP circuit but can understand why the Indy is as popular as you can see everything going on.
05.04 Wandered over to the track around 11.00 after listening to the start of the Malaysian GP didn’t sound like it was going to be a good one so wasn’t tempted to stay and listen. Had a walk around the circuit and have to say there was a very good attendance at the race, just as well there is a recession otherwise it would have been really packed. Just before 12.00 found my place in the grandstand at Paddocks and the first race was good but spoilt a little by the yellow flag periods. An excellent start by the BMW saw them take the lead from the Vauxhalls of Neal & Giovanardi who were 1st and 2nd on the grid quite amazing what an advantage the rear wheel drive cars had off the grid. However the Vauxhalls reeled them in and took 1st and 2nd places. Time for lunch and its back to the camping area for a sausage sandwich, few cups of tea and a bit of packing up then it’s back to the races. Race 2 the BMW really steamed away from the start and never looked like losing the lead the Vauxhalls weighed down by success ballast really looked slow off the start. The BMWs took the first 2 places of Collard & Turkington took the first 2 places with Matt Neal doing really well to get 3rd, Stephen Jelley in the RAC BMW came in 4th followed by Andrew Jordan in the Vauxhall. Biggest surprise of the race was to find Fabrizio Giovanardi in last but one place but that how it goes sometimes he lost position after a slow start and some contact, but it’s long season so get the bad luck out of the way early for last year’s champ. The 3rd and last race of the day followed a couple of hours late so I took another walk around the circuit. You cannot praise the presentation of Brands Hatch too highly it is really well managed and maintained. It is like a park with a race track in the middle, there are ample toilets, plenty of rubbish bins, and everything is kept clean and tidy during the weekend. Should you want a snack or drink there are reasonably priced concessions within a short walk, even if you want a sit down meal then there are 2 or 3 restaurants available. Back to the races and its race 3 starts a bit later than usual around 17.15 probably for the TV, the BTCC gets super coverage on ITV so you can follow the other races of the series. Shame around a 1/3 of the people left a bit early but they missed the best race of the card. Success ballast and the draw for the reverse grid gave Jason Plato in the Chevrolet Lacetti the pole which he kept on the start and the first few laps. Then there was a contact from Jonathan Adam Airwaves BMW just as they were going to Paddocks which if you were naive and very generous you would put down to him out braking himself . The result was that Plato was spun and lost his position, but through terrific control only dropped to 2nd. He was later awarded the race as the passing was considered illegal and Adam was dropped back to 2nd place.
So a great weekend just needed to pack up the tent and it was off back home, on the exit looked across and Steve Rider was there in his Range Rover don’t know why I was surprised but I suppose he has to drive himself to and from work like the rest of us. Looks like being a good season for the BTCC so if you get a chance I would defiantly catch a meeting if not then get it on ITV4 for the whole meeting or ITV for the highlights.