Brands Hatch Indy Advice

[Z4MCSL]

So unless it gets cancelled I will be there next wednesday in my clio 182

This is my second only track day (first one was abingdon) and I am very conscious that I wont be able to get tuition.

I have driven the track a lot on Project Cars 2 - which makes me think the most dodgy corner is potentially the first right hand down hill corner.

I will obviously take it slow and easy on the day but any tips/good videos to watch?

Thanks

[mmm-five]

You must be able to find loads of BTCC/DTM/ETCC/ ClioCup races on youtube - drive like that and you'll be fine

e.g.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Z4MCSL said:

So unless it gets cancelled I will be there next wednesday in my clio 182

This is my second only track day (first one was abingdon) and I am very conscious that I wont be able to get tuition.

I have driven the track a lot on Project Cars 2 - which makes me think the most dodgy corner is potentially the first right hand down hill corner.

I will obviously take it slow and easy on the day but any tips/good videos to watch?

Thanks

I was there last week and they were doing instruction. In fact Wil Arif himself was there (from above video).

Edited by FurtiveFreddy on Wednesday 15th July 11:05

[RobertQ]

Def get some instruction early on as it always helps on a new track.

Also check out Driver 61 on YouTube

Turn 1 (Paddock) is a tricky corner, and one that you will initially take quite conservatively but as you gain more confidence you can take more and more speed through. Aim for the marshalls post and resist the temptation to turn in too early, wait until you are at the green runoff area before turning in.

The other area that is vital for a good lap time is the Surtees/McLaren/Clearways complex.

You can take a lot of speed through Surtees, way more than you think initially. Then a straight line braking into McLaren and again resist the temptation to turn in too early and “follow” the corner radius. Go deep into McLaren and turn in sharper and get the car pointed towards the exit sooner. You’ll be on the power earlier than if you followed the radius around and extra speed on the exit here you’ll carry all the way into turn 1.

Also stay near the pit wall on the main straight. It’s less uphill than the left side of the track.

HTH

[hilts uk]

Best advice I can give for Paddock is never to lift or brake near or after the apex. You will spin As a complete novice I found out the hard way earlier this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjLoanrUUk4

Here is a 57 second lap in my Caterham Academy car 6 months and 3 visits later. Only one shift down and one up per lap and focussing on keeping it smooth. An early power on form last corner is the most important thing for laptime which means hitting the wide part of the curb as an apex. Hope it helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PN6CaKrRZg

Edited by hilts uk on Monday 20th July 10:35

[FurtiveFreddy]

hilts uk said:

Best advice I can give for Paddock is never to lift or brake near or after the apex. You will spin As a complete novice I found out the hard way earlier this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjLoanrUUk4

Here is a 57 second lap in my Caterham Academy car 6 months and 3 visits later. Only one shift down and one up per lap and focussing on keeping it smooth. An early power on form last corner is the most important thing for laptime which means hitting the wide part of the curb as an apex. Hope it helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PN6CaKrRZg

You can use a bit more track on the exit to Clearways than in that last lap you posted. That'll allow you get on the power earlier.

The Driver61 YT channel as mentioned is pretty good but just watching plenty of different onboards from decent drivers is worthwhile.

[HustleRussell]

FurtiveFreddy said:

hilts uk said:

Here is a 57 second lap in my Caterham Academy car 6 months and 3 visits later. Only one shift down and one up per lap and focussing on keeping it smooth. An early power on form last corner is the most important thing for laptime which means hitting the wide part of the curb as an apex. Hope it helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PN6CaKrRZg

You can use a bit more track on the exit to Clearways than in that last lap you posted. That'll allow you get on the power earlier.

The Driver61 YT channel as mentioned is pretty good but just watching plenty of different onboards from decent drivers is worthwhile.

In a low powered car such as a Caterham Academy it's pretty much evens, you can significantly shorten the corner by not running out to the edge of the circuit on exit.

[FurtiveFreddy]

HustleRussell said:

In a low powered car such as a Caterham Academy it's pretty much evens, you can significantly shorten the corner by not running out to the edge of the circuit on exit.

Yes, fair point, I've re-watched it and he's on full throttle pretty early there so that figures.

[hilts uk]

Yes we only have 125hp so we dont need to use all of the exit out of Clearways. My time is 1,5 sec off the lap record in the car so loads more time to find. You can brake later for the first three corners, should be flat in a Caterham for Surtes and carry a litle more through Clearways.

Edited by hilts uk on Tuesday 21st July 10:59

[MJ85]

I did an evening session a few weeks ago. Enjoyed the track more than I thought, considering its length. Enjoy!

[Z4MCSL]

Thanks all

I am there on Wednesday so very excited. This time I am hoping not to set my brakes on fire like last track day.

Also I am determined to take my time more and stop every few laps - I found the whole "cooling off" thing really hard last time as Im an impatient bugger and its so much fun.

[Hol]

Z4MCSL said:

Thanks all

I am there on Wednesday so very excited. This time I am hoping not to set my brakes on fire like last track day.

Also I am determined to take my time more and stop every few laps - I found the whole "cooling off" thing really hard last time as Im an impatient bugger and its so much fun.

I always treat brands as a series of quick sprints and force myself to cool down every three pit straights and the in lap/

Someone asked if my car was broken once, as I always move out the way and indicate when cooling down..

[hilts uk]

You don't get a lot of time mentally to cool down on a lap for sure, but in a light car like a Caterham there is no issue with brakes etc as we only hard brake for Druids. I find after 20 laps I start to lose concentration so its time to come in and reset.

Be prepared for a lot of traffic by the way.. About 50-60 cars on a track day and 30 will be on circuit at once and its a tiny track. The spread in lap times is usually quiet big (about 55s to 1min 10), so if you are at the slower end you will find cars taking you on the outside of Paddock and Clearways and on the inside of Surtes. They don't really enforce the overtaking by consent rule so always watch your mirrors.

Enjoy!

Edited by hilts uk on Tuesday 21st July 10:59

[Throttlebody]

As above, on a normal open pit day it’s busy on the short track, so it can be difficult to find some space or flow. Needs a bit more awareness of what’s around you.

[Z4MCSL]

Thanks for the headsup, will definitely be one of the slower cars in my 182 - just going to take it easy anyway and get used to the track.

[hilts uk]

Z4MCSL said:

Thanks for the headsup, will definitely be one of the slower cars in my 182 - just going to take it easy anyway and get used to the track.

Have fun and keep an eye on your mirrors

[Chris Sideways]

An in car lap from me in my old Lotus Exige running around 230bhp and on road tires my favourite UK track I absolutely love the Indy Circuit A 51s Lap, sorry about the quality it was filmed from an old laptop with a phone.

https://youtu.be/v40pMtgowBQ

Edited by Chris Sideways on Tuesday 21st July 19:28

Edited by Chris Sideways on Thursday 23 July 16:49

[paulyv]

Stay in and watch what the other cars are doing for the first 10 minutes or so. Everyone is keen to get out quickly and the inexperienced think it an unchallenging short track - perhaps it is my odd experience but I have never had a trackday where at least 2 have not spun in those first few laps. You can avoid having to come in again and also see what the track conditions are!

[Z4MCSL]

That sounds like great advice - I will definitely not rush out on track

[Z4MCSL]

Well that was bloody brilliant and thanks for the advice.

That was a great track day and I think I will be there a lot.

I can definitely tick off "lift off oversteer" from my list of trackday experiences now, it was busy at one point with cars coming out the pits and I eased off down the hill on the first corner, definitely a bad move but didnt crash so that is all good!


Will be back very soon