“They Should Call It Graham Hell Bend”

Brands Hatch. An iconic track. It’s Indy configuration is one of the shortest circuits in the country. Paddock Hill bend is perhaps one of the most exhilarating corners in the country. Amazing in the dry. Challenging in the wet. Saturday was most definitely more wet and challenging than dry and amazing. Especially when you throw a newly resurfaced track into the mix.

It didn’t really get off to a good start for me. My video camera was already broken. So that needs to be sent back for a replacement – but that’s another story. Classics were qualifying early in the morning. It was a fairly damp and muggy morning and the track temperature would be low. I had decided that it was time to get some new tyres. My previous set are ok, but are getting pretty worn and I thought some extra tread would benefit me. My logic wasn’t incorrect per se, but I didn’t realise just how important it was to scrub in a new set of tyres before using them at speed. As soon as I left the pit lane to start my qualifying session it was obvious something wasn’t right. The car was skating all over the place and very twitchy under acceleration. On my first lap I came down to Graham Hill Bend, went to turn in and snap. The back end whipped around and I went sailing backwards onto the greenery. Strike one.

Having recovered I carried on going and gingerly made it round to my second lap. Once again I came down to Graham Hill Bend, a bit more slowly this time. On the brake, turn in… snap. Travelling backwards again. Strike two.

This wasn’t going well. Let’s try again. The third lap starts. I approach Paddock Hill Bend, squeeze the brake, turn in….oh dear. The back end snapped around and I’m sailing down Paddock Hill Bend backwards, sliding sideways and straight into the awaiting gravel trap. Strike three. I’m out of qualifying and have given myself (and my dad) a two hour clean up to get rid of all the trapped gravel I accumulated. So that was a lesson in tyre management learnt the hard way. Unfortunately for me they didn’t red flag the session. This meant my car remained in a very vulnerable spot while I watched cars shoot past, clearly on the edge, and praying to whatever God I don’t believe in that they keep it on the black stuff and don’t collide with my car which is in the spot they are likely to end up in should they spin.

Fortunately the session concluded without further incident. The only damage done was to my pride and the older tyres were quickly put back on, ready for the race. It would be quite a memorable race. It began to rain while we were in the assembly area getting ready to go out. Nothing heavy, but enough to make a slippery track even more treacherous. Naturally I was at the back. However I got another demon start and quickly made up a place or two as we shot around Paddock Hill Bend. At Druids it looked like Sheila and another car went in a bit too deep, so I was able to get past as they went wide and almost collided. Then down at the infamous Graham Hill Bend there was something of a coming together. I didn’t see what caused it, but five cars were scattered on the grass so that was some more easy places made. So far so good. I was now behind Terry and giving him a good run for his money. I was able to close up to him at Surtees and almost made it past him on Paddock Hill Bend. Then I came down to Graham Hill Bend. Snap. Back end gone and I’m going backwards again. It wasn’t a big spin but I was on the grass and had to yield for a couple of cars coming past on the racing line before I could get back on track. So off I go again. It’s raining some more now. Time to put the wipers on. Another lap and Graham Hill Bend looms. Brake earlier I think to myself. Whether I did or not I can not remember. But I do remember screaming obscenities into my helmet as I sail backwards yet again and lose more places. Fortunately, if there’s one thing I’m getting quite adept at, it’s getting the clutch in quickly when spinning. So I am able to recover easily and get going again.

Round we go again. Fairly uneventful lap for me. No one in front or behind that I can see. And I even managed to make it around Graham Hill Bend without spinning. Unfortunately my progress is halted by the safety car waiting to pick me up from the service road. The pack forms up behind me. On the next lap round I see the cause. One car in the Paddock Hill gravel trap is missing a wheel and another driver has parked it in the gravel at Druids. So there is a lot of work going on to get the cars free and out of danger. On one hand it’s good that we had the safety car. The track was getting a bit hairy and I’m sure slowing down helped prevent even more attrition. On the other hand it means tyres and brakes getting rather cold. Which brings back memories of my earlier qualifying session.

Eventually the safety car waves me past as although I’m leading the pack, the leaders have queued up behind me and it has effectively put me a lap down. Now I know how Fernando Alonso felt when he got shafted by the safety car. Due to the conditions I wasn’t able to get around to the back of the pack before the safety car released everyone, about half a lap later. Which was a little annoying but to be honest I was just glad to finish the race. The rain fall was increasing and it was becoming more and more slippery with each lap around Paddock Hill. I was hoping the chequered flag would drop on each lap past the start/finish line.  At long last it was there waving at me. Final result – 11th place. Not too shabby after a disastrous qualifying session.

There was other racing throughout the day and it seemed that Graham Hill Bend was proving a challenge for most people. I totally agree with the commentator when he announced that Graham Hill Bend should be renamed Graham Hell Bend. Perhaps the most exciting race I’ve had this season and certainly my best finishing position. I even picked up another Best Improver medal. Let’s hope I continue to improve. A top ten finish at Snetterton or Thruxton would be great. However I’ve not raced at either so we’ll have to wait and see. Whatever happens, I intend to scrub those new tyres of mine before racing on them!