at Brands Hatch
is a real honour and privilege. As one fellow Academy racer pointed out, people ask if there are lions to see at Oulton Park but everyone knows Brands Hatch. Perhaps the Oulton comment was mildly hyperbolic but the sentiment stands; Brands Hatch remains a big deal in British motorsport.
And this is despite the fact that the Grand Prix hasn't run at Brands for nearly 30 years now. The last F1 race at Brands was in 1986 which was fittingly enough won by Nigel Mansell. During that race he set a frankly ludicrous lap record of 1:09.593 which obviously still stands. For reference the quick guys in the Academy were lapping the Indy circuit in 56 seconds.
Having attempted to lap Brands over the weekend the speed of our Nige in a GP car is all the more staggering. 175mph at the exit of Paddock? Madness. Murray's commentary of this qualifying lap appears too fast initially as corner names seem to follow almost simultaneously. The long drag from Surtees to Hawthorn becomes a short straight with 1,100hp or so.
Mansell actually line up second with this lap but, as he went on to win and beat teammate Piquet, this is the chosen video. Put the kettle on and prepare to be amazed.