Monday 4th August 2014

Caterham Academy 2014: Brands Hatch

From 11th to third and then... back again! An eventful Academy weekend for Matt at Brands

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This was the race. We knew it would come eventually. Across the whole Brands Hatch weekend there was a tangible sense that all the Academy guys really knew what was going on. The confusion, befuddlement and general craziness of the first two races was gone and everyone was getting on with being an Actual Racing Driver. Sign-on and scrutineering was completed without Caterham having to point it out and we were all even at assembly on time. How professional. Then the driving started...

And this was from qualifying!

Paddock Hill Bend claimed a fair few Seven-shaped victims over the weekend, even during qualifying. What a terrifying corner! Having tested the week previously at Brands I was hopeful of a decent time. Letting a gaggle of cars through to get some space I thought a couple of good laps were posted even if Paddock and Surtees were never ideal. Does anyone know the best line for the latter? Staying wide for a run out made the entry seem really slow and the exit was compromised by entering too narrow. Annoying. Though not as frustrating as going 11th fastest. Plenty to do in the race then!

It probably doesn't look it but there was a vague plan for the start; stay to the inside. It may be slower but I was too scared of what carnage may ensue on the racing line (we've all seen BTCC, right?) to venture there. And it worked! Paddock and Druids were a flurry of spins and locked brakes but I managed to sneak through unscathed after a respectable start. It was pure luck more than expert judgement I'd wager but fifth after the second corner felt fantastic!

Trouble somehow avoided at Paddock

Lap two and another Druids SNAFU pushed me up to third; result! From there things went very badly very quickly. This probably sounds like a terrible racing driver cliche but I had a rhythm with the faster guys for a few corners, or so it seemed. Attempting to keep up, learning where they were making up the extra tenths and having a bloody excellent time.

Then I missed fourth coming out of Surtees. Twice. Balls. I lost a place as well as a ton of momentum and confidence. From there a couple more mistakes let others past. You'll see Rob in the black and gold car nip through and then lock up at Graham Hill; we both continued unharmed but again it was time lost and no more places gained.

The longest race battle was with Martin Emkes who I could not pass. It was exhilarating to try though! The lap times from the race showed my quickest was slower than the guys ahead of me so to finish 10th probably was fair. I still reckon I could have held on had Martin been passed though. Maybe.

Yeah, four cars into Graham Hill...

Of course I would have liked to be nearer the top but that shouldn't detract from an amazing racing experience. Brands is a fabulous circuit, the racing was engrossing and the buzz from finishing is so addictive. If it could be bottled it you'd probably make enough for a season of motorsport!

According to Phil Jerome (who you can see coming past in the orange car) I was so sideways so often that he was convinced I would spin quite a few times. Maybe that's why the lap times were slow. I said it helps the turn-in and perhaps got carried away. Makes for a great video though!

Race video here, skip to 10:00 for start.

 

 

[Pics: SnappyRacers]

[Reavenger]

Good driving. Very action packed. A few things that strike me from watching the vid:


1. You are very sideways compared to your competitors although doesn't seem to cost you too much exit speed.
2. Your braking into druids seems later (and better) than your competitors.
3. Graham Hill bend is about stuffing it up the inside and making it stick. Cooper is too narrow going into Surtees to get by.
4. Unusual line or curb usage at clearways? Your exit on to straight seems slower than competitors.
5. Good start off the line

Good fun to watch and I bet it was enjoyable. Great driving all round. I think my hands would be shaking from nerves at the start if it was me!

[wildman0609]

You would benefit from a smoother turn in. You are unsettling the car too much with an aggressive turn in which is costing you exit speed with too much skidding.

Line through surtees looked ok, just try to take as much curb at the car will allow and straight line it as much as pos, don’t bother with a sweeping turn in.

[Matt Bird]

wildman0609 said:

You would benefit from a smoother turn in. You are unsettling the car too much with an aggressive turn in which is costing you exit speed with too much skidding.

Line through surtees looked ok, just try to take as much curb at the car will allow and straight line it as much as pos, don’t bother with a sweeping turn in.

Thanks, I'll take that onboard for next time!

[t400ble]

Did you jump the start or is it me?

[Seven Smiles]

How many Gs are you guys pulling through the corners? Must be massive to distort the rollover bar like that

[P4GNO]

Notice how you lose out on the straight sections? (apart from the missed upshift).
This starts at corner entry being a bit too fast and losing speed from scrubbing through the apex so you are not able to put the power on as soon as your competitors. Looking at footage from the chasing cars, you are braking sometimes through Clearways when you need to be on the power. This is also making your car more unsettled, try and be a bit smoother with the weight shift.

I was taught to brake in a straight line after Surtees letting the car run wider than you would think sighting the inside of Clearways turn in quite late really and start applying power all the way through the corner letting the car run right out to the edge through Clearways which gives you greater speed along the straight.

Edited by P4GNO on Tuesday 5th August 09:25

[pvj]

I can hear my family singing happy birthday to me at 7m 45s! Funny

[Snifflytooth]

I'd be tempted to soften the front, with all the understeer you have onto the star/finish straight.
Will soften your turn in too

[AWRacing]

I'm guessing the whack to the FNS corner on the first lap didn't help with the under steer experienced - have you tracked it to see how much it's out by now?

[Matt Bird]

AWRacing said:

I'm guessing the whack to the FNS corner on the first lap didn't help with the under steer experienced - have you tracked it to see how much it's out by now?

Nope, it's going back to Caterham ASAP. Another excuse, hurrah!

[scubadude]

Most entertaining thanks!

I assume its series policy for half the cars to jump the start? :-)

Armchair expert here but looks like your carrying a smidge too much speed and/or flinging it in a bit sometimes which leads to your combination understeer/drift/oversteer which is very entertaining but seems to loose you a place everytime you do all three in a corner!

It does look like bl**dy good fun.