WTCC - why Brands?
Discussion
I quite like the WTCC and have enjoyed watching it over here at Donny and Silverstone (as the ETCC) but I'm not happy about the switch to Brands.
I've never actually been to Brands but as Rydell is driving I was going to drive the 4 hours down. But I have just checked the price and it's £35 for the weekend and £10 for camping!!! £45!!!!! The circuit doesn't even look that good either! Why does Brands get so much these days when there is quite alot of country 'up here' don't you know?
Thus, I will set this weekend aside to go to Cardiff to see Leeds in the Playoff final.....
I've never actually been to Brands but as Rydell is driving I was going to drive the 4 hours down. But I have just checked the price and it's £35 for the weekend and £10 for camping!!! £45!!!!! The circuit doesn't even look that good either! Why does Brands get so much these days when there is quite alot of country 'up here' don't you know?
Thus, I will set this weekend aside to go to Cardiff to see Leeds in the Playoff final.....
I can understand your frustration in terms of your potential travel time but Brands Hatch is a great circuit from a spectators point of view. The entire Indy Circuit is visible from many places and you get to stand very close to the tarmac.
I have always thought Silverstone poor from a spectating point of view.
It's a long haul but I think you would find it worthwhile
I have always thought Silverstone poor from a spectating point of view.
It's a long haul but I think you would find it worthwhile
dickster said:
Why does Brands get so much these days when there is quite alot of country 'up here' don't you know?
Because quite simply Mr Palmer is putting the groundwork in whilst others aren't. He took two years to get the basics right, and is now targetting the events that are going to make him money. If he makes a better offer to the organisers than Silverstone or Donington, what else would they do?
If his proposals for Snetterton go through, I have little doubt you will see the WTCC visiting Norfolk in a few years.
Brands GP is one of the last great tracks. Unlike may others historic tracks it has changed little over the years, a legacy of the fact that it hasn't had a GP since about 1986, therefore Ecclestone and Tilke haven't had a chance to ruin it.
Furthermore, look at the competition...
Donington - seem more interested in 2-wheel motorsport, the promotion of 4-wheel motorsport at Donington is scandalous. When I went to the combined ETCC / FIA GT race there in 2004 the turnout was little better than an F3 race. There was NO promotion whatsoever, the adjacent Sunday market attracted a bigger crowd!
Silverstone - just how badly do you need to be treated like a kunt? They clearly have no interest in anything other than the GP, again the crowd for last year's WTCC and GT race was atrocious, and again no active promotion of the event. The treatment of the spectators at the Britcar 24hrs was very poor, not allowing people to camp infield.
They both get what they deserve, IMO. Palmer is rebuilding from the very roots of club racing and is starting to reap the benefits, and he thoroughly deserves it.
Just my 2p though!
Furthermore, look at the competition...
Donington - seem more interested in 2-wheel motorsport, the promotion of 4-wheel motorsport at Donington is scandalous. When I went to the combined ETCC / FIA GT race there in 2004 the turnout was little better than an F3 race. There was NO promotion whatsoever, the adjacent Sunday market attracted a bigger crowd!
Silverstone - just how badly do you need to be treated like a kunt? They clearly have no interest in anything other than the GP, again the crowd for last year's WTCC and GT race was atrocious, and again no active promotion of the event. The treatment of the spectators at the Britcar 24hrs was very poor, not allowing people to camp infield.
They both get what they deserve, IMO. Palmer is rebuilding from the very roots of club racing and is starting to reap the benefits, and he thoroughly deserves it.
Just my 2p though!
I can see where you're coming from dickster but I have to agree with the others. BH is by far and away a better circuit in terms of spectacle than Silverstone. In my opinion (FWIW) there should be more international events at Brands and on the full circuit as much as possible.
Silverstone is too big, too clinical and when the gate takings aren't in the tens of thousands, it feels soulless and empty. So many changes have been made to the circuit to make it current F1 spec that any character it used to have has been taken away (although it is fun to go and hunt out the old bits of the circuit behind the grandstands)
Brands on the other hand (and I'm prepared to be corrected) hasn't changed since the '60's with the exception of the changes at Dingle Dell/Sheene's. The topography of the place makes it great to spectate from anywhere around the Indy circuit and a long way from wide, flat expanses of Northamptonshire. There is something very special about whacking your gear in a backpack and heading off through the woods to Westfield or Stirling’s.
Silverstone is too big, too clinical and when the gate takings aren't in the tens of thousands, it feels soulless and empty. So many changes have been made to the circuit to make it current F1 spec that any character it used to have has been taken away (although it is fun to go and hunt out the old bits of the circuit behind the grandstands)
Brands on the other hand (and I'm prepared to be corrected) hasn't changed since the '60's with the exception of the changes at Dingle Dell/Sheene's. The topography of the place makes it great to spectate from anywhere around the Indy circuit and a long way from wide, flat expanses of Northamptonshire. There is something very special about whacking your gear in a backpack and heading off through the woods to Westfield or Stirling’s.
I hate the Brands Indy with a passion only otherwise reserved for Traffic Wardens..
However the GP loop is superb. Get out into the wilds and your virtually trackside with no fences. It's just a shame they can't use it more often.
I'll happily do a 600 mile round trip for events on the GP loop, whereas i wouldn't p155 on the Indy Circuit if it were on fire.
>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Tuesday 25th April 18:13
However the GP loop is superb. Get out into the wilds and your virtually trackside with no fences. It's just a shame they can't use it more often.
I'll happily do a 600 mile round trip for events on the GP loop, whereas i wouldn't p155 on the Indy Circuit if it were on fire.
>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Tuesday 25th April 18:13
dickster said:
Why does Brands get so much these days?
Funny, I'm sure Silverstone has a bigg-ish event in June, oh and the GP Masters, bet they don't cost £35...
dickster said:
Thus, I will set this weekend aside to go to Cardiff to see Leeds in the Playoff final.....
And I'm sure that's fantastic value for money for, what, 90 minutes? One less soccer fan at Brands suits me
dickster said:You will love Brands,trust me,great for viewing and I drive the Gp Circuit 4/5 times a year
I quite like the WTCC and have enjoyed watching it over here at Donny and Silverstone (as the ETCC) but I'm not happy about the switch to Brands.
I've never actually been to Brands but as Rydell is driving I was going to drive the 4 hours down. But I have just checked the price and it's £35 for the weekend and £10 for camping!!! £45!!!!! The circuit doesn't even look that good either! Why does Brands get so much these days when there is quite alot of country 'up here' don't you know?
Thus, I will set this weekend aside to go to Cardiff to see Leeds in the Playoff final.....
dickster said:
I quite like the WTCC and have enjoyed watching it over here at Donny and Silverstone (as the ETCC) but I'm not happy about the switch to Brands.
And then..
dickster said:
I've never actually been to Brands...
And yet in the next breath...
dickster said:
The circuit doesn't even look that good either!
Thing is, you've kind of answered your own question, so to speak. With this line...
dickster said:
I've never actually been to Brands...
dickster said:
Thus, I will set this weekend aside to go to Cardiff to see Leeds in the Playoff final.....
I know where I'd rather be and its certainly not Cardiff.
If you truly are a fan of the WTCC and you want to see what are going to be two exceptional races, get yourself to Brands.
>> Edited by racefan_uk on Tuesday 25th April 23:22
>> Edited by racefan_uk on Tuesday 25th April 23:23
dickster said:Brands is even better than Donington for spectating - pick your spot right and you can see 90% of the Indy circuit without moving a muscle.
I've never actually been to Brands... the circuit doesn't even look that good either!
I'll take your ticket for Cardiff though - I seem to remember Watford are due to give Preston a sound thrashing that day.
kevin ritson said:
One less soccer fan at Brands suits me
Oh dear
Although I haven't been to Brands I have seen many an event on the telly etc. I don't know which version of the track it is but I remember a lap being less than 1 minute??? It's just the fact that it's almost in France!
And I love Donnington! You can see quite alot of the circuit there too. Not keen on Silverstone either though the LMES was good in 2004.
Maybe it's something to do with being closer to the continent, which I can understand from a European crowd draw-point of view, but it's just a right trek for us up Norff, and I have no idea of the camp site cos the Brands website is pony.
But thanks for the replies, you have given me something to think about and the choice just got harder!
Oh and, C'MON THE MIGHTY WHITES!!!!!
dickster said:
One less soccer fan at Brands suits me
Oh dear
Although I haven't been to Brands I have seen many an event on the telly etc. I don't know which version of the track it is but I remember a lap being less than 1 minute??? It's just the fact that it's almost in France!
That's the Indy circuit you're thinking of. The Grand Prix circuit is the one that's being used for the WTCC (although the DTM is on the Indy track). The GP track is one of the best there is for racing, drivers love it.
Which is why the trek down is worth it.
I don't understand.
You are happy to travel about 230 miles (about 4 hours) to watch 90 minutes of (2nd-rate
) football, but you don't want to travel about 210 miles (about 3 hours 40 minutes) to watch something at a circuit you've never been to, but have already dismissed as somewhere you don't like, with spectator areas probably closer to the circuit than anywhere else in the UK, in a natural bowl so you can see the entire circuit.
You are happy to travel about 230 miles (about 4 hours) to watch 90 minutes of (2nd-rate
) football, but you don't want to travel about 210 miles (about 3 hours 40 minutes) to watch something at a circuit you've never been to, but have already dismissed as somewhere you don't like, with spectator areas probably closer to the circuit than anywhere else in the UK, in a natural bowl so you can see the entire circuit.dickster said:
Oh and, C'MON THE MIGHTY WHITES!!!!!
:nod: Would be good to be back in the Prem.
On topic though, Brands is a really good circuit and manages to blend the potential for quality racing with a friendly atmosphere - it just doesn't feel as clinical as sliverstone.
It also has the bonus of being 30 mins from home
Ok enough already!! I'll go I'll go!!!!
One reason I was thinking of the Play Offs is that my brother-in-law lives there and we can get in to all the top places on the neet out etc.
But you've all made Brands sound so good I just don't know what to bloody do now!
Me and my big marff!
Cheers.
Dickster.
One reason I was thinking of the Play Offs is that my brother-in-law lives there and we can get in to all the top places on the neet out etc.
But you've all made Brands sound so good I just don't know what to bloody do now!
Me and my big marff!
Cheers.
Dickster.
monkeyhanger said:
I hate the Brands Indy with a passion only otherwise reserved for Traffic Wardens..
However the GP loop is superb. Get out into the wilds and your virtually trackside with no fences. It's just a shame they can't use it more often.
I'll happily do a 600 mile round trip for events on the GP loop, whereas i wouldn't p155 on the Indy Circuit if it were on fire.
>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Tuesday 25th April 18:13
Have you ever driven Brands? The Indy is incredibly technical - much more so than it looks from a spectator's point of view - the line from Surtees through McLaren and into Clearways is by no means straightforward, for instance.
The GP is excellent too - the changes to Dingle Dell make it challenging too...and I love Stirlings too.
From a spectator's POV, the GP isn't great - e.g. no access to the outside of circuit from Hawthorn through to Stirlings
...unless you're jumping fences....or has access to these areas now been opened up?...there's no point in watching from the inside of the circuit after all.
GarrettMacD said:
Brands GP is one of the last great tracks. Unlike may others historic tracks it has changed little over the years, a legacy of the fact that it hasn't had a GP since about 1986, therefore Ecclestone and Tilke haven't had a chance to ruin it.
Furthermore, look at the competition...
Donington - seem more interested in 2-wheel motorsport, the promotion of 4-wheel motorsport at Donington is scandalous. When I went to the combined ETCC / FIA GT race there in 2004 the turnout was little better than an F3 race. There was NO promotion whatsoever, the adjacent Sunday market attracted a bigger crowd!
Silverstone - just how badly do you need to be treated like a kunt? They clearly have no interest in anything other than the GP, again the crowd for last year's WTCC and GT race was atrocious, and again no active promotion of the event. The treatment of the spectators at the Britcar 24hrs was very poor, not allowing people to camp infield.
They both get what they deserve, IMO. Palmer is rebuilding from the very roots of club racing and is starting to reap the benefits, and he thoroughly deserves it.
Just my 2p though!
I agee,Brands is a fantastic spectator circuit.Was there for the 1st A1 GP race,wonderful!
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