Champ Cars at Brands Hatch

Champ Cars at Brands Hatch

Author
Discussion

StevieBee

Original Poster:

12,876 posts

255 months

Friday 25th April 2003
quotequote all
What's the low down on the Champs at Brands then? Octagon and the official websites seem to tell you everything and nothing!

I'm fine with the racing (and that's the important thing!) but Mrs Bee is coming with the kids on the promise of fun fairs and rock concerts.

I'm thinking of getting a seat in the grandstand at Paddock (if there are any left) but Montoya reckons most of the action is going to be at Druids.

Advice from the learned heads of pistonville would be greatly appreciated!

FourWheelDrift

88,504 posts

284 months

Friday 25th April 2003
quotequote all
Check www.londonchampcartrophy.com

2 tickets for general admission and 2 grandstand seats for £99 hotline is 0870 850 5017

Don

28,377 posts

284 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
quotequote all
Just bought the £99 package. Should be a top day out.

viperman

956 posts

265 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
quotequote all
dont forget the BTCC!!! the BTCC is amazing this year, you'll love it, mondello the opener was a great race with vauxhall, honda and MG all mixing it, its 'MG's track' they have always gone well at brands, cheer the boys on for me!

scuffham

20,887 posts

274 months

Tuesday 6th May 2003
quotequote all
Cart - as boaring as F1

Not a single overtaking manover in the whole 165 lap race (appart from lapping).

They don't even look fast (comparied to F1/F3000)

Looked more like a parade rather than a race....

dangerous

99 posts

265 months

Tuesday 6th May 2003
quotequote all
Totally agree,infact I fell asleep on the grass at Paddock Hill and was only woken when Paul Tracys car caught fire,boring boring boring,can I have my £45 back please.

sb930turbo

3,315 posts

263 months

Tuesday 6th May 2003
quotequote all

scuffham said: Cart - as boaring as F1

Not a single overtaking manover in the whole 165 lap race (appart from lapping).

They don't even look fast (comparied to F1/F3000)

Looked more like a parade rather than a race....




I'd say a lot more boring(I fell asleep to!) than the Spanish GP on Sunday!!

Give me F1 anytime!
Steve

Don

28,377 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th May 2003
quotequote all

scuffham said: Cart - as boaring as F1

Not a single overtaking manover in the whole 165 lap race (appart from lapping).

They don't even look fast (comparied to F1/F3000)

Looked more like a parade rather than a race....




Actually, I agree. It was "processional" to say the least. The cars were exciting at first....but as far as I could work out apart from one attempt on the exit of Druid's the passes performed in the race were one's by consent of the backmarkers - hardly a challenge when the driver in front deliberately lifts to let you by...

So...worth seeing once. Won't bother again on a circuit. I might try seeing them on an oval - once.

steviebee

Original Poster:

12,876 posts

255 months

Tuesday 6th May 2003
quotequote all
Standing nose to the fence on the startline as they made their two attempts to start, I can say I have seldom been so exhilerated at a motor sport event. The razamatz too was fun if a little, well, "American".

What went after that was a very nice display of fast, fine looking motor racing cars and some frog kid got a prize for not being overtaken the longest, first!

That aside though, the whole weekend was top drawer stuff - Touring Cars were great, Clios were mad and the "how many Formula Renaults can we park at Paddock?" competition was jolly good fun. Just a pitty that the main event didn't live up to the hype!

The classic meet on the 17th should be good though!

top fuel

2,590 posts

253 months

Tuesday 6th May 2003
quotequote all
Did anybody buy a program?

If you did could you post a list of the F-Renault drivers with car numbers and teams? I know this would be a pain by I'd greatly appriciate it!!

StevieBee

Original Poster:

12,876 posts

255 months

Wednesday 7th May 2003
quotequote all

top fuel said: Did anybody buy a program?

If you did could you post a list of the F-Renault drivers with car numbers and teams? I know this would be a pain by I'd greatly appriciate it!!


Here goes:

1 Robert Scott: Fortec
2 Barry Sime: DFR
3 Lewis Hamilton: Manor
4 Sergio Jimenez: Manor
5 Matthew Wilson: Manor
6 Charles Hollings: John Village
7 Phill Glew: John Village
8 Vasilije Calasan: John Village
9 Paul Lau Jenson Motorsport
10 Tom Sisley: Eurotek
11 Paul di Resta: Eurotek
14 Matteo Meneghello Motaworld
15 Susie Stoddart: Motaworld
16 Mike Spencer: Motaworld
17 Alex Lloyd: Motaworld
18 Juan Polar: JVA
21 Jason Tahinici: Mark Burdett
22 Alex Storckenfeldt: Mark Burdett
25 David Epton: Scorpio
26 Mike Conway: Fortec
27 Nikolas Goodfellow: Falcon
28 Stefan Soderberg DFR
38 Ronayne O'Mahoney: Fortec
43 James Murphy: Fortec
46 James Rossiter: Fortec
55 Philip Kershaw: Status
66 Fabian Coulthard: Manor

That OK?



top fuel

2,590 posts

253 months

Wednesday 7th May 2003
quotequote all
Thanks very much. I realise that was probaly a pain in the arse.

StevieBee

Original Poster:

12,876 posts

255 months

Wednesday 7th May 2003
quotequote all

Don said:

scuffham said: Cart - as boaring as F1

Not a single overtaking manover in the whole 165 lap race (appart from lapping).

They don't even look fast (comparied to F1/F3000)

Looked more like a parade rather than a race....




Actually, I agree. It was "processional" to say the least. The cars were exciting at first....but as far as I could work out apart from one attempt on the exit of Druid's the passes performed in the race were one's by consent of the backmarkers - hardly a challenge when the driver in front deliberately lifts to let you by...

So...worth seeing once. Won't bother again on a circuit. I might try seeing them on an oval - once.



I heard today through a very reliable source that the Champ Car bosses were livid with the teams for running what was in effect, a fact-finding mission.

With no prior running at Brands, they had no data to compare fuel usage and with only a mandatory two stops being impossed (it should have been three and next year it will!), the teams didn't want to run the risk of pitting more than they had too (as per D Manning esq.). It's only the third race in, so a lot of teams I guess were willing to "throw" (I use the word in the broadest sense) the race in order to gain as much data for next year. Had it been held towards the end of the year then we would have probably seen much more hussle!

The official site (www.champcarseries.com) seems to back this up.

Brands has the event sewn up for the next five years and the UK round is seen as pivotal in gaining interest in Europe. It's probably also pivotal in securing the long term future of Brands itself so I for one will keep and open mind until next year at least!

pauly

434 posts

282 months

Sunday 11th May 2003
quotequote all
Anyone know if they have the option of using the F1 cicuit? I watched the race on tv and it just seemed the track was too short for the cars.I think using the longer track would make it the event it should be

The DJ 27

2,666 posts

253 months

Sunday 11th May 2003
quotequote all
I think they still need to carry out some safety work on it to get back the full international license. Thats why the FIA Thouroughbred GP cars had to run on the short circuit last year, even though the rest of the meeting was on the Grand Prix track. Hopefully get it done for next year though. Might be worth the drive from up here!

d_drinks

1,426 posts

269 months

Monday 12th May 2003
quotequote all

pauly said: Anyone know if they have the option of using the F1 cicuit? I watched the race on tv and it just seemed the track was too short for the cars.I think using the longer track would make it the event it should be


They also have an issue with noise or rather making too much of it for the local council's liking. There are a few houses near the back end of the circuit and they complain at the noise of the cars the full GP track is a fantastic layout and to see top top flight racing back there on a regular basis would be fantastic.

pauly

434 posts

282 months

Monday 12th May 2003
quotequote all
Just give those few residents earplugs for the weekend and let all us PH´s have fun.Easy!

williamp

19,255 posts

273 months

Tuesday 13th May 2003
quotequote all

StevieBee said:

Don said:

scuffham said: Cart - as boaring as F1

Not a single overtaking manover in the whole 165 lap race (appart from lapping).

They don't even look fast (comparied to F1/F3000)

Looked more like a parade rather than a race....




Actually, I agree. It was "processional" to say the least. The cars were exciting at first....but as far as I could work out apart from one attempt on the exit of Druid's the passes performed in the race were one's by consent of the backmarkers - hardly a challenge when the driver in front deliberately lifts to let you by...

So...worth seeing once. Won't bother again on a circuit. I might try seeing them on an oval - once.





The official site (www.champcarseries.com) seems to back this up.






If you're going to quote a website, at least make sure its the right one, and not one which inundates me with a load of pop-ups when I click on it. Very annoying....

steviebee

Original Poster:

12,876 posts

255 months

Tuesday 13th May 2003
quotequote all

williamp said:

StevieBee said:

Don said:

scuffham said: Cart - as boaring as F1

Not a single overtaking manover in the whole 165 lap race (appart from lapping).

They don't even look fast (comparied to F1/F3000)

Looked more like a parade rather than a race....




Actually, I agree. It was "processional" to say the least. The cars were exciting at first....but as far as I could work out apart from one attempt on the exit of Druid's the passes performed in the race were one's by consent of the backmarkers - hardly a challenge when the driver in front deliberately lifts to let you by...

So...worth seeing once. Won't bother again on a circuit. I might try seeing them on an oval - once.





The official site (www.champcarseries.com) seems to back this up.






If you're going to quote a website, at least make sure its the right one, and not one which inundates me with a load of pop-ups when I click on it. Very annoying....



Sorry - try: www.champcarworldseries.com

chrisgr31

13,474 posts

255 months

Friday 16th May 2003
quotequote all

d_drinks said:

pauly said: Anyone know if they have the option of using the F1 cicuit? I watched the race on tv and it just seemed the track was too short for the cars.I think using the longer track would make it the event it should be


They also have an issue with noise or rather making too much of it for the local council's liking. There are a few houses near the back end of the circuit and they complain at the noise of the cars the full GP track is a fantastic layout and to see top top flight racing back there on a regular basis would be fantastic.





I read somewhere, possibly Autosprt, that to bring the Grand Prix circuit up to scratch would cost in excess of £500,000 which actually soundslike a relatively small amount, but is apparently out of reach at present. My guess is they will do a few years on the Indy circuit which will hopefully build up funds so they can afford to upgrade the GP loop. Mind you there are nosie concerns with it.

I wish I had been to the race but had to be in Cornwall, will be there next year though. As has also been said it was processional due to the teams saving fuel.

Chris