It has been a crazy few days, and today was no different. Lots to do, not enough time to get things done, but today was the first outing in the new car at Brands Hatch. It's been about 5 years since I have even driven a road car around the circuit, and I must say that I was filled with apprehension as I was bound to a little rusty. I was banking on the fact that the knowledge I had built up over the years as an instructor at the race school would finally be of some use.
The weather was due to dry but a little overcast, but as per usual the met office were slightly wrong again, possible not for the first time, nor the last. It was dry in the morning allowing for a couple of dry runs and wet in the afternoon. Usually this would be a bad thing, but as time is limited for me in the car it is important that I get a chance to experience all conditions before the first race.
The first two sessions were dry and it gave me a chance to become familiar with the feel of the car, the brakes, gear change etc. I was encouraged that it didn't take too long for the lap times to start looking quite respectable considering I've not raced a car for 11 years or so. When i say respectable that less than half a second off the pace for the day.
In the afternoon the rain fell, and so time to get used to how much grip the car has and the limits to it. To my surprise the grip generated by the car was good and so it didn't take too long to become comfortable with how the car moved underneath me. Lap times were good too, setting a good pace that only cars on new tyres could eclipse. Now that was encouraging.
At the end of the day it was interesting to have a good look at the information provided by the data logging hardware fitted to the car, which revealed that I need to be a little braver on the brakes, and try not to carry too much speed into the apex of the faster bends. Personally I think that with a little more time in the car these things will come to me.
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