Brands Hatch circuit changes

matt_tentenths · 20 May 2003, 15:40 (Ref:604898)

Having spent all day yesterday testing at Brands Hatch for the first time, I am extremely keen to know when they re-profiled Graham Hill Bend. Time sheets for my class go back many years, but none specify when the track changed.

I know it was around 98/99/00 ?

The *new* Graham Hill corner adds about 2 seconds a lap.

Many thanks.
Matt.

Bob Pearson · 21 May 2003, 08:27 (Ref:605644)

I think the first year of the new corner was 98

racingdick · 21 May 2003, 09:22 (Ref:605688)

if you mean the corner coming down towards the pits from the tight hairpin. I think it was 99 as if my memory is correct i was there for one of the first meetings after it had been done. Arp F3 and it caught a load of cars out.

TomS · 21 May 2003, 10:30 (Ref:605739)

I think it was 99 as well but why did they have to change it as it is nowhere near as good as the old Graham Hill Bend

Bob Pearson · 21 May 2003, 10:47 (Ref:605749)

I agree with you on that one tom.

darcym · 21 May 2003, 10:50 (Ref:605752)

I thought that bend was a good corner, I am curious to what it was like before it was altered that adds 2 seconds per lap on it ? It must have been practicly flat out straight

)

in before pictures, I am really interested.

darcym · 21 May 2003, 10:52 (Ref:605754)

Also I don't know why I am speaking like Yoda

in before pictures, I am really interested.

Translation

I would be interested in seeing pictures of the bend before it was changed.

matt_tentenths · 21 May 2003, 12:09 (Ref:605808)

It was basically a much faster corner. No sooner were you out of Druids, you would be turning into Graham Hill, pretty much flat. Clearly you did not have that much time to build up speed before the old corner...so for many it was flat. Now you can build up more speed, but it is a much, much tighter corner....much much more boring!

It does seem that it was completed in time for the 99' season.

Will try and find some pictures.

darcym · 22 May 2003, 18:29 (Ref:607115)

any joy with the pics ?

**Stephen Green** · 23 May 2003, 11:51 (Ref:607713)

I think you will find the changes were made at the request of the FIM for WSB.

**Tim Falce** · 28 May 2003, 07:08 (Ref:612135)

Here is a video of Brands 1965, showing Graham Hill bend.
It's 12 mb so if you dont have broadband it could take a while to load
http://168.144.87.246/ericfalce/EricsBigCrash.mpg

I think the bend was altered over the winter of 1999/2000

darcym · 29 May 2003, 15:02 (Ref:613714)

if I am completly honest, it doesn't look that different, just a slightly less harsh angle, but not by much.

Does the video do it justice or was it really a lot different to drive.

Based on an earlier post I find it hard to understand where 2 seconds would go in that corner and what its like now.

thanks for the video though.

Interesting.

matt_tentenths · 30 May 2003, 09:07 (Ref:614510)

It really is much slower. You lose alot of time braking more, apex speed is 20mph slower and you lose speed all the way on the run to Surtees. It was a long sweeping corner, now it is a sharp 90 degree-er.

A. C. E. motors · 31 May 2003, 20:02 (Ref:616099)

Thanks for the viedo. Any more clips of UK tracks?

Simon S · 31 May 2003, 20:48 (Ref:616123)

AFAIK, it was changed for the 99 season.

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