|
[Formula BMW, UK] Freak weather at Brands causes problems for championship leaders |
|
|
|
|
Monday, 22 May 2006 |
Freak weather at Brands causes problems for championship leaders
Brands Hatch saw some of its worst ever weather on the weekend of 20th/21st May when Rounds 7 and 8 of the Formula BMW UK Championship were held as supporting races at the World Touring Car Championship meeting. This turned the proceedings into something of a lottery with Ross Curnow taking a 5th and 6th, losing his championship lead to Niall Breen by 2 points but extending his gap to Euan Hankey who now trails in 3rd place, 8 points behind.
This meeting was held on the Grand Prix circuit and Friday practice saw Curnow struggling for a set up in the changeable conditions, finishing 6th fastest in the dry and 4th fastest in the wet.
As at Oulton Park last week, the timetable departed from its normal format with qualifying for Race 1 also taking place on the Friday. Conditions were difficult as the session started with a damp track that was drying. Westfield was to cause problems for drivers throughout the weekend and the session was stopped after only 3 laps to allow wreckage there to be cleared. When the field emerged again, Ross found himself with oversteer in traffic and never achieved a clear lap, eventually qualifying 7th on the grid.
The heavens opened at the start of Saturday morning and the second qualifying session started on a wet track that was again drying rapidly. Whilst wets were clearly the order of the day, set up and traffic were going to be critical and after a difficult session, Ross found himself in 8th place.
After heavy showers during the morning, Race 1 started on a damp track that looked as if it was drying but with black clouds threatening overhead. Ross got a good start off the line and took Howson into Paddock and got by Oakes at Surtees. He passed Hankey a couple of laps later, putting himself into 4th before his progress was halted by another incident requiring the safety car. By the time the safety car went in, it was raining more heavily and Ross lost the place to Hankey but managed to set fastest lap before the race was red-flagged because of the worsening conditions with the whole field still out on slicks.
Conditions deteriorated further on Sunday for Race 2, with the pack finding on the warm up lap that the whole of the bottom of Paddock was flooded and conditions everywhere, including the straights, were treacherous. Some cars were even having trouble with water entering air intakes causing engines to cut out. As the flag dropped, Hankey stalled on the line and Ross took Quinn to take 6th as the field tip-toed through Paddock. With no further opportunities for overtaking, that is the way the order at the front stayed until the safety car was deployed to deal with a two car incident at Surtees and the race was subsequently red flagged.
|
News