If recent history is anything to go by, this weekend’s British Formula Ford Championship rounds at the Brands Hatch ‘Indy’ circuit should be good for Australian Daniel Erickson.The CAMS International Rising Star is looking for another big points haul on the Kent circuit as the prestigious development series enters its closing stages.
Erickson was one of the pace-setters in his Australian-built Spectrum 011c at the last month’s Ford-sponsored test day on the 1.9km ‘Indy’ layout.
And despite racing for the first time on an unfamiliar track yet again, Erickson is looking forward to maintaining his recent good form.
His challenge will be heightened by an unusual race meeting schedule, which precludes testing before Friday’s official qualifying session.
BFFC competitors have had an opportunity to get their cars into race trim on the Friday preceding previous rounds, with qualifying for grid positions in the first two races normally held the following day.
“I’m quite positive going into qualifying, although it could be a bit strange because there won’t be any practice sessions,” Erickson says.
“We found a good set-up at the Ford testing day, and I was able to set fast times, even on old tyres.
“It’s like at Donington, where I didn’t feel any pressure going into qualifying because I’d already been quick in testing there.
“I thought ‘I can do this’, and put it all together and set the two fastest laps, which in the British Formula Ford Championship gives you pole position for the first two races.”
Erickson says that qualifying at Brands Hatch ‘Indy’ is even more crucial, because overtaking another driver on the circuit’s tight confines can be next to impossible.
“It’s so hard to pass there, especially at the two hairpins – Druids and McLaren. They just go on forever!
“If a driver in front of you takes a defensive narrow entry line, you really can’t go wide and try to cut back on the exit because there’s no apex like on a ‘stop-go’ type of corner.
“Of course that’s slower than taking the normal racing line, so you often find a ‘freight train’ of cars lining up waiting to pass.
“You just have to be patient and wait for the driver in front to make a small mistake so you can sneak past – a big ask in Formula Ford, with so many young drivers trying to show what they can do.
“The other scenario is that you can get hit from behind, which is why there’s usually carnage somewhere on the Indy circuit during Formula Ford races!
“That means qualifying will be even more crucial than usual. I’ll have to go for it right from the start, because you get only one or maybe two laps to set a quick time before your new tyres are past their absolute best.”
BRANDS HATCH SCHEDULE
Friday, September 4
Qualifying – 2.20-2.40pm UK time (11.20-11.40pm AEST)
Saturday, September 5
Race 1 (Round 19) – 2.50-3.08pm UK time (11.50pm Saturday-00.08am Sunday AEST)
Sunday, September 6
Race 2 (Round 20) – 3.05-3.23pm UK time (00.05-00.23 Monday AEST)
Race 3 (Round 21) – 5.05-5.35pm UK time (02.05-02.23am Monday AEST)
NOTE: At the time of writing it appears that ‘live online timing’ will not be available for this weekend’s BFFC races. However, results and news will be posted on Erickson’s website as soon as they’re available.
