Brands Hatch GP Track Guide by Omer Kinay

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One of the hardest tracks of the BTCC calendar at SRS.. Lots of medium speed corners, lots of bravery required!

(T1: Paddock Hill Bend) After “the Corkscrew”, this is one of my favorite “leap of faith” kind of turns. The braking marker is right before “II” and nearly touching (maybe even using) the green piece of surface on your left is essential to get a wider entry and to carry lots of downhill speed to the exit. 3rd gear helps with the lateral traction at midcorner and you can open up the throttle after you hit the apex (hit it slightly late). Use the exit kerbs fully but make sure that you don’t touch the gravel on your left! (Brake bias 75%, some trail braking required)

(T2: Druids) The only slow corner at this track. Even though there’s some trail braking, I generally adjust the brake bias very low here (around 70-71%) to get an effective uphill deceleration. A slightly later apex works better in my experience as it helps not to go very wide at the exit (the next turn is coming up in a very short distance).

(T3: Bottom Bend) Brake bias up to 74-75%. Use a very wide entry line because there’s a decent straight coming up. I use the initial piece of the kerbs on the right, which is harmless, but if you overdo the kerb use on the apex, it’ll definitely bounce the car and might cause to lose left wheels’ contact with the track. Don’t steer too aggressively on the exit and use exit kerbs (better to call it “area” as it’s huge!) generously.

(T4: Kidney Bend a.k.a. Surtees) Brake bias up to 78-79% (we’ll use this setting until T8). Extremely important to carry lots of speed to the upcoming long straight so this one is a late apex to let you go flat out as early as you can. Use only the wider patch of exit kerbs and fully send it on the the straight!

(T5: Hawthorn Bend) Fastest of the three back to back right handers. Gently slow it down enough to use the 4th gear and don’t let the car coast mid-corner. Hug the apex and gradually increase the throttle while doing that. A tidy exit without using too much exit kerbs is better since we need lots of stability for the next turn!

(T6: Westfield Bend) The apex kerbs are very friendly but be careful not to cut it. Once you start to leave the apex, go 100% throttle use the widest possible exit without touching the gravel. The exit kerb is friendly too 🙂

(T7: Sheene’s) This one is tricky as you cannot see the apex clearly while approaching. Just a 1-sec blip on the brakes to allow 4th gear and you basically go over the apex ensuring that your left wheels don’t leave the track (extremely easy to cut when you are pushing). Generous use of apex kerbs is okay as it’s a very well-behaving one. Use some throttle to help the car approach to the right side of the track as quick as you can to prepare for good entry line for the braking zone of T8. Using the grass on your left on the exit here might cause big stability problems, avoid it!

(T8: Stirling’s) Set brake bias to 75% to prevent front lock-ups during the downhill braking zone here. I suggest that you use 2nd gear mid corner to have a controlled speed. Once you start exiting, put it in 3rd and open up the throttle fully. There’s a very naughty piece on the exit kerb that might slingshot you to the wall an your left, use it wisely.

(T9: Clark Curve) Braking marker is right after “II”, if you prefer to use trail braking on the corner entry here you might want to increase the brake bias slightly. This is an early apex turn and you’d need lots of throttle mid-corner to prevent the car going wider than necessary on the exit. There’s a very thin piece of kerbs on the exit (on your left), target to approach toward that piece while asking the car to turn (politely 😀). Once you are there, let the car approach to the point where the white pit wall starts.

As usual, don’t forget to enjoy your laps at Brands Hatch.

My current PB is 1:28:456 on a 27 celcius track. Let me know in the comments if you beat it!

Setup used at this track for Nissan Primera:

SETUP