Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup R2 2018 – Brands Hatch

[tbtstt]

Rather limited set of pictures from Brands Hatch due to the changes made to the GP circuit, but some shots from the Blancpain Sprint round last weekend:













Both Sprint race wins were fought for by Audi R8’s, but I rather like the R8 so I was pleased to see them doing so well.



There were also a few Audi R8’s in the GT4 class, though they didn’t seem as competitive in GT4.









First time I have seen the Lexus RC F GT3 in person, yet another decent addition to GT3.









Although I am a huge fan of the beefed up GT3 Audi R8, the Huracan is definitely the meanest looking car in the class.







The GT4 X-Bow looks bonkers (in a good way): really strange to see these cars with a roof on them!











It wasn’t the fastest car in GT4 (actually I didn’t see one of them pass another car all day), but the Camaro sounded awesome. They reminded me of the GT1 Corvettes at Le Mans (which is definitely a good thing).







Despite my disappointment with the circuit, the racing was great and both the Blancpain races were close.

I must confess I am seriously questioning about going back to Brands again though, as the openness of the GP loop was such a massive draw to me. Gutted, as it’s been one of favourite circuits for a lot of year.

[boggissimo]

What have they done to the GP loop?

And is that a Koenigsegg?

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by boggissimo

What have they done to the GP loop?

Put up a lot of high fencing and reduced access. There is new fencing on the approach to Hawthorne, a short gap, then continuous high fencing running from the exit of Hawthorne all the way around the entire GP loop up to the approach of Stirlings corner.

Stirlings is mostly inaccessible now, you can still get to the path on the exit, but that now has high fencing as well.

I personally think they have ruined it for spectators. I can understand the need for increased safety (especially around the approach to Stirlings), but I think what they have done elsewhere is excessive.

Originally Posted by boggissimo

And is that a Koenigsegg?

The last picture? Yeah, it's a Koenigsegg One:1. They had a few hypercars doing laps during the lunch break!

[Steve_PPP]

Great photos mate, despite Brand Hatch's efforts to stuff it up for you. I completely agree with everything you've said - for me, the GP circuit is (was) the best part of the spectator experience - away from the crowds and the stupid tannoy screaming in your ear all day.

I expected the catch fencing in logical places (high risk areas) as the previous low level barriers were a bit erm.... sketchy. But a continuous fence around the majority of the GP loop ruins it. Plus watching from the turn in point to Stirlings was my favourite spot on the whole circuit, and now it is inaccessible

[Streaky Bacon]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Rather limited set of pictures from Brands Hatch due to the changes made to the GP circuit, but some shots from the Blancpain Sprint round last weekend:
Despite my disappointment with the circuit, the racing was great and both the Blancpain races were close.

I must confess I am seriously questioning about going back to Brands again though, as the openness of the GP loop was such a massive draw to me. Gutted, as it’s been one of favourite circuits for a lot of year.

Excellent photo's. A good pan shot with a crisp subject is a challenge at the speeds they were doing!

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

Great photos mate, despite Brand Hatch's efforts to stuff it up for you. I completely agree with everything you've said - for me, the GP circuit is (was) the best part of the spectator experience - away from the crowds and the stupid tannoy screaming in your ear all day.

I expected the catch fencing in logical places (high risk areas) as the previous low level barriers were a bit erm.... sketchy. But a continuous fence around the majority of the GP loop ruins it. Plus watching from the turn in point to Stirlings was my favourite spot on the whole circuit, and now it is inaccessible

Absolutely. As much as I didn't want to see it go, I can understand why they were concerned about the approach to Stirlings after the car went over the fence there. But the rest of the GP loop? Massive overkill.

Originally Posted by Streaky Bacon

Excellent photo's. A good pan shot with a crisp subject is a challenge at the speeds they were doing!

Yeah, the GT3 cars have to be one of the quickest classes they have racing at Brands now: possibly even as fast as the DTM cars?

[Scott.T]

Great pictures.
Fencing has nothing to do with spectators safety IMHO. It's all due to DTM coming and their regulations. I believe some fencing was erected for them on the indy when they last came.
It's probably more about preventing drivers launching into tree's.
I'll probably still go to the DTM as it's a rare event, but the GP circuit is 95% ruined now for spectators.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Scott.T

Great pictures.
Fencing has nothing to do with spectators safety IMHO. It's all due to DTM coming and their regulations. I believe some fencing was erected for them on the indy when they last came.
It's probably more about preventing drivers launching into tree's.
I'll probably still go to the DTM as it's a rare event, but the GP circuit is 95% ruined now for spectators.

Yeah, I read a few articles at the start of the year that said it was a requirement for DTM. Brands have subsequently denied that, but I had heard the same thing as you with regards to the fencing on the Indy circuit as well, so it would make sense.

I was really excited about seeing the DTM on the GP loop, but the new fencing has pretty much wiped that out. Perhaps I'll feel different nearer the time, but at the moment I'm not inclined to go back to Brands again.