Cooper and Avon head to Brands Hatch

ERJ staff report (TP)

Melksham, UK – The Cooper Tires British Formula 3 and Avon Tyres British GT Championships make their annual visit to Brands Hatch in the UK this weekend.

The circuit is known for its fearsome corners, hills and dips – and this weekend (30-31 August) is the penultimate meeting of the 2014 season.

The Kent circuit will see the “next generation” of F1 drivers battle it out on one of the world’s “most iconic” circuits, attempting to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Stirling Moss, Jim Clark and Emerson Fittipaldi, who have all raced and won at Brands Hatch over the years. In particular, Matt Rao and the Fortec Motorsport team will look to extend their championship lead even further.

Meanwhile, the Avon Tyres British GT heads to Brands off the back of a “sensational” run at Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium, last month. Marco Attard will be seeking to extend his lead in the championship and secure the position of the Ecurie Ecosse team at the top of the table.

Cooper Tire Motorsport General Manager, Paul Coates, said: “Brands Hatch is famous for being an undulating track featuring the plunging, fast downhill Paddock Hill Bend [and it] is an excellent circuit for young drivers to show their tire management skills.

“Most drivers would name Brands Hatch as being among their favourite tracks in the UK, with its fast configuration and long sweeping corners. However, overtaking at this circuit can be difficult and this is where the challenge comes in for the British GT grid.

“Competitor numbers are greater in this championship than in British F3, making it even harder. In terms of looking after their tires, the drivers need to take into consideration heavy braking zones, the prime example of which is at Druids.”

Qualifying for British F3 at Brands Hatch will get underway at 14:30 (local time) on 30 August, with the opening race of the weekend following at 17:10. On 31 August, races two and three will take place at 10:55 and 16:35 respectively.

Photo credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography