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ROUND 1: BRANDS HATCH (INDY)
ROUND 1: BRANDS HATCH (INDY)

The Season starts here: Welcome to the Jungle

rands Hatch is probably the most Matt Neal on Brands Hatch
iconic and best loved track in the UK.
BThe Indy circuit is fast and can prove “My weekend obviously unravelled in race
to be a challenge for the entire field, one. I tried to do something a little off-piste in
especially in the wet, as we saw during 2018. race two but it was a struggle, which was
compounded by getting knocked around a
Mind you, the big news of the weekend at bit for good measure. We at least made up
our first meeting last year was our rookie, 17 places in race three, which demonstrated
Dan Cammish, showing the field how to the potential of the new Civic Type R, and
drive by taking pole in qualifying, only to lose there are a lot of reasons for optimism
it through an infraction while entering the pit moving forward. The car seems to be quick
lane. Even so, he still started on the second in the dry, the engine is working well and
row in what was to be the first of many Dan is clearly very fast – for us to both be
outstanding qualifying results which inside the top six in qualifying with a car that
eventually would help him to winning the has far from achieved its full potential yet is
Jack Sears Trophy. very encouraging. We still have some work
to do in wet trim, but it’s a new car so that’s
2018 was a great outing for our new blood only to be expected and one of the biggest
but to our Matt, a little more frustrating. After positives about the FK8 is its aerodynamics
a DNF in Race 1 and a 29th finish in Race 2, and lack of drag; when we get to the longer
Matt did what Matt does best turned the FK8 circuits where it can stretch its legs a bit, that
into a hot knife and the rest of the field into should really pay dividends. It’s extremely
butter and carved his way to an impressive early
12th finish.
days and there’s plenty more to come. Better
Due to earlier rain, the track remained very yet, we are going to be light at Donington, so
greasy and Matt took a chance in race 2 by hopefully we can fight back on home turf.
using slicks. It proved to be a risk that didn’t
pay off. Never mind, that’s BTCC for you. ”Dan Cammish on Brands Hatch

Considering this was the first outing in the “It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but the car is
new Honda Civic Type R FK8, the season back in one piece, with all four wheels
appeared to look promising. Yes, it wasn’t pointing in the same direction and I’ve come
quite right but very solid foundations to away with my first BTCC trophy, so I’d call
mount a challenge for the silverware on offer. that a win. I was heartbroken after qualifying
because it was probably the best lap I’ve
ever driven, but to top the timesheets
showed what this car is capable of so I think
I laid down a bit of a marker there. Pulling a
time out over a single lap is something I’ve
always enjoyed, but I knew the races would
be more brutal than anything I’d experienced
before – at the end of the day, this is my
rookie season and this was my rookie
weekend and it’s a completely different
ballpark. You’ve also got to remember that
the FK8 is a brand new piece of it – I didn’t
drive my car for the first time until Season
Launch – and we’re perhaps not getting the
best out of the tyres yet but I’m with the best
possible team for my learning curve in
Halfords Yuasa Racing. It was nice to be on
the podium, and even though it wasn’t
outright, we’ll get there. These guys always
do.”

Ok, prediction time. I think firstly we need to
take a look at the potential of both drivers
and a now seasoned FK8. We also have to

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