Graham Hill to be ditched

[Attero]

Graham Hill at Brands Hatch is to be altered next year.

 

 

Autosport reported in early December that MSV Brands Hatch were considering reprofiling Graham Hill Bend in order to promote overtaking. A planning application has been made although MSV’s Jonathan Palmer admitted that the plans submitted were unlikely to be the definitive version. Work was likely to be done over the 2012/13 closed season.

 

These plans have been listed on Sevenoaks Council’s website HERE. It has to be said that initial reactions from enthusiasts and racers have not been that favourable.

 

The plans show that the track changes will start on the exit of Druids Hairpin with the new section of track keeping right. Assuming no major landscaping works, the circuit will continue downhill before climbing to where a constant radius left hand hairpin, dropping back downhill slightly to a right hand corner before rejoining the existing circuit.

 

This corner has been subject to several alterations over the years, and was originally known as Bottom Bend.

 

Your opinions? Apparently it's an accident blackspot. I only slightly went off track once here... maybe I'm too pussy on the pedal round there. To be fair it was my first trackday.

[Rob]

Brands Hatch has continually chnaged its track over its 60-70 year history. Why stop now? I'm surprised they need planning permission though for that sort of thing.

[Attero]

Added image:

 

[Gaz6002]

It's a shame and progress in equal parts. I can see how it would work.

[sideexitsupra]

Not an easy track to overtake on, so it will add another opportunity.

[Rob]

Having seen those images, is there not a risk that a major b**** up at the new corner could see a driver slide up the hill and onto the track atop Paddock, which is not a nice place to be at any time.

[Rob]

DP. Ireally should know this, given my profession, but I really can't see why its any business of Sevenoaks Council if Brands decide to amend their track layout slighty. Surely its like changing your own garden path?

Unless there is special cover for Brands since the F1 track changes proposal that John Prescott sat on, back in the 90's

[Gaz6002]

Having seen those images, is there not a risk that a major b**** up at the new corner could see a driver slide up the hill and onto the track atop Paddock, which is not a nice place to be at any time.

 

I can't see that happening TBH - there's quite an incline there and with a gravel trap I can't see cars carrying that sort of momentum up the hill.

[Attero]

Having seen those images, is there not a risk that a major b**** up at the new corner could see a driver slide up the hill and onto the track atop Paddock, which is not a nice place to be at any time.

 

As Gaz said, I can't see this either. They'll probably dig into the hill or make it steeper so it's just not possible.

[Wez]

Shame, I like it as it is