The New World comes to Kent
source:
autosport.com
In May this year, the tight confines of Brands Hatch played host to top-line
American single-seaters for the first time since 1978. After 25 years plenty had
changed in the politics of the race series, but Brands itself had lost none of
its charms.
Fine skies above the tree-lined Indy circuit made the event one of the most
photogenic of the year - and the British crowds showed their appreciation with a
60 000-strong turnout over the Bank Holiday weekend.
"The Englis are big-time racing fans," said top driver Bruno Junqueira. "They
were very excited and a lot of them came out to see us race. It's nice because
Brands Hatch is such a great track that it deserves a first-class open-wheel
race."
The drivers enjoyed their overseas weekend to a man - and none more so that
Sébastien Bourdais, who took his first series win in the race. But the rookie
would have to admit that he had some help from Paul Tracy's bad luck. The
Canadian veteran had ruthlessly dominated the weekend and cantered to pole
position (in single-car qualifying) before his car let him down whilst shadowing
Bourdais in the race.
From there on it was an easy ride to the end for the Frenchman, who did an
excellent job of conserving his fuel in a typical Champ Car strategy race where
nobody was able to run flat out the whole distance.