Car Testing versus Driver Coaching.

[The SpeCTator]

Recently I dropped in to Brands on a Friday afternoon for general testing in advance of a 2 day race meeting commencing the following day.

A couple of drivers were active in all their class sessions and pounded round and round looking for that last tenth of a second prior to racing on the Saturday and Sunday.

Both had a pit crew of 4 persons plus, one had a camper van of modest proportions, the other a small hotel on wheels.

Well come the weekend, both drivers encountered the safety car during their race and it was obvious from the very first lap behind the safety car that they had little intent of closing the gap to the car in front.

After 3 laps for one driver and four for the other, the race recommenced.

Driver one had left a gap of at least 30 cars in front and driver two a gap of approx 15 - 20 cars.

Their races were screwed as the safety car lights went out, as were all the unfortunate drivers behind them.

I should point out that neither driver was a novice and one driver had a number of seasons racing behind him!

Perhaps they should have saved the £170 test fee and invested it in driver coaching?