Who gets pits at Brands?

pitpopsie · 4 Mar 2002, 18:22 (Ref:227914)

Who do you think should get the pit garages at Brands?

Touring cars or F3s?

I personally think it should be the F3s, they are lower and will find it difficult to get through the tunnel. The organisers have (as far as I know) put the Touring cars in the garages.

What do you think???

Takuma · 4 Mar 2002, 18:50 (Ref:227945)

I was told by an F3 team owner that the F3 cars (quite rightly) have the garages at Brands, it is impossible to get an f3 car from the outer garage to the pits otherwise.

Remember that at these three triple header meetings that the F3 and GT series have equal top of the bill status. They are NOT a support race.

WoodyTJ · 4 Mar 2002, 19:04 (Ref:227964)

Ohhhh I hadn't thought about that. Does that mean that Touring Cars are going to be in the support paddock and we get more access to them????

Takuma · 4 Mar 2002, 19:16 (Ref:227983)

well they will be outside, as for access ???????

Les · 4 Mar 2002, 19:18 (Ref:227984)

Afraid not.

Westie says the touring cars are in the centre

Takuma · 4 Mar 2002, 19:25 (Ref:227990)

It was part of the agreement for the f3 series to help boost rapidly falling btcc crowds that the garage allocations would be shared throughout the season and that at Brands the f3's have the garages.

Remember the btcc needs f3 more than f3 needs the btcc

jase · 4 Mar 2002, 19:32 (Ref:227999)

The problem with Brands is that whoever is in the outer paddock is goint to have access dificulties to the pitlane. The last few times of going the Lister has had to enter and exit the track via the ambulance gate at the top of Paddock hil because of rde height, I presume the BTCC will have the same sort of problem aswell.

Les · 4 Mar 2002, 21:12 (Ref:228099)

there is also the problem with the pitlane walkabout. F3 and Gt's don't have such a circus as BTCC. I can just imagine Yvan etc sitting at an ordinary table and chairs with 2 or 3 fans asking for an autograph. Either that or the whole 'stand' will have to be transported from the lower paddock over to the pitlane.

whatever happens - it would be all be ok if Brands took the marshalls off the tunnels and allowed us access.

chloe · 4 Mar 2002, 21:36 (Ref:228110)

Takuma
"Remember the btcc needs f3 more than f3 needs the btcc"

Thats nonsense, F3 has a poor following but as a package it makes a mouth watering mix of single seats, sports cars and saloons.

touring fan · 4 Mar 2002, 21:44 (Ref:228117)

BTCC and GT need to make pit stops, they need their equipment to be out in front of the garages during their races.

Les · 4 Mar 2002, 21:51 (Ref:228121)

of course they need their equipment but there is no need for an actual garage.

pitpopsie · 4 Mar 2002, 22:22 (Ref:228148)

Thanks to you all for your opinions. I was told by the team at Brands Hatch that the touring cars will be in the garages. Maybe this can be changed, who knows!!
Takuma, which team manager??? You are right about the status of the F3s.
I know that whoever is in the paddock will have problems but with the F3s we are talking about the whole grid having trouble getting in and out, with the touring cars/gts it will only be one or two.

Simon Pullan · 5 Mar 2002, 00:28 (Ref:228219)

If an ARP F3 car can get through the tunnel then why can a contemporary one not? It doesn't make sense. Even a BOSS F1 car can get through the tunnel. Personally I think that BTC-T and championship class F3 should have the garages. Everyone else can live outside.

I prefer it that we are out there anyway. It means that you all will be able to come along to the awning to say hello, which would be impossible if we were in garages. It's much more sociable in the outer paddock

pitpopsie · 5 Mar 2002, 09:05 (Ref:228334)

Good point Simon.

I wonder if the organisers have thought about sharing the pits!! we will have to see!!

**Stephen Green** · 5 Mar 2002, 12:02 (Ref:228402)

Simon/Pitpopsie,

In the past the F3's and BTCC have shared the garages. If you put 2 F3's per garage then I believe there is just about enough room.

As for pit walkabouts. In the past we have had BTCC cars on the grid and allowed spectators to walk the track, so why not do that again? The F3 guys could then have the garages.

In fact, I remember the days when the BTCC cars were spread right around the Indy Circuit and the spectators were able to walk the whole track!

If the weekend is thought out correctly then there shouldn't be a problem.

By the way, marshals do not control the tunnels during pit lane or grid walkabouts, that becomes the responsibility of Octagon.

Stephen.

redshoes · 5 Mar 2002, 12:48 (Ref:228438)

Quote:

Originally posted by Les
whatever happens - it would be all be ok if Brands took the marshalls off the tunnels and allowed us access.

Those 'marshals' (circuit security) are there for a reason. Unlike other circuits it very easy to get from that access road to the track. Can you imagine the chaos, not to say safety implications, if you let the general public wander in and out unrestricted.

pitpopsie · 5 Mar 2002, 16:21 (Ref:228571)

True!!! There was an incident where a car got onto the circuit a few years ago during the race school, but there have been barriers put up since. Crowd safety is very important. They dont see the dangers that we see!

**Stephen Green** · 5 Mar 2002, 18:47 (Ref:228657)

Yup, I remember that incident! It was about two years ago I believe?

pitpopsie · 5 Mar 2002, 18:50 (Ref:228660)

yeah the merc!! I was there on the day, very dodgy!! the driver was put in a mental home!!!

**Stephen Green** · 5 Mar 2002, 18:56 (Ref:228667)

Fortunately I missed the real thing but remember reading and being told all about it either the next day or following weekend.

Recognised me yet?

pitpopsie · 5 Mar 2002, 18:58 (Ref:228668)

I know who you are!!

redshoes · 5 Mar 2002, 19:15 (Ref:228685)

I wasn't thinking so much about people getting onto the track, more cars leaving the track and also the problems of getting emergency vehicles through. The whole area from the exit of the tunnel to the paddock gate is not the sort of place you want hundreds of spectators.

WoodyTJ · 5 Mar 2002, 19:27 (Ref:228700)

How about we have all the cars in the outer paddock.

Save the dissagreement - and we gain more access to the cars/drivers

pitpopsie · 5 Mar 2002, 19:28 (Ref:228703)

Thats true. With the amount of people who come to brands it will be hard to keep them all away. If the paddock gate needs to be opened then the spectators will have to be moved, if not there will be another accident!!!!
With regard to the tunnel there will always be people passing through there.

calcium · 5 Mar 2002, 22:13 (Ref:228839)

Ok,could I please ask a question?Do the BTC have compulsory pit stops this year?If the F3 do not then doesen't it make sense to put the BTC in the pit lane area?

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