Bike Track Guide - Brands Hatch

On first impressions, Brands Hatch doesn’t look like the best circuit for bikers. However, once you get out on track and head down Paddock Hill, you immediately begin to understand its appeal.

As you come around for your first flying lap, look for the braking markers on the left hand side. Your ideal braking point can be tricky to find as the track widens at the entry and there are big elevation changes along the pit straight - nevermind the large drop as you turn in.

It is impossible to appreciate just how steep Paddock Hill bend is, until you are riding through it.

Look for the 200m board and brake hard. Go down two gears and roll of the brakes slightly as you reach the top of the hill. The track will start to fall away from you slightly. Try and wait until you are beginning your descent before braking again.

Position the bike slightly to the left of the pit-lane exit line and turn-in. Your apex will just come into view as you begin to turn.

Try and get back on the power and be brave if the bike bottoms out, otherwise you will join the long list of riders who have ended up in the Paddock Hill gravel. Keep hard on the power but watch out for the bike bottoming out again as you reach the dip at the bottom of the hill.

You can turn it in early at Druids as the up-hill run will help you to scrub off speed. You need to be careful that the bike doesn’t try to back in as you reach the slow arcing apex. A late apex is usually favoured but try and hug the kerbing and be careful as you get back on the power and head down the hill.

It’s tempting to use all of the road but try and stay slightly more central as it will make it easier for you to get yourself in the best position for Graham Hill bend.

Get over the right-hand side of the track and stay in second gear as you turn-in just after to 50m marker - the kerbing will be visible but your apex won’t be. Hold the bike through the corner and get back on the power as you reach the exit kerbing on the right-hand side.

On the Indy circuit, you’ll just use a touch of brakes and hold the throttle open as you head back up the hill into McLarens but with the GP layout you’ll need heavier braking and drop down a gear or two.

If you’re looking for the best lap times, the drive out of Surtees is all-important. Turn-in slightly later than you think you should and square off the corner before getting on the power as you accelerate through the gears to Hawthorn bend.

As you head under the bridge and into Pilgrims Drop, you don’t want to leave your braking any later than 150m from the corner but be careful not to unbalance the bike in the dip. Drop down two gears and turn-in around the 50m board and hold the bike steady through a long apex.

Westfield follows, which is a double apex. Try and get close to the first apex but you can afford to run a bit wide on the exit as the track widens before the dip and the run to Dingle Dell.

This is where you need to be brave. Dingle Dell in blind and has a double apex on either side of the track, but on a bike you’ll be leaning right the whole way through. Hold it in third before flicking down into second for Stirlings. Use the camber of the corner to help you as you turn-in and accelerate hard down to Clearways.

Start braking as you pass under the bridge and hold third gear as the track falls away but don’t allow the bike to run too wide. Hold it slightly right over the crest and catch fourth as you head back onto the pit straight.