A successful Round 1 for WRT with Calan and co-driver Sam Dehaan finishing with a double podium P2 and P3 in class, and an impressive P7 overall in Race 1.
Individually, it was a very strong weekend for Calan.
Each driver takes one of the two qualifying sessions, and then starts the race that they qualified for. Calan qualified first for Race 1.
In the 10min session, he had two sets of new tyres and just enough time to complete two flying laps on each. However, the team pressured the second set higher which in simple terms would make them quicker on the first lap but a second wouldn’t be possible as the tyres would be overheating.
Calan executed fantastic laps through the session with PBs in every sector of each. In his single lap on the second set of tyres he set an impressive 1:23.2 for Pole in class and P11 overall.
Calan started Race 1 really well, though he was a little unlucky as the Audi in class got a jump on him through having a gap left at the start by the car ahead breaking down on the rollup lap.
From here Calan was P2 in class and fighting with the leader for his entire stint. Whilst clearly quicker, Brands Hatch is a very difficult circuit to overtake on, particularly for the BMWs.
The usual strategy to attempt to overtake a car during the pit stop is by pitting earlier for the “undercut” or at the same time with a faster pitstop. An undercut is where you aim to have a quicker out lap on a new set of tyres, than someone staying out on their older set of tyres. The other option is to pit later and attempt an “overcut” in which you are aiming to have a faster lap on the old tyre in clear air than your opponent delivers on their first lap on the new tyre.
The overlap is harder to pull off, but in this instance Calan and the team elected to go for this.
Calan’s overcut lap was amazing, and the team executed a perfect pitstop. Unfortunately, however, when the car was dropped off the jacks, the car stalled for De Haan. He quickly restarted, but the 3 seconds or so lost were enough to allow the Audi to just stay in front when they rejoined.
From there Sam brought the car home P2 in class and they finished an impressive P7 overall.
Race 2 Sam started from P17 on the grid, P5 in class. Sam got away well and when it was time for the driver change they were up to P4 in class, though the podium P3 position was 7.5 seconds ahead.
Calan’s pace was impressive, and immediately ripped around 1 – 1.5 seconds a lap out of that deficit. Arriving on the back of the Aston Martin, he executed an exciting and impressive move into T2 to take the position. He then pulled away and closed on the car ahead, though that gap was too big to bridge.
A very solid start to the year and we now look forward to Misano.
