Brands Hatch: Will Bratt preview

DETERMINED BRATT AIMING TO KEEP TITLE DREAM ALIVE AT BRANDS

Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in Kent welcomes the FIA Formula 2 Championship back to British shores next weekend, 17th/18th July, for the sixth event of the 2010 season -- one which will carry a huge amount of importance for Will Bratt's title aspirations.

Throughout the first half of the championship campaign the Banbury racer has undoubtedly been one of the true front-runners, even though his race results as a whole have been compromised by a combination of mechanical failures and contact from rival drivers.

Over the last couple of events especially, Will's title bid has been hit hard. In Portim0x00e3o, Portugal, just over a week ago a driveshaft failure ruined the first encounter while in the second race a damaged front wing prevented him from challenging for the podium. During the previous event at Zolder, contact ruled him out of the first outing but a battling drive in race two netted a deserved fifth place.

With that in mind, the reigning Euroseries 3000 Champion knows the Brands Hatch races could have a major bearing on the remainder of his season. It's five years since Will last raced on the full length 2.3-mile Grand Prix track but the circuit is one he enjoys. If he can make his podium return and secure two strong, consistent finishes he'll be able to remain in touch with the championship fight.

"We've had a fair amount of misfortune this year which has had a big impact but I'm aiming to turn that around at Brands, it'll be good to be back there", said Will, "The last time I raced on the GP track was back in 2005 in Formula Renault UK. I enjoyed it then and I'm looking forward to driving the F2 car there at the weekend."

Heading into the second British event of the year, the battle for third in the standings is incredibly close with just eight points separating Will, Philipp Eng and Benjamin Bailly. The top two in the championship, Jolyon Palmer and Dean Stoneman, are currently well clear but with eight races still to go to the end of the season there's everything to play for.

Will added: "There's still half the season to go so if Jolyon and Dean have a couple of bad weekends and I have some very good ones, the whole title picture will change. We have to start turning things around so the main way to achieve that is to relax, hopefully have no problems and deliver the sort of performances we know we can.

"Without the bad luck we've had so far this year, I know we would be quite comfortably clear of Eng, Bailly and (Kazim) Vasiliauskas in the points. Hopefully we can have two strong races at Brands, move back into the championship top three and make some inroads on the leaders."

Pre-event practice will take place this Friday, 16th July, at 09.45 and 13.15 ahead of round 11 qualifying at 16.40. Race one will get underway at 11.45 on Saturday, 17th July, with qualifying for round 12 following at 15.50. Race two is then scheduled to start at 13.05 on Sunday, 18th July.

-source: willbratt.com