Take a flying lap of Oulton Park with British GT race winner Michael Bentwood who rejoins 2007 teammate Tom Alexander for another season in the Aston Martin DBRS9. With last years team Barwell Motorsport concentrating on racing in the USA, the Donington Park race winners have moved teams to Derby based 22GTRacing for the '08 season.
Michael Bentwood: "Coming over the start and finish straight, you have to get the car nice and straight and over to the left for Old Hall, which is a very fast right hander. There is a famous grid on the inside where your apex is and you have to get your nose in early there to use all the corner. There's a bit of a crest when you come out of the corner, which always gives the car plenty of oversteer.
"You're then flat out, getting 5th before Cascades but it's quite a blind entry. Then we're turning left into Cascades, which is heavily banked and you can really use all of the camber there. The car always tries to push you wide over the kerbs onto the grass, but it is very, very fast; probably another 4th gear corner.
"You're then accelerating flat out up into 5th and then 6th towards Island, which is one of the fastest corners on the British GT calendar. It's a small lift in the Aston, which generates plenty of downforce and with a view of the lake on the left. Coming up to Shell, it's a heavy brake down into 2nd or 3rd depending on what mood you're in. Again a very early turn in point, using all the camber which gives the car plenty of grip on entry.
"Accelerating out of Shell up into 4th and close to 100mph before the first chicane. Down to 2nd there; it's quite a heavy stop and you've got to be careful there not to use too much kerb otherwise it could knock you sideways and you'll lose a load of speed. Having said that you do have to use a bit of kerb to get the car in the right position as this is really important for the next uphill section.
"Hard on the gas, accelerating out of there, up into 6th gear, close to 120mph before it's hard on the brakes and down into 2nd for the next chicane. You have to be really precise here, quite a slow series of corners that everybody under estimates. You have to be pretty precise because there is another uphill section, so early full power is especially important here.
"Coming out of the chicane, up through Clay Hill. This is a very fast area and totally blind as you go over the crest, you always feel like you're going to fly into the bridge there because it is so blind and so fast. On the approach you are always thinking about Druids and the position of the car. Into 6th, or hard acceleration in 5th. Into Druids is quite a light brake as it is a very fast corner, famous in all Formula for being hugely quick and challenging, and the tarmac is quite polished there, so in the wet is it very tricky. Druids will be 5th gear in the Aston and again car positioning is vital because there is quite a nasty bump on the exit, so you've got to be prepared for that.
"Accelerating out of Druids. This is a fairly undulating area of the track, a bit like a roller coaster, as you head down to Lodge Corner. We'll probably grab 6th before the brakes and you'll see the war monument on the right but you have to stay focused and pick the right braking point because it is easy to out brake yourself at Lodge. Lodge is another 2nd gear corner with plenty of camber and it is just about getting on the throttle at the right time and getting a good exit. Up through the gears, through Deer Leap and back over the start finish line to begin another lap."
