Soft tyre a great unknown at cold Brands Hatch

The British Touring Car Championship teams are facing a big unknown at a cold Brands Hatch today, with the first race running of the new soft tyre.

And with temperatures still only just above freezing, there are concerns the new compound could suffer from cold weather graining.

The teams had to nominate which race they were using the tyre in before yesterday’s qualifying, but the decision won’t be made public until the teams get to the grid, and fit the tyres at the three-minute board.

West Surrey Racing team principal Dick Bennetts told TouringCarTimes his squad would effectively be carrying out a public test session, as they learn about the new BMW 125i, as well as the new tyres.

Asked if Dunlop had given any indication of the tyre’s performance, Bennetts said: “Dunlop are not sure themselves. We haven’t done a race run, even on control tyres, let alone the soft tyre, so race one will be a learning curve.

“The conditions will probably help the soft tyre a little bit, but you have got to be careful not to get cold graining, which you get in cold temperatures.

“It is a steep learning curve. We really don’t know what people are doing until the three-minute board. You could go out on control tyres and change them on the grid, or go out on softs and change them to hards.”

Honda Racing Team’s Gordon Shedden said he knows what he expects the soft tyre to do, but would wait until after race one to give a full view on them.

He said: “It really is a big unknown. It is going to be interesting – I don’t have a problem with the concept, it’s all good, but I think it is a big step.”