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Formula 2 Brno Report
19-21 June 2009

Henry went to Brno feeling confident that, with the last A level exam out of the way and some knowledge of the circuit he had got in a Formula Masters car earlier in the year, he stood a very good chance of lifting himself up in the Championship with possible podiums.
We arrived in the Czech Republic and went immediately to the purpose built race circuit that had replaced the very famous road circuit which had been the victim of suburban development. I had an opportunity of walking with Henry the 5.4km circuit which twists, turns and undulates through the wooded hillside it is on. The corners tend to go on and on, have excellent width and the kerbs being to motorcycle Grand Prix standard do not present a problem. Generally a very good circuit and one I wonder why we do not hear more of. The temperature was 31 degrees.
Friday 19 June was a different story. The rain had come with a vengeance and the first two practices showed up the problem of aquaplaning, both through the tyres but also through the underside of the car riding on the water flows. The weather seemed consistent and we left our car in what you might term a very wet condition set-up.
For the start of first qualifying we were on the pace but the weather had changed and the ground effect cars were clearing the water rather fast and times came down. There was no doubt that the little group we were in had been caught out by the change in weather with Henry ending up in 15th place.
Race day and it looked as if this would be the first opportunity to get onto slick tyres as the track was drying rapidly. A few damp patches but certainly everyone except one car chose to run on slicks. Henry in Valencia had made two poor starts which had dropped him down the field giving him an added task. This time he got it right and by the end of the pits he had virtually passed two lines in front. Going into the first corner he was on the outside trying to stay out of trouble and a car that had been on the inside came across, pushed the car that was on the inside of Henry into Henry before slicing across the front of Henry’s car taking part of the front nose with it. Henry’s rear wheel was detached breaking the tether by the impact whilst he was still on the track and he vividly recalls this rear wheel passing him at great speed only to then realise it was his. So a very short race and no dry laps.
Donald, our mechanic, had a small emergency team from Palmer and got set into the car. The complete right rear suspension had been torn off, the gearbox broken and the rear wing damaged together with the side pod, nose and front wing. It was a late night
The next morning we awoke to much brighter weather, not too warm, but good for racing. Henry had to go straight out into qualifying in the rebuilt car complete with a new gearbox and (i) drive for the first time on the track in the dry, and (ii) try and make sure that he qualified high enough up the order to try and stay clear of first corner incidents and get that podium. He had gone out on good tyres which had only done 2 laps previously in the warm up to the first race and he immediately jumped to the top of the times. By the time he came in after 3 laps he had gone down to fifth and a new set of tyres were fitted. He went out and immediately improved but came in on the third lap which is when the tyres would normally be at their best complaining about engine cutting out through the long right-hand first corner. There were only 5 minutes remaining so there was nothing to be done so he was sent out again and bounced back to the top of the times. Henry’s first pole position in the new Formula 2 and a tremendous repayment to the little team that had worked so hard to rebuild the car.
Because of the limited time on a dry track it augured well for the race and a win was there to take. Out of the pits, through the pits and round to take up position on the grid. Green flag lap and test start all went well and back to the grid. The race was to be started Formula One style with all the lights coming on and then going out. But Henry only edged forward just the same as the second row driver Mikhail Aleshin. It was so fortunate that some how the rest of the 23 cars missed these nearly stationery cars. Henry managed, despite virtually no drive, to get the car down to the end of the pits and you can imagine there was one very upset young man.
Investigations will now take place as to why not one but a small number of cars experienced clutch/drive problems. There isn’t much time as Spa is next weekend.

John Surtees
22 June 2009

Note: Photographs of Henry can be viewed at:-
www.jamesbearne.com/henrysurtees