Brands Hatch celebrates a Century of Power with the first of several events commencing this weekend as the Masters Historic Festival recalls the circuit’s golden era hosting Formula 1 Grands Prix and major sportscar races.
The Kent venue is a firm favourite with circuit racing fans because its naturally undulating landscape gives them a bird’s-eye view of continuous racing and an unrivalled atmosphere. On track it offers a challenging combination of blind crests, diving corners and flowing sequences that puts drivers through their paces.
This, more than anything, explains why the Kent circuit is such an essential part of British motorsport history. It takes rhythm, bravery and full commitment to master, with legendary corners like Paddock Hill Bend and Druids, while the elevation changes throughout its natural layout offer something that very few modern locations can replicate.
From its origins as a mushroom farm providing a setting for cyclists and cross-country runners, Brands Hatch next welcomed motorcycles and, following a post-war transition to tarmac, cars to its natural amphitheatre. When the Druids loop was added a few years later, and with it the decision to run clockwise, the layout now known as the Indy circuit was so well-conceived that it remains essentially unchanged in its character to this day.
The 1960s added the Grand Prix extension, with its long back straight and fearsome Hawthorn bend, ahead of its first F1 World Championship race in 1964, won by Jim Clark. The World Sportscar Championship soon followed and the 1970 BOAC 1000km race, in which Pedro Rodriguez was utterly dominant in the rain, is as much a landmark moment as the legendary 1976 British Grand Prix battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
A decade on, Nigel Mansell became the home hero when he scored his maiden Grand Prix victory at Brands Hatch, following this up a year later after a tense battle with team-mate and rival Nelson Piquet. It is these two wins that the Masters Festival will celebrate with the two victorious Williams cars on display alongside F1 demonstration drives by former Grand Prix drivers Martin Donnelly and Stefan Johansson as well as historic F1, GT, touring and sportscar races.
Three weeks later, the London Historic Trophy will celebrate the 1980s golden era of endurance racing at Brands Hatch with demonstration runs from Group C sportscars. These will include the legendary Porsche, Jaguar and Sauber-Mercedes cars that starred at Brands Hatch, with 1989 winner Kenny Acheson back at the wheel of the C9 that won the final championship round at the venue. A total of 13 cars from five different manufacturers have been confirmed.
Later in the summer Brands Hatch will host The 500 Owners Association F3 Championship at the Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix. The first car racing class to compete at the venue, it played an important role in establishing the UK as a powerhouse of motorsport, nurturing the successes of both Stirling Moss and Cooper Cars. Then enduring appeal of the British Touring Car Championship, for which Brands Hatch is often considered its spiritual home, will be central to the celebrations at Touring Car Rewind: South, featuring the cars and stars of the tin-top world.
The history of Brands Hatch is celebrated in this month’s Revolution magazine – click here to read more. For more information on the Brands Hatch centenary season, click here and for more information on how to get started in circuit racing click here .