Brands Hatch
Encyclopedia
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown
in Kent
, England
. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix
between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events. The name of the circuit may derive from the Gaelic Brondehach (bron meaning "wooded slope" and hach meaning "forest entrance").
Brands Hatch offers two layout configurations: the shorter "Indy" layout (1.198 miles) is located entirely within a natural amphitheatre offering spectators views of almost all of the shorter configuration from wherever they watch. The longer "Grand Prix" layout (2.301 miles) played host to some spectacular Formula One racing over the years; events such as Jo Siffert's
duel with Chris Amon
in and future World Champion Nigel Mansell's
first win in . Noise restrictions and the proximity of local residents to the Grand Prix loop mean that the number of race meetings held on the extended circuit are limited to just a few per year (usually for higher-profile series such as the BTCC
and the WTCC
).
The full Grand Prix circuit begins on the Brabham Straight
, an off-camber, slightly curved stretch, before plunging into the right-hander at Paddock Hill Bend. Despite the difficulty of the curve, due to the straight that precedes it, it is one of the track's few overtaking spots. The next corner, Druids, is a hairpin bend, negotiated after an uphill braking zone at Hailwood Hill
. The track then curves around the south bank spectator area into the downhill, off-camber Graham Hill Bend
, and another, slightly bent stretch at the Cooper Straight
, which runs parallel to the pit lane. After the straight, the circuit climbs uphill though the decreasing-radius Surtees
turn, before moving onto the back straight where the track's top speeds can be reached. The most significant elevation changes on the circuit occur here at Pilgrim's Drop and Hawthorn Hill
, which leads into Hawthorn Bend. The track then loops around the woodland with a series of mid-speed corners, most notably the dip at Westfield and the blind Sheene's
curve. The track then emerges from the woods at Clearways and rejoins the 'Indy' circuit for Clark Curve
with its uphill off-camber approach to the pit straight and the start/finish line.
Originally used as a military training ground, the field belonging to Brands farm was first used as a circuit by a group of Gravesend cyclists led by Ron Argent, with the permission of the local farmer and landowner, Harry Write. Using the natural contours of the land, many cyclists from around London
practised, raced and ran time trials on the dirt roads carved out by farm machinery. The first actual race on the circuit was held in 1928, over 4 miles (6.4 km) between cyclists and cross-country runners
. Within a few years, motorcyclists
were using the circuit, laying out a three-quarter mile anti-clockwise track in the valley. Brands Hatch remained in operation during the 1930s, but after being used as a military vehicle park and being subject to many bombing raids during World War II
, it needed much work before it could become a professional racing circuit.
organised the first race on the 16th April, and in 1953 the Universal Motor Racing Club was established, with a racing school set up at Brands Hatch. The Half Litre Club, later to become the British racing and Sports Car Club, ran many races throughout the 1950s and firmly established the venue as one of Britain's top racing circuits.
The track continued to expand during 1953 and 1954, with the addition of Druids Bend (lengthening the circuit to 1.24 miles), a pit lane
and spectator banks and reversing the racing direction to clockwise. The aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster
resulted in many race circuits in the country and abroad being closed down for safety reasons, but Brands Hatch was able to comply with the new safety requirements, hosting its first Formula Two
race in 1956.
race, won by Jack Brabham
. Soon after, the track was sold to Grovewood Securities, and John Webb put in charge of Motor Circuit Developments to manage the circuit. The new ownership saw successful negotiations with the RAC
to hold the British Grand Prix
jointly with Silverstone
, alternating years. On July 11, 1964 Brands Hatch held its first Formula One World Championship race, the 1964 British Grand Prix
(also designated as the RAC European Grand Prix), won by Jim Clark
.
The deaths of George Crossman, Tony Flory and Stuart Duncan in the mid-60s and Jo Siffert
in October 1971 led to major safety modifications around the track. During the 1970s Brands Hatch took over the running of the annual Formula Ford
Festival (which it still holds to this day) in addition to hosting an IndyCar
race in 1978. The track also hosted the 1983
and 1985
European Grands Prix
, the former with under three months notice following the cancellation of the proposed New York Grand Prix. To date, the final Grand Prix held at Brands Hatch was the 1986 British Grand Prix
won by Nigel Mansell
, a race that saw a major first lap accident at Paddock Bend where Jacques Laffite
broke both legs after going head-on into the wall on the right side of the track, which spelt the end of his career and Brands Hatch as a Formula One circuit. From 1987 onwards, the British Grand Prix has been held exclusively at Silverstone.
In 1986, John Foulston bought Brands Hatch, Oulton Park
and Snetterton
circuits from Grovewood Securities and established the Brands Hatch Leisure (BHL) company. The following year, the company acquired Cadwell Park
before Foulston died testing a McLaren IndyCar
at Silverstone. Ownership of BHL passed to his wife Mary, but the company was run by John Webb until 1990, when daughter Nicola Foulston took over the running. In that time, Brands Hatch hosted higher-profile series such as Formula 3000
and Superbike World Championship
racing. 1988 saw further changes to the circuit layout, with a chicane
added at Dingle Dell Corner, while Westfield Bend and Graham Hill
Bend were tightened. New pits and a corporate entertainment facility were added in the late-1990s.
In 1999, Foulston announced that Brands Hatch had acquired the rights to the British Grand Prix
from 2002. Whilst discussions were ongoing with regards to planning permission to bring the circuit up to F1 requirements, Foulston sold BHL to Octagon Motorsports (a subsidiary of Interpublic) for £120 m. Octagon, however, failed to obtain the necessary planning permission and instead decided to lease Silverstone
in order to host the Grand Prix. However, high-profile single-seater racing did return to Brands Hatch in 2003, when a round of the CART
series was held at the circuit. Despite attracting around 40,000 spectators the race was not retained for subsequent seasons.
With financial pressures stemming from running the British Grand Prix, Octagon sold off the group of four circuits, including Brands Hatch, to the MotorSport Vision
group headed by ex-F1 driver Jonathan Palmer
in 2004.
The circuit currently has a curfew
of 18:30 due to a housing estate
built near to Clearways bend. Race engines cannot be started until after 08:30 and must be turned off by 18:30. Despite this, Brands Hatch holds race meetings on almost every weekend during the motorsport season, ranging from small club series to major international races attracting up to 50,000 spectators.
In 2005 Brands Hatch hosted the inaugural round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. The following year this was joined by the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
(DTM), which is still on the circuit’s fixture list, and the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
In 2011 Brands Hatch hosts the following major race championships:
The circuit also hosts two major events on the historic racing calendar: the May Bank Holiday Masters Festival and the Historic Superprix in July, which features the FIA Historic Formula One Championship.
Despite the curfew, the early evenings during the autumn months allow some racing to take place in darkness and the Britcar ‘into the night’ race has been a regular on the calendar, with the Lotus 1000km reviving a tradition that started in the 1960s with the BOAC sportscar races.
Aside from circuit racing, Brands Hatch has hosted many Rallycross
events that used the tarmac and other inner sections of the circuit and recently a Stage Rally
took place using parts of the circuit, pits and other roads at the venue. The annual Modified Live and Race Car Live events also follow an exhibition format.
During the week the circuit offers some general test days and driving experiences, and can also be hired out for private testing and track day
s.
events of the 2012 Summer Paralympics
. Riders will race around a course that starts and finishes at Brands Hatch and encompasses both the circuit and local roads surrounding it.
225 athletes from around 40 nations will participate in the road cycling events, which will consist of mass start road races ranging from 30km to 120km and individual and team time trials ranging from 20km to 35km.
in his Williams
-Honda at the circuit's last Formula One Grand Prix in July 1986. The record on the shorter Indy layout is 38.032 seconds, set by Scott Mansell
with a Benetton B197
during the 2004 EuroBOSS
season.
West Kingsdown
West Kingsdown is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the North Downs, north of Sevenoaks town, within the London Commuter Belt...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix
British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events. The name of the circuit may derive from the Gaelic Brondehach (bron meaning "wooded slope" and hach meaning "forest entrance").
The circuit
Jo Siffert
Joseph Siffert was a Swiss racing driver.Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and close friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner...
duel with Chris Amon
Chris Amon
Christopher Arthur Amon MBE is a former motor racing driver. He was active in Formula One - racing in the 1960s and 1970s - and is widely regarded to be one of the best F1 drivers never to win a championship Grand Prix...
in and future World Champion Nigel Mansell's
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
first win in . Noise restrictions and the proximity of local residents to the Grand Prix loop mean that the number of race meetings held on the extended circuit are limited to just a few per year (usually for higher-profile series such as the BTCC
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
and the WTCC
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
).
The full Grand Prix circuit begins on the Brabham Straight
Jack Brabham
Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One champion in , and . He was a founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor that bore his name....
, an off-camber, slightly curved stretch, before plunging into the right-hander at Paddock Hill Bend. Despite the difficulty of the curve, due to the straight that precedes it, it is one of the track's few overtaking spots. The next corner, Druids, is a hairpin bend, negotiated after an uphill braking zone at Hailwood Hill
Mike Hailwood
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, MBE, GM was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He was known as "Mike The Bike" because of his natural riding ability...
. The track then curves around the south bank spectator area into the downhill, off-camber Graham Hill Bend
Graham Hill
Norman Graham Hill was a British racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion. He is the only driver to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport — the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship.Graham Hill and his son Damon are the only father and son pair both to...
, and another, slightly bent stretch at the Cooper Straight
John Cooper (car maker)
John Newton Cooper was a co-founder, with his father Charles Cooper, of the Cooper Car Company. Born in Surbiton, Surrey, England, UK he became an auto racing legend with his rear-engined chassis design that would eventually change the face of the sport at its highest levels, from Formula One to...
, which runs parallel to the pit lane. After the straight, the circuit climbs uphill though the decreasing-radius Surtees
John Surtees
John Surtees, OBE is a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver from England. He was 500cc motorcycle World Champion in 1956 and 1958–60, Formula One World Champion in 1964, and remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and four wheels...
turn, before moving onto the back straight where the track's top speeds can be reached. The most significant elevation changes on the circuit occur here at Pilgrim's Drop and Hawthorn Hill
Mike Hawthorn
John Michael Hawthorn was a racing driver, born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, England, and educated at Ardingly College, West Sussex.-Racing career:...
, which leads into Hawthorn Bend. The track then loops around the woodland with a series of mid-speed corners, most notably the dip at Westfield and the blind Sheene's
Barry Sheene
Barry Stephen Frank Sheene MBE was a British World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.-Early life:...
curve. The track then emerges from the woods at Clearways and rejoins the 'Indy' circuit for Clark Curve
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
with its uphill off-camber approach to the pit straight and the start/finish line.
Origins
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
practised, raced and ran time trials on the dirt roads carved out by farm machinery. The first actual race on the circuit was held in 1928, over 4 miles (6.4 km) between cyclists and cross-country runners
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
. Within a few years, motorcyclists
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
were using the circuit, laying out a three-quarter mile anti-clockwise track in the valley. Brands Hatch remained in operation during the 1930s, but after being used as a military vehicle park and being subject to many bombing raids during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it needed much work before it could become a professional racing circuit.
Upgrades
Brands Hatch Stadium Ltd. was formed in 1947 and saw the circuit surfaced in April 1950 to create a 1 miles (1.6 km) oval course suitable for cars. The Half Litre Car Club for 500 cc Formula ThreeFormula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
organised the first race on the 16th April, and in 1953 the Universal Motor Racing Club was established, with a racing school set up at Brands Hatch. The Half Litre Club, later to become the British racing and Sports Car Club, ran many races throughout the 1950s and firmly established the venue as one of Britain's top racing circuits.
The track continued to expand during 1953 and 1954, with the addition of Druids Bend (lengthening the circuit to 1.24 miles), a pit lane
Pit stop
In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above...
and spectator banks and reversing the racing direction to clockwise. The aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster
1955 Le Mans disaster
The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, when a crash caused large parts of racing car debris to fly into the crowd. The driver was killed, as were 83 spectators. A further 120 people were injured...
resulted in many race circuits in the country and abroad being closed down for safety reasons, but Brands Hatch was able to comply with the new safety requirements, hosting its first Formula Two
Formula Two
Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, is a type of open wheel formula racing. It was replaced by Formula 3000 in 1985, but the FIA announced in 2008 that Formula Two would return for 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship...
race in 1956.
Hosting Grands Prix
The 2.65 miles (4.3 km) Grand Prix circuit was constructed in 1959, and the track hosted its first major motor racing event in August 1960, the non-championship Silver City Trophy Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
race, won by Jack Brabham
Jack Brabham
Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One champion in , and . He was a founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor that bore his name....
. Soon after, the track was sold to Grovewood Securities, and John Webb put in charge of Motor Circuit Developments to manage the circuit. The new ownership saw successful negotiations with the RAC
RAC plc
RAC Limited is a breakdown company in the United Kingdom supplying products and services for motorists. Initially formed as the "Associate Section" of the Royal Automobile Club, it was incorporated as R.A.C. Motoring Services Ltd. in 1978. It was then sold by the members of the Royal Automobile...
to hold the British Grand Prix
British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
jointly with Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
, alternating years. On July 11, 1964 Brands Hatch held its first Formula One World Championship race, the 1964 British Grand Prix
1964 British Grand Prix
The 1964 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Brands Hatch on July 11, 1964. The event was also designated as the European Grand Prix...
(also designated as the RAC European Grand Prix), won by Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
.
The deaths of George Crossman, Tony Flory and Stuart Duncan in the mid-60s and Jo Siffert
Jo Siffert
Joseph Siffert was a Swiss racing driver.Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and close friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner...
in October 1971 led to major safety modifications around the track. During the 1970s Brands Hatch took over the running of the annual Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
Festival (which it still holds to this day) in addition to hosting an IndyCar
American Championship Car Racing
Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis...
race in 1978. The track also hosted the 1983
1983 European Grand Prix
The 1983 European Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Brands Hatch on September 25, 1983. This race saw Bruno Giacomelli score his final championship point, and was the first race for qualified doctor and current circuit owner Jonathan Palmer...
and 1985
1985 European Grand Prix
The 1985 European Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Brands Hatch on October 6, 1985. It was the fourteenth round of the 1985 Formula One season....
European Grands Prix
European Grand Prix
The European Grand Prix is a Formula One event that was reintroduced during the mid-1980s and has been held regularly since 1999. From 2008 it will take place for at least another 7 years...
, the former with under three months notice following the cancellation of the proposed New York Grand Prix. To date, the final Grand Prix held at Brands Hatch was the 1986 British Grand Prix
1986 British Grand Prix
The 1986 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Brands Hatch on July 13, 1986. It was the ninth race of the 1986 Formula One season...
won by Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
, a race that saw a major first lap accident at Paddock Bend where Jacques Laffite
Jacques Laffite
Jacques-Henri Laffite is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from to . He achieved six grand prix wins, all while driving for the Ligier team. He is now a TV commentator on French television TF1....
broke both legs after going head-on into the wall on the right side of the track, which spelt the end of his career and Brands Hatch as a Formula One circuit. From 1987 onwards, the British Grand Prix has been held exclusively at Silverstone.
Recent years
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
and Snetterton
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Norfolk, England. Owned by MotorSport Vision, it is situated on the A11 road some 20 km north-east of the town of Thetford and 30 km south-west of the city of Norwich...
circuits from Grovewood Securities and established the Brands Hatch Leisure (BHL) company. The following year, the company acquired Cadwell Park
Cadwell Park
Cadwell Park is a motor racing circuit in Lincolnshire, England, south of Louth. It is owned and operated by Jonathan Palmer's Motorsport Vision company....
before Foulston died testing a McLaren IndyCar
American Championship Car Racing
Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis...
at Silverstone. Ownership of BHL passed to his wife Mary, but the company was run by John Webb until 1990, when daughter Nicola Foulston took over the running. In that time, Brands Hatch hosted higher-profile series such as Formula 3000
Formula 3000
The Formula 3000 International Championship was a motor racing series created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final preparatory step for drivers hoping to enter the Formula One championship...
and Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
racing. 1988 saw further changes to the circuit layout, with a chicane
Chicane
A chicane is an artificial feature creating extra turns in a road, used in motor racing and on city streets to slow cars to lower speeds.- Motor Racing :...
added at Dingle Dell Corner, while Westfield Bend and Graham Hill
Graham Hill
Norman Graham Hill was a British racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion. He is the only driver to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport — the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship.Graham Hill and his son Damon are the only father and son pair both to...
Bend were tightened. New pits and a corporate entertainment facility were added in the late-1990s.
In 1999, Foulston announced that Brands Hatch had acquired the rights to the British Grand Prix
British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
from 2002. Whilst discussions were ongoing with regards to planning permission to bring the circuit up to F1 requirements, Foulston sold BHL to Octagon Motorsports (a subsidiary of Interpublic) for £120 m. Octagon, however, failed to obtain the necessary planning permission and instead decided to lease Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
in order to host the Grand Prix. However, high-profile single-seater racing did return to Brands Hatch in 2003, when a round of the CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
series was held at the circuit. Despite attracting around 40,000 spectators the race was not retained for subsequent seasons.
With financial pressures stemming from running the British Grand Prix, Octagon sold off the group of four circuits, including Brands Hatch, to the MotorSport Vision
MotorSport Vision
MotorSport Vision is one of the world's foremost motorsport organisations, and the leading operator of UK motor racing venues. MSV has a portfolio ranging from major two and four wheel championships to organising the PalmerSport corporate driving event....
group headed by ex-F1 driver Jonathan Palmer
Jonathan Palmer
Dr. Jonathan Charles Palmer is an entrepreneur and former racing driver from England. Educated at Brighton College, he won the 1981 British Formula Three Championship and the 1983 European Formula Two Championship. He participated in 87 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 25, 1983...
in 2004.
Current events
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
of 18:30 due to a housing estate
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
built near to Clearways bend. Race engines cannot be started until after 08:30 and must be turned off by 18:30. Despite this, Brands Hatch holds race meetings on almost every weekend during the motorsport season, ranging from small club series to major international races attracting up to 50,000 spectators.
In 2005 Brands Hatch hosted the inaugural round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. The following year this was joined by the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
(DTM), which is still on the circuit’s fixture list, and the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
In 2011 Brands Hatch hosts the following major race championships:
- FIA Formula Two ChampionshipFIA Formula Two Championship-Chassis:Named after both Jonathan Palmer and Patrick Head, the Williams JPH1 chassis and survival cell is of carbon fibre composite monocoque construction. The car was designed to comply with 2005 FIA F1 Safety Regulations. Head protection conforms to the latest 2009 F1 standards...
- British Touring Car ChampionshipBritish Touring Car ChampionshipThe British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
- Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersDeutsche Tourenwagen MastersThe Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
- British Formula 3
- British GT
- British Superbike ChampionshipBritish SuperbikeThe British Superbike Championship is the leading road racing superbike championship in the United Kingdom.The championship is managed and organised by MotorSport Vision. The Series and Race Director is Stuart Higgs. Event marshals are provided by the Racesafe Marshals Association.Two annual...
- British Truck RacingTruck RacingTruck racing is a form of motor racing which involves modified versions of heavy tractor units on racing circuits.The sport started in England in 1984 with the first race held at Donington Park and enjoyed great success, but declined in the 1990s. However, in the last few years the profile of...
Championship
The circuit also hosts two major events on the historic racing calendar: the May Bank Holiday Masters Festival and the Historic Superprix in July, which features the FIA Historic Formula One Championship.
Despite the curfew, the early evenings during the autumn months allow some racing to take place in darkness and the Britcar ‘into the night’ race has been a regular on the calendar, with the Lotus 1000km reviving a tradition that started in the 1960s with the BOAC sportscar races.
Aside from circuit racing, Brands Hatch has hosted many Rallycross
Rallycross
Rallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars, although usually with about stronger engines, due to e.g. their 45 mm turbo restrictor plates. It is...
events that used the tarmac and other inner sections of the circuit and recently a Stage Rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
took place using parts of the circuit, pits and other roads at the venue. The annual Modified Live and Race Car Live events also follow an exhibition format.
During the week the circuit offers some general test days and driving experiences, and can also be hired out for private testing and track day
Track day
A track day is an organised event in which members of the public are allowed to drive or ride around established motor racing circuits, or alternatively on closed or disused airfields...
s.
2012 Summer Paralympics
In September 2012 Brands Hatch will be the base for the Road CyclingCycling at the Summer Paralympics
Cycling has been contested at every Summer Paralympic Games since the 1984 Summer Paralympics.-Classification:Cyclists are given a classification depending on the type and extent of their disability...
events of the 2012 Summer Paralympics
2012 Summer Paralympics
The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games will be the fourteenth Paralympics and will take place between 29 August and 9 September 2012. The Games will be held in London, United Kingdom after the city was successful with its bid for the Paralympics and Summer Olympic Games.Even though 2012 will be London's...
. Riders will race around a course that starts and finishes at Brands Hatch and encompasses both the circuit and local roads surrounding it.
225 athletes from around 40 nations will participate in the road cycling events, which will consist of mass start road races ranging from 30km to 120km and individual and team time trials ranging from 20km to 35km.
Records
The outright lap record for the Grand Prix configuration is 1:09.593, set by Nigel MansellNigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
in his Williams
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
-Honda at the circuit's last Formula One Grand Prix in July 1986. The record on the shorter Indy layout is 38.032 seconds, set by Scott Mansell
Scott Mansell
Scott Mansell is an English racing driver.An alumnus of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield, Mansell was the 2004 EuroBOSS champion. He has not competed a full series championship since. Scott was a 2004 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award nominee, losing out to eventual winner Paul di Resta...
with a Benetton B197
Benetton B197
The Benetton B197 was the car with which the Benetton Formula One team competed in the 1997 Formula One season. It was driven by Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, who were both in their second season with the team...
during the 2004 EuroBOSS
Euroboss
The EuroBOSS Series is a motor racing series in Europe. The first season was in 2001. The current EuroBOSS Series is open to Formula One cars constructed before 2004 , Indy Racing League or Champ Car chassis and Formula 3000 cars with engines of unlimited capacity...
season.
Further reading
- Chas Parker (2008). Brands Hatch: The definitive history of Britain’s best-loved motor racing circuit. Haynes Publishing, Yeovil. ISBN 978-1-84425-334-0.
- Chas Parker (2004). Motor Racing at Brands Hatch in the Seventies. Veloce Publishing, Dorchester. ISBN 978-1-904788-06-5.
- Chas Parker (2009). Motor Racing at Brands Hatch in the Eighties. Veloce Publishing, Dorchester. ISBN 978-1-84584-214-7.