Brands Hatch

One of the most iconic sporting venues in the world, Brands Hatch can lay claim to being the busiest race circuit in Europe. Having undergone a series of major improvements in recent years, the Kent circuit now attracts some of the biggest international events on the calendar, including World Superbikes, the World Touring Car Championship, DTM and the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.

As well as hosting international meetings, Brands Hatch will hold the opening and final rounds of the British Superbike and British Touring Car championships in 2008, two major historic meetings, two truck events, British F3/GT, the Autotuner modified car show and a number of club bike and car events.

Ever since starting out as a dirt track motorcycle circuit in 1926, Brands Hatch has been characterised by its natural amphitheatre, with virtually the entire ‘Indy’ configuration visible from the spectator banking and grandstands. A firm fans’ favourite, Brands Hatch has also witnessed a number of significant moments in motorsport history, including the first-ever British Touring Car race, Ayrton Senna’s first car win, Nigel Mansell’s debut F1 victory and James Toseland’s only double win in World Superbikes.

Click Here to see list of events at Brands Hatch.

History of Brands Hatch

There has been a race track at Brands since 1926, when the land was first used for grass track bike racing. In those days, competitors ran anti-clockwise, but the direction of the circuit was switched in 1954.

The heritage of Brands is vast – name any famous driver from the last 50 years or so and they are bound to have cut their teeth racing there. Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Barry Sheene, Jack Brabham, Derek Minter, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna and current F1 star Jenson Button are among the countless drivers to have raced and won at Brands over the years.

In 1983, MotorSport Vision Chief-Executive Jonathan Palmer made his Formula One debut at the Kent circuit with a Williams FW08C. Two years later, Nigel Mansell scored his first Grand Prix victory there, also winning the final F1 race at Brands in 1986.

Since then, the cream of world motor racing has appeared at Brands Hatch, and the World Superbike Championship has become an annual pilgrimage for bike fans all over the globe. The circuit’s unique combination of dips, cambers, fearsome corners and hills means it is still one of the world's favourite racing circuits, and with great racing and constant development from MSV continues to go from strength to strength.

Circuit Statistics

Indy Circuit

Length: 1.198 miles (1.929 km)

Direction: Clockwise

Corners: 6

GP Circuit

Length: 2.301 miles (3.703 km)

Direction: Clockwise

Corners: 9

Updated: April 2006