Brands Hatch’s 2016 calendar has been confirmed, with major national and international championships and festivals headlining a schedule of more than 35 events.

It all gets underway next weekend (5/6 March) and will run almost every weekend until November. Tickets for many of these are now on sale from £10, with free entry to under-13s at all events.

Kick-starting the season on 5/6 March will be the Thundersport GB Club Bike Championships. Thundersport is the fastest-growing motorcycle club in the UK and their events have an atmosphere all of their own with packed grids, grid girls, lively event radio and free full-colour informative programmes. A wide variety of two-wheeled classes will cover junior riders up to the high-tech Thundersport GP1 class and visitors will be able to chat to the competitors in the paddock as they prepare for action.
2016 season highlights unveiled
The famous Kent circuit will host two international championships this season, including the Blancpain GT Series on 7/8 May. The event will be a must-see for supercar fans, with three GT championships, a supercar display and high-speed demonstrations from rare ultracars, with the Bugatti Veyron, McLaren P1, LaFerrari and Porsche 918 amongst the amazing machines set to take part.

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series returns to Brands Hatch, bringing a taste of the States to American SpeedFest IV on 11/12 June. The event is a firm favourite with families, and this year there will be two full days of US-style racing mixed with with parades, displays, food and plenty of razzamatazz. On a similar theme, the all-new Festival Italia on 21 August will feature a Mediterranean feel, with Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Italian Formula One cars, an Italian food market and much more.
There will also be festivals celebrating classic and modern Minis on 16/17 July and Lotus on 27/28 August. The latter traditionally features F1 cars, and 1970s and 80s Grand Prix machinery will also be racing at theMasters Historic Festival on 28/29 May, in addition to a host of classic racing categories. There’s also chance to see 1960s F1 cars at July’s Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix, which celebrates the Historic Sports Car Club’s 50th anniversary with nostalgic racing entertainment also including cars from the British Touring Car Championship’s 1990s golden era.

Brands Hatch will also host several major national championships this season, including three visits from theMCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. Triple champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will be out to regain his crown, but faces opposition that includes returning World Superbike star Leon Haslam, plus crowd favourites Ryuichi Kiyonari, John Hopkins and many more. The riders will first appear on the Indy circuit on 20-22 May, and return for a summer party on the Grand Prix circuit on 5-7 August, before the title will be decided on the GP circuit at the Final Showdown round on 14-16 October.

The British Touring Car Championship’s opening and closing rounds will be held in Kent, starting with the Indy circuit on 2/3 April and concluding on the GP loop on 1/2 October. Reigning champion Gordon Shedden and Honda team-mate Matt Neal will resume battle with rivals Jason Plato and Colin Turkington, now racing for Subaru, whilst local team Motorbase are on top form with former champion Andrew Jordan joining Mat Jackson in their Ford Focuses.
Families can look forward to British Truck Racing Championship rounds on Easter weekend (26-28 March) and Guy Fawkes’ weekend (5/6 November). There will be up to ten truck races at each event, plus off-track entertainment for all ages, including a huge fireworks display on 6 November.

Other highlights include high-speed thrills from the British GT Championship supercars and the BRDC Formula 4 Championship featuring the racing stars of tomorrow on 16/17 April, plus the spectacular modified machines of TunerFest South on 19 June.
The varied 2016 calendar even gives Brands Hatch fans the chance to lap the Kent circuit for charity and get fit in the process on 10/11 September at the Revolve 24 Hour cycling event, which is open to both solo riders and teams.
Tickets for many 2016 events at Brands Hatch are now on sale from £10, with free entry for under-13s. For more information call 0843 453 9000 or visit www.brandshatch.co.uk
Brands Hatch 2016 season highlights

Sat 26-Mon 28 Mar – Easter British Truck Racing

Sat 2-Sun 3 Apr – Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship

Sat 16-Sun 17 Apr – British GT and BRDC F4 Championships GP

Sat 7-Sun 8 May – Blancpain GT Sprint Series GP

Fri 20-Sun 22 May – MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship

Sat 28-Sun 29 May – Masters Historic Festival (+ FIA Historic F1) GP

Sat 11-Sun 12 Jun – American SpeedFest IV

Sun 19 Jun – Tunerfest South

Fri 1-Sun 3 Jul – Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix

Sat 16-Sun 17 Jul – Mini Festival

Fri 5-Sun 7 Aug – MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship GP

Sun 14 Aug – Festival Italia

Sat 27-Sun 28 Aug – Lotus Festival GP

Sat 10-Sun 11 Sept – Revolve 24 Hour Cycling Event

Sat 1-Sun 2 Oct – Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship GP

Fri 14-Sun 16 Oct – MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship GP

Sat 5-Sun 6 Nov – British Truck Racing Championship & Fireworks