Kent circuit Brands Hatch is to host more than 35 events in 2018, headlined by the return of DTM touring cars.
Brands Hatch circuit has announced its busiest line-up of events in a decade, with the return of the DTM German Touring Cars and Festival of Porsche included in a line-up that features major national and international racing championships, family-friendly festivals and high-octane entertainment almost every weekend from March until November. Tickets for most events are now on sale from £12, with free admission to under-13s.
Major championships head to Kent
The DTM German Touring Car Championship will return to the Kent circuit on 11/12 August, and for the first time will race on the full Grand Prix circuit with a driver line-up that includes former Formula 1 drivers Paul Di Resta and Pascal Wehrlein as well as Bromley’s 2005 champion Gary Paffett. An equally thrilling spectacle is expected from the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup on 5/6 May, with stunning supercars racing and on display off the track.
Brands Hatch will also host Britain’s biggest national racing championships, with the new-look Bennetts British Superbike Championship making three trips to Kent. Local hero Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will be aiming for his seventh title, and third in a row on the Indy circuit on 13-15 April, followed by two visits to the Grand Prix circuit. The first of these is the ‘Big Brands Bash’ summer party on 20-22 July, followed by the big Showdown finale on 12-14 October, where the next champion will be crowned.
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship features one of the most exciting grids in years, with Wrotham’s Motorbase team fielding two title-chasing drivers and local talents Jake Hill and Mike Bushell teaming up at Strood’s Team HARD. They’ll all be setting sights on deposing champion Ashley Sutton in the opening rounds on 7/8 April and at the Grand Prix circuit finale on 29/30 September.
The crowd-pleasing British Truck Racing events are back on Easter weekend (1/2 April) and the fireworks-themed round on 3/4 November. There will also be the opportunity to watch supercars and future stars in action in the British GT and Formula 3 Championships on 4/5 August.
Great cars and motoring nations celebrated
A trio of nation-themed festivals will bring the world’s best cars, food and entertainment to Kent in 2018. The biggest of these will be American SpeedFest VI on 9/10 June, and the super-sized event is headlined by NASCAR Whelen Euroseries racing on the track, plus demonstrations, displays, off-track entertainment and much more all with a transatlantic twang.
European flavour will be provided by Festival Italia on Sunday 19 August, combining performance and pasta on a summer’s day. Before this, Deutsche Fest on 16/17 June will be a Teutonic treat with German-themed racing and evening entertainment that includes an Oktoberfest-style beer tent.
The return of Festival of Porsche on Sunday 2 September celebrates Germany’s leading sports car marque, and the list of confirmed cars includes the stunning 919 Hybrid, Porsche’s most recent Le Mans-winning machine. The popular Mini Festival is also on the calendar, and will take place one week earlier, on 25/26 August. Both modern and classic Minis will be in action and on parade.
There’s plenty more nostalgia at the Masters Historic Festival (26/27 May) and Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix (30 June/1 July), both of which will feature historic racing from touring cars to Formula 1. Meanwhile, Tunerfest South on Sunday 24 June will bring the best in high-end modified cars to Kent.
In addition to these highlights, there’s a wealth of club racing action throughout the season. Each event offers great value for money with admission from just £12, and under-13s go free to all of the year’s fixtures.
Brands Hatch 2018 events highlights
Sun 1-Mon 2 April – British Truck Racing (Indy circuit)
Sat 7-Sun 8 April – Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (Indy circuit)
Fri 13–Sun 15 April – Bennetts British Superbike Championship (Indy circuit)
Sat 5–Sun 6 May – Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup (GP circuit)
Sat 26–Sun 27 May – Masters Historic Festival (GP circuit)
Sat 9–Sun 10 June – American SpeedFest VI (Indy circuit)
Sun 17 June – Deutsche Fest (Indy circuit)
Sun 24 June – Tunerfest South (Indy circuit)
Sat 30 June – Sun 1 July – Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix (GP circuit)
Fri 20–Sun 22 July – Bennetts British Superbike Championship (GP circuit)
Sat 4–Sun 5 August – DTM German Touring Cars (GP circuit)
Sun 19 August – Festival Italia (Indy circuit)
Sat 25–Sun 26 August – Mini Festival (Indy circuit)
Sun 2 September – Festival of Porsche (Indy circuit)
Sat 29-Sun 30 September – Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (GP circuit)
Fri 12–Sun 14 October – Bennetts British Superbike Championship (GP circuit)
Sat 3–Sun 4 November – British Truck Racing and Fireworks (Indy circuit)
Tickets for many of these events are now on sale from £12 in advance. For more information visit www.brandshatch.co.uk