If you've liked what you've seen of the Motorsports Section, then why not go along yourself. Here are some recommended events.

Brands Hatch hosts every conceivable form of motorsport during a packed calendar of racing action, including bike racing, cars, both clubbie and promoted, even rallycross at the end of the year...

Oct 16/17- Formula Ford Festival which is one of the classic end-of-season junior single-seater meetings. It doesn't attract the 200+ cars it used to in its '80s heyday but FFord Festival champion is still one of the most prestigious titles there is in UK motor racing - previous winners include Jan Magnusson, Chico Serra, Eddie Irvine, Johnny Herbert, Mark Webber, Anthony Davidson, all of whom went on to race in Formula 1.

Oct 23/24 There's the final meeting of the year for the BMCRC Nationwide and MRO Powerbike Tour it will also act as a kind of tribute meeting for Britain's new World Superbike Champion James Toseland. James will be here to meet the fans etc and he may even be doing demo laps on his WSB-winning Ducati too. It should be a unique chance for bike racing fans to get up close and personal with the only sportsman in the UK who's won a World anything this year.

Oct 30/31 Rallycross Superprix, which features the final rounds of the British Rallycross and BRDA Rallycross championships. Again, doesn't pull in the 20k crowds it did in the '80s (when it was shown on BBC Grandstand with Murray Walker commentating) but it's still a very cool event, and something very different - rallycross gives the viewer the best of both worlds from rallying and circuit racing. You get the spectacular drifting style of rally cars but racing head to head against each other. One of the most spectacular forms of motorsport there is.

2005 Dates

March 26-28 Brands Hatch Indy British Superbike Championship

May 28/29 Brands Hatch Indy British Touring Car Championship

July 30/31 Brands Hatch GP World Superbike Championship (Provisional)

Sept 10/11 Brands Hatch GP British Superbike Championship

October ½ Brands Hatch GP British Touring Car Championship

Brands Hatch GP circuit to host BSB and BTCC dates
Touring cars to return to Grand Prix track after three-year absence

 The legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit will host rounds of Britain’s two premier motorsport championships – the British Superbike Championship and the British Touring Car Championship – in 2005. 

MotorSport Vision has released the first details of its calendar for next year, with both top-level series confirming several dates at MSV circuits.   BSB gets six rounds at MSV venues, with two visits to both Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, one trip to Snetterton and the championship’s annual pilgrimage to Cadwell Park for the big August Bank Holiday meeting.

 Meanwhile, the BTCC will feature four times at MSV tracks, appearing twice at Brands Hatch and once each at Snetterton and Oulton Park.

The major news, though, is that both will feature rounds on the fabulous 2.4-mile Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, regarded by many as the best drivers’ track in Britain.   The BSB championship visited the long circuit in June this year, producing some cracking racing in difficult, damp conditions which allowed World Superbike ace Leon Haslam to stun the BSB regulars by scoring a brilliant win.

The BTCC, however, which was scheduled to run on the Grand Prix circuit in 2004, was reverted to the shorter Indy circuit for its meeting in August.   MSV managing director Jonathan Palmer is delighted that an agreement has been reached for the championship to return to the circuit, having last raced there in 2001.

“The BTCC is the UK’s leading car racing championship and forms a very important part of our race calendar,” said Palmer.   “However I made it clear early this year that MotorSport Vision had a massive task to reverse the heavy losses made by the group of circuits in recent years.   We had to take immediate action to cut costs and changing the BTCC’s date from the GP to the Indy circuit was part of this. 

“I am optimistic that with the increased efficiencies that we have achieved and the bigger crowds we are expecting next year, partly as a consequence of the improvements we have made to our circuits, we will be in a stronger financial situation next year.   I am also pleased that the need to drive down the costs of the BTCC championship to the circuits has been responded to positively.

 “The combination of these factors has lead to the decision to reintroduce the Grand Prix circuit for the BTCC and we are all looking forward to more exciting race action in 2005.

 “The British Superbike championship has been absolutely first class in 2004, attracting our biggest crowds across the circuits.  To have five manufacturers involved all winning races speaks volumes for the success of the series and the racing is always outstanding – no wonder so many flock to see it.

 “We really look forward to welcoming Britain’s two premier championships to a great calendar of racing across MotorSport Vision’s circuits, which are considered by many to include some of the best in the country.”

 The BSB kicks off its championship by holding its opening races on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit on Easter weekend, March 26-28, while the BTCC’s first visit to an MSV track is also on the 1.2-mile Kent track on May 28/29.

BTCC Calendar

Brands Indy
May 28/29

Oulton Park 
June 18/19

Snetterton
August 6/7

Brands GP
October 1/2

BSB Calendar

Brands Indy
March 26/27/28

Oulton Park
April 30 - May 2

Snetterton
July 9/10

Oulton Park
July 23/24

Cadwell Park
August 27 - 29

Brands GP
September 10/11

Buy tickets for events: