BRANDS HATCH CIRCUIT ALL SET FOR UK MOTOR RACING'S TOP NAMES
Two weeks and counting: there is now less than a fortnight
to go before Kent’s world-famous Brands Hatch circuit
stages the opening rounds of Britain’s most popular
motor racing series – the HiQ MSA British Touring Car
Championship – on Sunday 30 March. The event marks the
start to the UK’s 2008 motor sport calendar.
Many predict this year’s BTCC will be one of the closest-fought
on record in what is the championship’s golden anniversary
season. Three former champions – Fabrizio Giovanardi,
Matt Neal and Jason Plato – headline a star-studded
grid of drivers that also consists of a dozen or more potential
winners.
Retaining its huge public appeal, the BTCC is contested by
high-performance racing versions of everyday road cars and
Alfa Romeo, BMW, Chevrolet, Honda, Lexus, SEAT and Vauxhall
are all represented on 2008’s grid.
Three races on Sunday – each guaranteed to provide
plenty of the high-adrenaline, bumper-to-bumper action that
has become a hallmark of the BTCC – are sure to keep
the crowds on their feet. As well, there will be further action
from the five supporting race categories.
Brands Hatch’s BTCC season-opener is sure to attract
a huge race day crowd: the circuit is within easy reach of
central London and the M25 and M20 motorways. All-day admission
for adults costs just £22.00 if booked in advance and
entry for children aged 12 and under is FREE. Adding to the
attraction, the Brands circuit’s lay-out, surrounded
by high banks, means the crowds can see virtually the whole
racing lap being played out in front of them.
Part of race day also includes the Pit Lane Walkabout when
the public – including many families – can cross
the track to meet the BTCC drivers for plenty of exciting
give-aways.
And it is fitting that Brands will start the BTCC’s
golden anniversary celebrations – it was at the same
circuit that the championship’s first race was held
back in 1958. As well, Brands is the only circuit in the UK
to stage BTCC races in every one of the 50 years since, making
it something of a spiritual home for the championship.
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