Brands Hatch

The Brands Hatch circuit in Kent is a motorsport mecca, and was once the busiest motorsport venue in the world. Scene of many classic Formula One and sports car races, as well as numerous other international, national and club events, the circuit is currently undergoing a renaissance under the ownership of Jonathan Palmer’s MotorSport Vision company. Here is the definitive history of Brands Hatch, featuring the events, cars, motorcycles and characters that have made it Britain’s best-loved motor racing circuit.

Chas Parker is a motorsport writer who started his working life in the field of astronomy, as press officer for the Royal Greenwich Observatory. During this time he obtained a degree in mathematics and physics from the Open University. He has contributed to the Philips Encyclopaedia of Astronomy and Patrick Moore’s Yearbook of Astronomy. His main interest, however, is motor racing, and he spent many years taking photographs at different racing circuits around the UK, amassing a collection of many thousands of color transparencies. For some time he has worked as a sub-editor for Motorsport News, and he also reports on events such as the Goodwood Revival meeting and Festival of Speed.