Brands Hatch

Interesting facts

The circuit sits in a natural, grass-banked hollow in Kent, where spectators on the sloping banks look almost straight down onto the action, as if seated in an amphitheatre. The site started out in 1926 as a venue for cycling and cross-country running, and only became England's first purpose-built post-war racing circuit when it opened for motor racing in 1950. Paddock Hill Bend, right after the pit straight, drops away steeply with a blind apex, long the circuit's most famous and feared corner, where drivers commit before they can see where the road leads. Between 1964 and 1986 it shared the British Grand Prix with Silverstone twelve times, alternately hosting Formula 1's home race. At the 1976 British Grand Prix the race was stopped after a first-lap collision between Clay Regazzoni and Niki Lauda, and James Hunt, who had not completed that lap, was still allowed to line up for the restart under pressure from a crowd chanting 'We Want Hunt,' going on to win the race outright. Months later, following a Ferrari protest, Hunt was stripped of the win and the victory was reassigned to Lauda. The 1986 British Grand Prix turned out to be the last Formula 1 race ever held at Brands Hatch: Nigel Mansell scored a home win ahead of teammate Nelson Piquet, after a multi-car start-line crash broke both of Jacques Laffite's legs. Losing Formula 1 didn't turn the circuit into a museum piece: the British Touring Car Championship has raced there continuously since 1958. You'll find it in Kent, United Kingdom. On the calendar since 1964, this circuit has hosted 14 races, the latest in 1986. Jim Clark took the inaugural win here in 1964. Nigel Mansell won here most recently, in 1986. The most successful driver at this circuit is Niki Lauda, with 3 wins. Williams is the dominant constructor at this circuit, with 3 wins.

Circuit history