Home   Gravesend   Sport   Article

Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit marks 60th anniversary with Masters Historic Festival

Dan Wright
dwright@thekmgroup.co.uk
20:56, 28 August 2020  | Updated: 21:09, 28 August 2020

Formula 1 cars reverberated around Brands Hatch just weeks after the legendary Grand Prix circuit turned 60 years old.

The West Kingsdown track's longer 2.4-mile route – which boasts an historic woodland section – held its first major car meeting on August 1 1960.

Martin O'Connell, 45, won the first Historic Formula One race in his 1982 Tyrrell 011B. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Martin O'Connell, 45, won the first Historic Formula One race in his 1982 Tyrrell 011B. Picture: Simon Hildrew

Jack Brabham, driving a Cooper T53, won the inaugural event – a non-championship F1 thrash dubbed the Silver City Trophy.

The circuit hosted its last Grand Prix in 1986, but the Masters Historic Formula 1 championship brought a taste of motorsport's highest level back to north Kent last weekend.

Former F1 star Johnny Herbert drove an Ensign N180B, finishing fifth in the opening race on Saturday.

But the 1985 Formula Ford Festival winner was ruled out of the second race on Sunday with a gear-linkage problem.

Here, KM photographer Simon Hildrew captures some of the best of the action from across the weekend...

Gallery1

Three-time Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert drove this 1981 Ensign N180B Grand Prix car. Picture: Simon HildrewJonathan Holtzman's newly-built Tyrrell P34. Picture: Simon HildrewJon Fairley, 11, and Will Nuthall, finished first and second in both Historic Grand Prix Cars races. Picture: Simon HildrewThe start of the first Equipe Classic Racing race won by leader Tom Smith in his MGB. Picture: Simon HildrewRob Fenn, right, won the Pre-66 Touring Cars race, after Steve Soper, left, vaulted the barriers on the final lap when his throttle stuck open at Stirlings. Picture: Simon HildrewMike Whitaker, leading, won the Gentleman Drivers race in his 1965 TVR Griffith. Picture: Simon HildrewJon Fairley, leading, won both Historic Grand Prix Cars races in his 1964 Brabham BT11. Picture: Simon HildrewNick Swift, 26, from Tenterden, finished third and fifth in the closely-fought Pre-66 Mini races. Picture: Simon HildrewJeff Smith, 55, beat Tom Bell in the first Pre-66 Mini race. Picture: Simon HildrewOllie Streek, 100, from Cranbrook, finished sixth and seventh in the Pre-66 Mini races. Picture: Simon HildrewThe Masters Historic Sports Cars field streams into Paddock Hill Bend on the opening lap. Picture: Simon HildrewAlex Brundle and Gary Pearson, 23, won the Masters Historic Sports Cars race in their 1971 Lola T70. Picture: Simon HildrewJoe Ferguson, 34, beat former BTCC star Jeff Smith in the second, closely-fought Pre-66 Mini race. Picture: Simon HildrewIan Curley, 46, from Marden, and Nick Swift, 26, from Tenterden, had close battles in the two Pre-66 Mini races - Swift finished in third and fifth while Curley scored third and fourth-place finishes. Picture: Simon HildrewJonathan Holtzman raced his newly-built 1976 Tyrrell P34 recreation. He finished third and fifth in class in the Historic Formula One races. Picture: Simon HildrewHistoric Formula One competitor Greg Thornton, 1, scored a win and a third place in his 1982 Lotus 91. Picture: Simon HildrewMark Ashworth, 87, won the second Equipe Classic Racing encounter in his TVR Grantura. Picture: Simon Hildrew

Brands Hatch hosts the British GT Championship this weekend.

In April, KentOnline published 51 photos of the county's race circuits as lockdown continued.

For the latest sport news from across the county, click here

Motorsport Dan Wright

Most popular

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More