THE Brands Hatch circuit at West Kingsdown is to host the global debut of the A1 Grand Prix Championship on September 16-18.

The event is an international single seater series in which participating teams each represent different nations and compete for the "World Cup of Motorsport".

A1 GP is the brainchild of Dubai-based Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum.

The race meeting will include free practice on Friday, September 16, qualifying sessions on the Saturday, building up to a sprint race and a main feature race on Sunday September 18.

MotorSport Vision Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer said: “We are thrilled to have the first ever event of this exciting new championship at Brands Hatch.

"MotorSport Vision is totally committed to revitalising its circuits and returning Brands Hatch to the past glory days is a priority. It is a fabulous drivers’ circuit, steeped in history and has a fantastic atmosphere with the best viewing in Britain.

“Our three year agreement to host A1 Grand Prix now provides racing fans with a world class car racing event at Brands Hatch to complement our World Superbike Championship round, which is recognised as one of the best events in the championship, drawing a huge crowd.

"We are looking forward to working with Sheikh Maktoum to create a truly outstanding entertainment event.

"I admire the innovation and enormous commitment of A1 GP together with the totally new concept of capitalising on the huge global interest in competition between nations and providing a driving force for the development of motor race driving talent in many different countries, some of which would not normally get the chance to showcase their drivers."

A1 GP uses Lola single-seater cars powered by 3.4-litre V8 Zytek engines producing 550bhp.

The championship has prompted the largest order in the UK motorsport industry’s history, including the production and purchase of 50 A1 GP cars from Lola and 58 engines from the Zytek Engineering company.

So far, 13 countries – Great Britain (headed by ex-Formula 1 World Champion John Surtees), South Africa, Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, China, Lebanon, Portugal, Mexico, Holland, South Korea and Turkey – have confirmed teams and at least 23 cars are expected to form the grid for the season-opener at Brands.