BRANDS HATCH welcomes the world’s fastest touring car championship to the circuit this weekend with the inaugural visit of the DTM series.

Drivers will include several ex-Formula 1 stars, including two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen, along with Jean Alesi and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Far from being a resting ground for ageing drivers, the series has quickly established itself as the most important touring car series in the world.

And the cars, a mixture of 500bhp Mercedes and Audis, will be averaging 100mph around the 1.2-mile Indy circuit.

Finnish star Hakkinen is still awaiting his first win of the season and currently lies fourth in the championship.

He said: "I had a good test earlier this year at Brands Hatch and I enjoyed the track after so many years having not run there.

"I want to win more races and doing it at Brands Hatch would be great."

Currently leading the series is seven-times Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, just two points ahead of German challenger Bernd Schneider.

Top British racer is Jamie Green, who currently sits in joint fourth, alongside Hakkinen and Frentzen.

Free practice is on Friday while qualifying is on Saturday. Spectators can visit the pits between 9am and 10am on Sunday, before the warm-up.

The main race gets underway at midday. Tickets on the gate cost £30 with children aged 12 and under admitted free.