THE Brands Hatch circuit will host the UK’s largest gathering of racing GT and Touring cars of the year this weekend (June 25-26) when the Belcar series visits Kent.

The Belgian-based Belcar series, currently led by Chevrolet Corvette C5R pilot Marc Goossens, is one of Europe’s premier race championships for sportscars and touring cars. It will be the championship’s first ever visit to Great Britain.

UK-based endurance series Britcar, Britsports and Production S1 are all on the support bill for the event.

Britcar driver Peter Seldon, who comes from nearby Sevenoaks, is looking forward to putting his 'homefield advantage' to good use.

Seldon, who will be giving the 4.9-litre V8 BMW M3 GTR he shares with ex-works Peugeot British Touring Car driver Eugene O’Brien its Britcar debut, said: "I know the Brands Hatch GP circuit very well. I first drove it in 1969 when I was 17 in my mother’s MG 1100.

"In my opinion it’s the most exciting circuit in the UK from the perspective of the driver and the spectator. I’m pretty quick at the track relative to other circuits because I know it so well so I suppose I would hope to have some small advantage, but it will be the first time we’ve raced the car."

With 50 sensational GT and Touring Cars entered for the Belcar race, this event will be the perfect event for those racing fans who didn’t quite get enough sportscar fever at last weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hour meeting in France.

The big, powerful sportscars like the Chrysler Viper GTS-R and the Porsche 996 will be going head to head with Touring Cars such as the BMW M3 E46 and the Audi TT V8.

Tickets for the meeting cost £12 per adult per day, with children aged 12 and under going free. Parking and paddock access is also free all weekend.

Practice on Saturday starts at 9am, with the first of three races at 12.45pm. On Sunday, the first of four races starts at 10.25am, with the Belcar race at 12.10pm.