Brands Hatch
Kent, UK · 14 races held
Race History
| Year | Grand Prix | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | British Grand Prix | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| 1985 | European Grand Prix | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| 1984 | British Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | McLaren |
| 1983 | European Grand Prix | Nelson Piquet | Brabham |
| 1982 | British Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | McLaren |
| 1980 | British Grand Prix | Alan Jones | Williams |
| 1978 | British Grand Prix | Carlos Reutemann | Ferrari |
| 1976 | British Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | Ferrari |
| 1974 | British Grand Prix | Jody Scheckter | Tyrrell |
| 1972 | British Grand Prix | Emerson Fittipaldi | Team Lotus |
| 1970 | British Grand Prix | Jochen Rindt | Team Lotus |
| 1968 | British Grand Prix | Jo Siffert | Lotus-Ford |
| 1966 | British Grand Prix | Jack Brabham | Brabham-Repco |
| 1964 | British Grand Prix | Jim Clark | Lotus-Climax |
About Brands Hatch
Set in a natural amphitheatre in the Kentish countryside near West Kingsdown, Brands Hatch grew from a grass-track venue into one of Britain's most beloved racing circuits. Its dramatic, undulating layout follows the contours of a valley, giving spectators sweeping views of the cars as they plunge and climb across the landscape.
The circuit hosted the British Grand Prix on twelve occasions between 1964 and 1986, alternating the race with Silverstone for much of that period. It also staged two editions of the European Grand Prix, in 1983 and 1985. After 1986 the full Grand Prix circuit fell off the Formula 1 calendar, but Brands Hatch remains a thriving venue for national and international motorsport to this day.
The track became synonymous with British racing's golden era, drawing huge, passionate crowds who could watch much of the action from the natural slopes surrounding the start-finish straight and the famous Druids hairpin.
Memorable Moments
- 1964: Jim Clark won the first British Grand Prix held at Brands Hatch in his Lotus-Climax, introducing the circuit to the world championship.
- 1970: Jochen Rindt took victory after Jack Brabham, leading on the final lap, ran short of fuel and faltered at the last corner, on Rindt's way to a posthumous title.
- 1976: Niki Lauda won amid controversy after a first-lap startline crash and restart; James Hunt's initial home win was later disqualified, fuelling the famous Hunt-Lauda rivalry.
- 1986: Nigel Mansell delighted the home crowd with victory in the last British Grand Prix held at the circuit, a fitting send-off for Brands Hatch as an F1 venue.
Track Character
Brands Hatch is defined by its rollercoaster topography. From the start the cars sweep downhill into Paddock Hill Bend, a fearsome plunging right-hander that catches out the unwary, before climbing to Druids, a tight hairpin that offers a classic late-braking overtaking opportunity. The flowing, blind crests and elevation changes demand commitment and rhythm rather than stop-start precision. Combined with the steep natural banking that brings spectators close to the action, the circuit delivers an intense, atmospheric experience that drivers and fans alike regard as one of the great challenges of British motorsport.