It all kicks off at Brands Hatch this weekend with 2017 set to be the most exciting calendar ever.
Brands Hatch circuit has announced a 2017 events calendar filled with a huge variety of events, including national and international racing championships, and an expanded line-up of family-friendly festivals, with action almost every weekend from March until November.
Tickets for most events are now on sale from £10, with free admission to under-13s.
Kick-starting the season this weekend (4/5 March) will be the Thundersport GB Club Bike Championships.
Thundersport events have an atmosphere all of their own with packed grids, grid girls, lively event radio and free full-colour informative programmes. A wide variety of bikes will be in action, and visitors can also see them close-up in the paddock.
Major championships heading to Kent
The calendar includes three visits from Britain’s biggest racing series, the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. Kent’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will be defending his title at his home track over the Easter weekend (14-17 April), before returning on the full Grand Prix track for 21-23 July and the final rounds on 13-15 October.
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship gets underway on the Indy circuit on 1/2 April, where Gordon Shedden will be defending his title against a bumper 32-car field. The final rounds will also take place on the GP circuit on 30 September/1 October, when the title is set to be decided.
Heading the list of international championships is the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup on 6/7 May, where exotic supercars will race on the Grand Prix circuit. The British GT Championship will also be appearing at Brands Hatch on 5/6 August, along with the BRDC British F3 Championship.
The British Truck Racing Championship is a big hit with families, and the leviathans of motorsport will appear on 25/26 March, and return on 4/5 November, which ends with a huge Guy Fawkes night fireworks display.
Family-friendly festival line-up expanded
American SpeedFest V on 10/11 June is set to be another blockbuster, with NASCAR Whelen Euro Series stock car racing headlining on-track action, plus a carnival of Americana.
Festival Italia will also return on 13 August, and will be followed by an all-new event, Deutsche Fest on 19/20 August, which will celebrate Germany’s rich motoring heritage.
There are also festivals celebrating the Mini (8/9 July) and Lotus (2 September) brands, whilst the popular Masters Historic Festival (27/28 May) and Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix (1/2 July) will feature historic racing from touring cars to F1. Meanwhile, Tunerfest South on 25 June will be a feast for fans of high performance and modified cars.
In addition to these highlights, there’s a wealth of club racing action, offering great value for money with admission to these from just £10, and under-13s go free to all events.
Brands Hatch 2017 events highlights
25-26 March British Truck Racing Championship (Indy circuit)
1-2 April Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (Indy circuit)
14-17 April MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship (Indy circuit)
6-7 May Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup (GP circuit)
27-28 May Masters Historic Festival (GP circuit)
10-11 June American SpeedFest V (Indy circuit)
25 June Tunerfest South (Indy circuit)
1-2 July Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix (GP circuit)
8-9 July Mini Festival (Indy circuit)
21-23 July MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship (GP circuit)
5-6 August British GT and BRDC British F3 Championships (GP circuit)
13 August Festival Italia (Indy circuit)
19-20 August Deutsche Fest (Indy circuit)
2 September Lotus Festival (Indy circuit)
30 September-1 October Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (GP circuit)
13-15 October MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship (GP circuit)
4-5 November British Truck Racing and Fireworks (Indy circuit)