There’s more to British motorsport than F1

Proving that there’s more for British motorsport fans than just Formula One, MotorSport Vision has finalised the 2008 calendar for its four racing circuits – Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park – with a host of World and British Championships set to thrill next year.

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision, said: “I am really excited about the mix of events and caliber of championships coming to our circuits next season. Britain is riding on a motorsport high following the success of Lewis Hamilton in Formula One, and I hope this enthusiasm will spread, so that more people will support different forms of motor racing and other British talents.

“Between our circuits, we take motor racing to four different counties, offering people across the UK the chance to enjoy live motorsport throughout the year – with everything from club racing to the international superstars of the motorsport world lining up on the grid.”

Across the World

Brands Hatch is the chosen circuit for some of the world’s foremost racing championships next year, with four international series visiting the circuit. The A1GP ‘World Cup of Motorsport’ will kick-start 2008’s international visits in May, followed by World Touring Cars in July, World Superbikes in August, and DTM (Germany’s leading touring car series) at the end of August.

Reigning triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx will be one of the drivers flying the British flag in an international championship next year, and he can’t wait to come back to Brands Hatch: “I love racing in front of my home fans and going to one of my favourite tracks to do this is perfect,” he said. “Winning at Brands Hatch this year was the highlight of my season. The end result of the 2007 championship was a dream come true and I now can’t wait to start the 2008 season.”

Best of British

All four circuits will be celebrating the return of Britain’s premier motor racing championships in 2008. The British Superbike season launch will take place at Snetterton in March, before the BSB series visits all four MotorSport Vision tracks – including two trips to Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, where the season begins and ends. They will also stop off at the unique festival atmosphere of Cadwell Park, and Snetterton, where the bikes will hit almost 200mph. With British riders among the hot favourites to challenge for the title, Britain certainly has something to celebrate. Watch out for HM Plant Honda’s Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow, as well as Airwaves Ducati’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Leon Camier.

Equally, the British Touring Car Championship has some serious home-grown contenders in the shape of Matt Neal and Jason Plato. Plato narrowly missed the 2007 title to Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi and will be hoping 2008 is the year he can bring it back onto home soil. British Touring Cars will be racing at Brands Hatch in March and September, Snetterton in June and Oulton Park in July.

Past and Present

Variety is the spice of life for MotorSport Vision, which is why several vintage events and annual crowd pleasers have also been added to the mix. Highlights include the ever popular Vintage Sports Car Festival and Gold Cup at Oulton Park, and the British Kart Grand Prix at Cadwell Park. It will be double the fun at Brands Hatch as well, when the spectacular British Truck Racing Championship pays two visits to the Kent Circuit in March and November.

‘A golden era’

Jonathan Palmer, who is also an Ex-Formula One driver, adds: “This is a golden era for MotorSport Vision, particularly for Brands Hatch, which has just celebrated its busiest season to date. We don’t need to host a grand prix to be successful – there’s so much more to motorsport than Formula One, which the calendar shows. This year has provided us with some truly memorable moments, including James Toseland’s double World Superbike victory at Brands Hatch in August, and Mika Hakkinen racing on British soil for the final time in DTM. We are confident that there will be even more highlights in 2008”.

Tickets are now on sale for the first few events of the season, including the Easter Monday Truck Superprix, the British Superbike Championship, the British Touring Car Championship, and A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at Brands Hatch. For more information call 0870 950 9000 or visit motorsportvision.co.uk/calendar.

MotorSport Vision 2008 circuit calendar highlights:

Brands Hatch
23 March Lotus Celebration
24 March Easter Monday Truck Superprix
29/30 March British Touring Car Championship
4/5/6 April British Superbike Championship
2/3/4 May A1GP – World Cup of Motorsport
24/25/26 May Masters Historic Festival
28/29 June HSCC Historic Superprix
12/13 July Formula 3 / British GT
26/27 July World Touring Car Championship
1/2/3 August World Superbike Championship
29/30/31 August DTM
20/21 September British Touring Car Championship
2 November Truck Superprix
15 November Britcar Night Race

Oulton Park
22/24 March Formula 3 / British GT
3/4/5 May British Superbike Championship
14 June Vintage Sports Car Festival
18/19/20 July British Superbike Championship
26/27 July British Touring Car Championship
24/25 August Oulton Park Gold Cup

Snetterton
22/23/24 March British Superbike season launch
25/26 May 24 Hour 2CV Race
7/8 June Formula 3 / British GT
13/14/15 June British Superbike Championship
12/13 July British Touring Car Championship


Cadwell Park
6 April Ginetta Festival
19/20 July British Kart Grand Prix
23/24/25 August British Superbike Championship