DTM Brands Hatch

DTM returns to the United Kingdom again, Europe’s most successful touring car series is going to race at the time-honoured circuit of Brands Hatch. Located 30 kilometres south-east to London, close to the town of West Kingsdown, the Grand Prix circuit is one of Great Britain’s most popular racetracks. From 1964 to 1986, Brands Hatch and Silverstone hosted the British GP in turns. For the DTM, this year’s round will represent its second appearance at the track that was built back in 1926 and was incorporated into the hills of the Kent countryside to create a natural amphitheatre. The first car race in Brands Hatch was held in 1950. Up to this point in time, it was only used as motorbike racetrack. The DTM will race on the circuit’s 1.937-kilometre Indy layout - a truly challenging track. At the end of the pit straight, the drivers will have to cope with the ‘Paddock Hill Bend’ - a bend you need all your courage for. On the track slightly sloping to the outside, you go at high speed down the ‘Hailwood Hill’ and, following a depression, up again towards ‘Druids Hill Bend’. Then it’s downhill again, across the fast left-hander ‘Graham Hill Bend’, followed by the Cooper Straight leading to the corner prior to the pit straight: the ‘Clark Curve’ with a total angle of nearly 270 degrees. Those who travel to Brands Hatch may look forward to a lot of touring car action: being about 363 metres shorter than the Norisring, Brands Hatch is the shortest circuit on the DTM calendar and offers the drivers nearly no opportunity to relax, with a lot of courage being a must. The 38.03-second ‘Indy-Circuit’ lap record was established back in 2004 by teenager Scott Mansell in a Formula 1 Benetton car formerly driven by DTM star Jean Alesi.