Aston Martin centenary at Brands Hatch

The largest collection of Aston Martin racing cars ever to gather on a single track will meet at Brands Hatch in July for a unique race series to continue the British brand’s centenary celebrations. More than a hundred of the marque’s racing cars, dating from 1922 to the present day, will gather for the two-day race series in Kent on 6th and 7th July. 2013 is the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Aston Martin, and the event in July will recognise the company’s achievements in sports car racing during the last century. Aston Martin has recorded multiple wins at Le Mans, including outright victory in 1959, as well as the World Sportscar Championship the same year and most recently the Le Mans Series title in 2009. The two-day event will see Aston Martin racing cars from nearly every decade compete on the Brands Hatch Indy and Grand Prix circuits. Two special centenary races are also planned, the first covering the pre-war era to the mid 1960s, and the second open to all Astons from the mid-sixties, including the latest Aston Martin GT1, GTE, GT3 and GT4 cars in a single race on the Grand Prix circuit. Additional races will include pre-war Aston Martins, with Lagondas and Bentleys also expected to take part. Meanwhile the AMOC Intermarque Championship, ‘50s Sports Cars, Equipe GTS and HRDC Touring Greats categories will also pit cars from throughout Aston Martin’s history against contemporary rivals. The weekend will also feature two rounds of the 2013 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain. Off the track there will be examples of nearly every Aston Martin racing car ever produced, plus some of its finest road machinery, while everything from pre-war Ulsters through to Nimrods and the Aston Martin AMR1 will take part in on-track demonstrations. The marque’s connection with James Bond will also be showcased in a display to celebrate the history of 007’s Aston Martin cars from the DB5’s first appearance in Goldfinger in 1964 to its most recent appearance in Skyfall. Meanwhile, owners of Aston Martin and Lagonda cars will be invited to take part in track parades and to display their cars around the historic venue. A concours area, dealer stands and live music will also entertain visitors, while a special celebration dinner will be held on the Saturday night in the MotorSport Vision (MSV) Centre at Brands Hatch. David Richards, chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “Brands Hatch has played an important part in Aston Martin’s racing history so is a fitting venue for one of the key events in our year of centenary celebrations. “Legendary drivers such as Graham Hill, Jack Sears and Innes Ireland all raced at Brands Hatch in Aston Martin cars and the atmospheric Kent circuit will provide a wonderful arena for our competition and road cars to participate in what I’m sure will be a superb weekend.” Jonathan Palmer, chief executive of MSV added: “Aston Martin is an incredible brand that is synonymous with quintessentially British sports cars, famous for an enviable pedigree from James Bond 007, royal patronage and Le Mans motor racing success. “With a great range of ever-evolving road cars, Aston Martin makes products that are more desirable than ever and we believe a record number of its sports cars will be present at the Brands Hatch Centenary Meeting. From Motorin News