Brands Hatch to host Rallycross again ?

[Sato san]

Autosport reports that Rallycross may be returning to Brands this winter for a one off yearly event !.

Great news for all us sad acts that miss going to the place over the winter months !

[redshoes]

I'll second that. Haven't been 'crossing for ages.

Be interesting to see how they go about restoring the track. There's a lot of newish barriers, particularly down Paddock Hill that will need re-locating.

[Maisie]

Last weekend the commentators mentioned rallycross making a reappearance at Brands - I'd be interested in going.

[imull]

it was in last week or maybe 2 week old motorsport news that they are relaunching the british gp...

[paulzinho]

Sounds great, as for the barriers, Autosport suggests that they could be temporarily moved, love to see it happen and on a date that I could make it too!

I vaguely remember the old event as a nipper and thoroughly enjoying them!

[Kev Smith]

British rallycross GP will be at Croft for the next 3 years

[Stephen Green]

I marshalled at the last Rallycross GP at Brands, what a brilliant day it was too!

The armco down Paddock Hill wouldn't have to be moved much, if at all in my humble opinion. Hoppy's Drop though might need some work to bring it back to it's old daunting self.

[Bodysnatcher]

Great news, but please please drop the loop round clearways. That killed the racing. Keep the track short, Hoppy's drop and onto the bottom straight to the crossroads please.

As for the rallycross GP, Brands have made it quite clear that is not what they want. The event of that name can stay with them up North. We'd just have a one off event (annually) guess it would be a rallycross GP in all but name.

[Stephen Green]

I agree about that awful loop AL, it ruined the circuit for me.

[Mal]

I went regularly to the GP at Brands and it was a great event. I would love to go back as there is not much racing to see at that time of year. Although I remember one year that you could not see past the end of your nose due to the dense fog. I think the meeting was abandoned eventually

[Stephen Green]

I think they ran the qualifying as one car on the track at a time, then as you say, the meeting was abandoned later as it was unsafe to race due to the fog. Shame huh Mal?

[Bodysnatcher]

Originally posted by Stephen Green
I think they ran the qualifying as one car on the track at a time, then as you say, the meeting was abandoned later as it was unsafe to race due to the fog. Shame huh Mal?

Hmm, the foggy one (90 or 91?)

A man who is now a common tater and I were on post 8 for that one. Due to the fog the finish line was repositioned just after 8 heading toward 7. We had to wave the yellows to slow them so that they did't
(a)drive back to 6 and meet the next runner
(b)slow down and not hit those that had already completed a run - we bunched them up in 4s? before sending them back

Crazy as it sounds, both of us stood on the grass and I remember murph nearly having some intimacy with Schanke

Started as 1 at a time and progressed to 2 at a time - we sussed that out purely by the engine notes - we still could'nt see the ridge.

Don't think it was actually abandoned, the results may just have been based on a flying lap.

[racer69]

Great news, and i agree, get rid of the loop around clearways, and get hoppy's drop back.

[Barrie]

A return of rallycross to the circuit would be a dream come true. I was lucky enough to witness all the Rallycross GPs from 82 onwards and have to say they were the best motor-racing meetings Ive ever seen. I agree with losing the loop and using hoppies drop again, thats vital to the success of the circuit. One thing I must mention is that I follow rallycross news very close and Ive heard nothing about this,Croft have got a 3 year contract for the GP, so I suppose it will be watch this space.

[pauldavid]

Sorry but can you really see octogon allowing rallycross at Brands. lets face it they seem hell bent on turning Brands into a corperate playground,if peoples comments are to be beleived . I hope and pray that it turns into reality but do American companies really understand rally cross, they have yet to come to grips with the World rally championship. They make too much money from corporate events during the winter and are getting so much expense from Silverstone will they risk spending more at Brands for one or two winter meetings. However saying that Lyden is looking very dodgy so maybee theres a deal to be done?.
Now you could say i am not the biggest fan of Octogon and yes you would be damn right for my own reasons. I would love to know what the general feeling is, from spectators and Racers. i know there was some debate at the start of the season, maybee its time for a forum debate, now the season is drawing to a close.

[Sato san]

Brands could Make money out of a one off Rally Cross event every year . Spectators will bring in extra revenue during the winter months when they dont normally hold any spectator events .

[pauldavid]

This is true but will it be like most other events at Brands, the only people who attend will be those of us who are "in the know" or so to speak. Lets face it the press and publicity department are not exactly renown for getting events publicised, unless of course it's corporate thing. Which i for one do not mind at all, for in my opinion the best events from a spectators point of view is without any doubt the two day BEMSEE - MRO events, but please d'ont tell anyone as it's spectator heaven you have acres of room all to yourself.