Every Mini under the sun – from the 1950s original to the present day models – will be at the Brands Hatch Mini Festival in association with Mini Sport, this weekend. So, if you’re a lover of these famously fanatastic cars and want to see them racing around Brands or on show-display in their hundreds, then this is the show for you.
One of the UK’s most exciting race tracks, Brands Hatch, will again host the Mini Festival in association with Mini Sport UK, over 22nd and 23rd June, with the event promising to be bigger and better than ever for 2013. Every type and model of Mini is welcome at the show and every model will be represented in full force for fans to enjoy. For 2013, the event will celebrate 50 years of the legendary Mini Cooper S, so get ready for some fast fun.
Plenty of drivers in a multitude of Minis will be making very good use of the brilliant Brands Hatch racetrack over the show weekend, including a few racy celebrities.
Celebrity chef James Martin, Kelvin Fletcher, better known as Andy Sugden in Emmerdale, and rockstar Brian Johnson from AC/DC are all racing this weekend in some cracking classic Minis.
The three celeb Mini racers will be burning rubber in two 25 minute legs of a special Anglo-French Battle race, which sees original, 1960s Cooper S racecars from both sides of the English Channel go bumper-to-bumper. The Brits should easily win this!
Veteran Mini racer, James Martin, will take part in three different classes at the weekend, including a 40 minute endurance race for pre-1966 Minis and an All Comers race open to all variants of the car – original and modern – including highly modified versions. Expect some very fast action in that one.
AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson could be a dark horse this weekend after getting plenty of Brands Hatch lap experience at the Masters Festival in May, driving an Austin Mini Cooper S.
Speaking at the Masters Festival, Johnson said: “I’ve got old tapes of archive footage of Brands Hatch from the 60s and nothing has changed apart from some catch fencing and these big gravel traps. This is such a classic track, every corner is brilliant and at this one (Paddock) you need massive courage! Even coming down the straight you’ve got dips and crests, it’s such a pleasure to drive it.” Sounds like he’s up for some hot Mini racing. Are you?
You can buy tickets for the Brands Hatch Mini Festival in association with Mini Sport on the gate on Saturday 22nd June and Sunday 23rd June, for £22. Children 12 years old and under get in free.
By Dan Anslow
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