We’ve reached the end of what has been another successful motorsport season across the MotorSport Vision (MSV) group of circuits on both two and four wheels. Whether you’re a volunteer marshal, official, competitor or spectator, please do take our best wishes into the final days of 2024 and enjoy a well-earned Christmas break if you’re celebrating over the festive period.
Our circuits hosted a range of national and international motorsport events throughout this year, with enthusiastic trackside audiences turning up week after week to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment. Racing ran from March until November, but stage rally action in January, February and December meant it truly has been 12 months of competitive motorsport.
Whilst a packed national calendar of events formed the backbone of MSV’s 2024 season across its five UK race circuits, exciting developments have continued overseas at Circuito de Navarra in northern Spain. The stunning venue, located close to the Rioja wine region, underwent an extensive transformation this year, with the creation of a new and extended layout to create a faster, more flowing riding and driving experience.
The first phase of the Circuito de Navarra redevelopments were completed ahead of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship’s first ever visit to Spain in April, with work completed during the quiet height of summer months ahead of the final events of the year. The circuit is looking forward to another busy season in 2025 with a full calendar of events to be confirmed in due course.
Another ongoing project which has continued apace throughout this year has been the redevelopment of the spectacular 1790 Grade II* listed Donington Hall property into a magnificent 49-bedroom hotel. It is scheduled to open in spring 2026, alongside the Donington Hall Motorhouse, which aims to be the UK’s most prestigious stabling facility for supercars and classic road and racing cars.
On the circuit, highlights this year included a dramatic conclusion to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, which will surely go down as one of the all-time classic weekends at Brands Hatch. Tommy Bridewell and Kyle Ryde duked throughout the final race of the season with the latter just edging out last year’s title winner to claim an impressive maiden crown.
History was made in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship during the autumn too, when Jake Hill became the first Kent driver to be crowned champion at Brands Hatch in a generation. The famed Grand Prix circuit hosted the British GT Championship finale this year too, with Rob and Ricky Collard becoming the second father-son duo to claim outright honours.
Other major fixtures at Brands Hatch included a sell-out British Truck Racing Championship finale, which was once again accompanied by a ‘big bang’ fireworks display in early November. And similar displays at Oulton Park and Cadwell Park ensured that the season came to a close in suitable style across the style.
American SpeedFest 11 powered by Lucas Oil once again brought the power to Brands Hatch with headline NASCAR action on the circuit accompanied by the SpeedFest Country presented by CountryLine music festival, headlined by Ward Thomas. This weekend of summer fun featured amidst a busy summer at the venue which also included countless other themed festivals, historic meetings and much more.
And there was much more of note beyond Brands Hatch too, including the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s annual visit to Donington Park which yielded a record attendance and a sensational treble victory for Toprak Razgatlioglu. Oulton Park hosted a packed calendar of national level meetings too, whilst celebrating the 70th anniversary of its signature Gold Cup meeting. Snetterton hosted all of the UK’s major championships whilst Cadwell Park’s year was once again centred around the showpiece ‘Party in the Park’ Bennetts BSB event, which featured the all-new Mountain Pavilion hospitality centre for the first time.
We're already looking forward to opening our gates to fans for much more in 2024. We have a very strong calendar in place for next year and many event tickets and season passes are available to purchase now.
British-born New Zealander Louis Sharp won the GB3 Championship in fine style this year, securing the crown at Brands Hatch after an impressive campaign that netted five wins including a superb double at Donington Park. In a cosmopolitan field, Sharp emerged just ahead of Brit John Bennett and Polish star Tymek Kucharczyk, with both taking multiple wins of their own. Sharp has already secured his place in next year’s FIA Formula 3 field, while Bennett has made a rapid ascent to FIA Formula 2, where he has already scored points. GB3’s future looks very bright indeed, with a stunning new car set to be introduced and a dozen drivers already confirmed on the grid for 2025.
The GB4 Championship produced its first overseas champion this year, as promising Swedish talent Linus Granfors secured the title with six wins throughout the year. Three drivers went into the final weekend of the year with a chance of the title, but Granfors had just enough in hand to prevail ahead of Alisha Palmowski, one of the UK’s most exciting rising female stars. Granfors hopes to move up to GB3 next year, while Palmowski has been signed up by Red Bull Racing to participate in next year’s F1 Academy series, and made a very accomplished F1 Academy debut as a wildcard entry in Qatar. GB4 will also introduce a new car for 2025, for what should be the most competitive season yet in the UK’s best value single-seater category.
We also have a busy schedule of trackdays and testing already in place for the next 12 months, whilst our legendary PalmerSport motorsport experience will resume in the spring too, for another year of world-beating on-track thrills.
We're closing the office for the festive break from 12.30pm on Tuesday 24 December, however the business will remain open for ordering products online 24/7 with print-at-home options available for all driving experiences, race meeting tickets, MSV Trackdays vouchers and PalmerSport vouchers. We will fully reopen for business once more on Tuesday 2 January, so please bear with us until then if making contact through social media or email.
Everyone at MSV would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you in 2025.