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In a season filled with great racing and bold performances
at MSV circuits and in MSV-run championships, we've
picked ten of our heroes from a fantastic 2015.
The drivers and riders on this list, which appears in
alphabetical order, have helped make this year another great
one for MSV. Many have won races and
championships, wowing the crowds along the
way. Everyone featured here will have much to
celebrate over the holiday season and we look forward to seeing
many of them back in 2016!
Giacomo Agostini
The 15-time World Champion graced two MSV circuits in 2015,
starting with a much-anticipated appearance at Snetterton's MCE BSB
round. The legendary rider also christened the corner that
named in his honour when the circuit was transformed in 2011.
Giacomo also returned to Cadwell Park, scene of former
glories, in July alongside many other past masters, including
fellow World Champion and MV Agusta rival Phil Read. The pair
entertained visitors with tales of their battles on and off the
track, whilst the sight and sound of Ago on a period MV at the
circuit where he faced off British rivals in the 60s and 70s was
something to behold indeed.
Josh Brookes
For several years fans of fearless Aussie Josh
Brookes would be forced to watch their hero gallantly try and
ultimately fail to beat the MCE Insurance British Superbike
Champions to title glory, and at the beginning of the year it
seemed as though it would be another season of hurt. But this all
changed at Brands Hatch in July when the Milwaukee Yamaha
rider started a run of victories that left rivals reeling,
including Shane Byrne, despite the reigning
champion promising to take the title right down to the wire.
By race one of the Brands Hatch finale the title was in Josh's
hands, and his legions of fans were every bit as delighted as
him.
Alex Dowsett
Cadwell Park has crowned many two-wheeled heroes in the past,
but on this occasion the winner crossed the line under their own
power. Alex is no stranger to race circuits; his father Phil was a
Touring Car racer in the 80s and cousin Oly Collins manages
Motorbase's BTCC operations. His victorious performance in the
British Cycling Time Trial at the Lincolnshire venue and its
surrounding roads in June came just a few days before he was
confirmed as part of the Movistar team's Tour de France attack,
where, as a national champion, he would wear his country's colours
in the Time Trial sections. Whilst that challenge ended early, Alex
is unlikely to forget June 2015 in a hurry.
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Jeffrey Earnhardt flew over the Atlantic, taking a break from
his busy schedule of NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series races in
the USA to try his hand at the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series as it
visited Brands Hatch for American SpeedFest III. As the grandson of
all-time NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr, expectations were high,
and despite Jeffrey not having sat in the car or ever driven a
European road course before the event itself, he impressed with
competitive showings throughout the weekend. The North Carolina
native ran well in both races and was a genuine contender for a
podium place in the main race of the event, before he dropped down
to eighth following a late race restart - not bad for a European
racing rookie!
Bradley Philpot
Bradley spent most of the year helping PalmerSport guests get
the most out of the driving event's high-performance vehicles,
whilst being hurtled around Bedford Autodrome at terrific speeds.
Then after winning a public vote and driving duel in November, he
appeared at the Race of Champions as a wild card entry, beating
five-time Motorcycle World Champion Mick Doohan in the main event,
after seeing off illustrious rivals including Sebastian Vettel and
Nico Hulkenberg from motor racing as well as Sir Chris Hoy and Sir
Ben Anslie from the wider sporting world. Bradley hopes it will
help him find a regular race drive in 2016 - fingers crossed.
Andy Priaulx
Andy wasn't the 2015 BTCC champion, but he didn't fall too far
short. And considering that this was his first season in a
comparable car since 2010, and his first in the BTCC since 2002, it
was an impressive year for the triple World Champion. One that
started with a spectacular pole position on his comeback, and a
photo finish with Shedden that proved he'd lost none of the
fighting spirit that his fans remember him for. That weekend alone
is enough to include him on this list.
Will Palmer
As the 2014 Winter Series Champion, Will was favourite for the
2015 BRDC Formula 4 title, yet even with the weight of expectation
his performances were something else this year. He made his
intentions clear at the opening Oulton Park event, then bounced
back from a tough weekend at Rockingham to dominate the remainder
of the season. With half of the season's victories he was the clear
champion, then followed this up with an impressive debut in the
Formula Renault Eurocup, and sealed a memorable year by
claiming the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award.
A bright future beckons for the 18-year-old.
Gordon Shedden
The 2012 British Touring Car Champion just held off Andy Priaulx
at the line to record the first win for the new Honda Civic Type R
at Brands Hatch in April, barely two weeks after its testing debut
at the Kent circuit. From then on Gordon established a title
challenge that survived a trying weekend at Snetterton and he
returned to Brands Hatch in October as championship favourite.
Rival Jason Plato did his best to steal the honours, but the
Scotsman responded to the spectre of defeat with a storming charge
through the field in the championship finale on the Grand Prix
circuit.
Mat Summerfield
Mat was already a truck racing legend when he started the 2015
season; three consecutive titles is a tough ask in a championship
with reverse-grids and one-point increments between finishing
positions. It's even tougher when your chief rival is Stuart
Oliver, a man who has ten British titles and one European
championship to his name. Yet Mat survived all of this to win his
fourth in a row, just two points ahead of Oliver in the final
reckoning. An honourable mention must also go to West Kingsdown's
double British Truck Racing Division Two Champion, Steven
Powell.
Laurens Vanthoor
Laurens may have been victorious in the Blancpain GT Series in
2014, but he was anxious to win at Brands Hatch, a circuit that he
waxed so lyrical about in the event programme, he could have been
mistaken for being 20 years older than his tender age. However
his second practice session didn't last long before he
stuck the car in the barriers, and it looked as though Laurens
would have to wait another year for his dream result. But he
bounced back to take pole position by almost half a second and
converted this to a brace of victories, with his and team-mate
Robin Frijn's winning margin never less than 14 seconds.
You can watch many more heroes on track in
2015 with MSV's range of Season Passes, available from
£79. Click here for more information or to purchase a
pass.
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