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The 2018 motorsport season at MSV venues has been filled with
incredible moments, stories that spread around the world and some
of the best racing we've seen all decade.
We've filtered through the hundreds of highlights to pick our
favourite selection of epic milestones, shown below in
chronological order.
Do you agree with our choices? Let us know on our social media
accounts!
Donington's Garage 39 opens ahead of Easter Bennetts BSB
(31 March)
A massively busy winter of reworks at Donington Park courtesy of
huge investment from MSV saw the circuit take on a fresh new look
for 2018, with the centrepiece being the fabulous new Garage 39
restaurant café and bar. In the heart of the paddock, the new
facility has received widespread acclaim from the motorsport
community, offering a vastly improved catering experience at the
venue, and the best facility of its kind at any race circuit in the
UK.
Garage 39 was opened at the start of the Bennetts British Superbike
weekend at the circuit by MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer,
and Donington-local Leon Haslam.
Billy Monger's incredible comeback in BRDC British F3
(31 March)
The Billy Monger story continued to astound in 2018, but it was at
Oulton Park where it really notched up a gear. Billy announced that
he was to make his racing comeback in BRDC British F3 at the
circuit just before the round took place, and
went on to claim a podium in his very first race after his life
changing accident in 2017. Starting fifth on the grid, he moved up
two places on the opening lap and held his position until the end
of the race, sparking scenes not seen at a race track in years. A
huge and emotional crowd gathered around the podium to cheer him
onto the rostrum, with news of his result going round the world.
Monger went on to take three further podiums throughout the season
and a double pole position, and claimed the Helen Rollason Award at
the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.
Jonathan Palmer and MSV receive string of
accolades
MotorSport Vision Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer received a
string of awards this year, as his contribution to the motorsport
industry was recognised by several leading publications. In May he
was
named as Autocar magazine's 2018 'Motorsport Hero', and was
inducted into the Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame in June.
Two further accolades followed in November, as he was named the
Most Important Person in British Motorsport by Motorsport News,
while picking up the
Outstanding Contribution prize at the Professional Motorsport World
Expo in Germany. At the same ceremony, MSV's investment at
Donington Park was also recognised, with the circuit named as the
Motorsport Facility of the Year. A truly record breaking year for
MSV!
Michael van der Mark halts Kawasaki's WorldSBK Donington
dominance (26-27 May)
The Motul FIM Superbike World Championship returned to Donington
Park in 2018, with the majority of onlookers expecting Kawasaki to
reign supreme once more. 'Team Green' were unbeaten at Donington
Park since 2013, a run of 10 wins (nine coming from Donington
master Tom Sykes), so it was a huge surprise when that run came to
an end, courtesy of a
magnificent double from Yamaha's Michael van der Mark. The
Dutchman was embroiled in a race long battle in the opening contest
with Kawasaki duo Jonathan Rea and Sykes throughout, before
extending a small lead in the latter stages. He doubled up in race
two, making moves past Rea and early leader Alex Lowes before
taking the chequered flag for the second time.
'Donald Trump' opens American Speedfest VI (10
June)
Brands Hatch's all-American extravaganza was
formally opened by a Donald Trump impersonator this year, who
was flown to the event personally by MSV Chief Executive Jonathan
Palmer. After landing on the Indy circuit infield, he was escorted
to the front of the starting grid by a number of armoured vehicles
and revealed in front of thousands of excited race fans. 'Trump's'
opening speech was the high point of a glistening summer weekend of
NASCAR racing, American muscle cars, and plenty of family
entertainment. The racing line-up even included bona fide Texan
NASCAR champion Bobby Labonte!
Matt Neal wins BTCC's 'Diamond Double' at Snetterton (29
July)
The British Touring Car Championship celebrated its 60th
anniversary in 2018, and held a special 'Diamond Double' contest at
Snetterton in July; a race run to double the standard length of a
usual affair, and awarding double points too. Fittingly,
the winner of the one-off contest was series legend Matt Neal,
no stranger to historic moments in the series. He was made to work
for it though, fending off a late charge from Jack Goff and Tom
Ingram, with the trio separated by just over half a second. The
race summed up the BTCC perfectly, with intense on track racing,
overtaking aplenty interspersed with incidents, a bit of rough and
rumble, and a tad of controversy too!
Jamie Chadwick becomes first female winner in British F3
history (5 August)
British F3 had plenty of historic moments in 2018, but another
that made the news pages across the world was
Jamie Chadwick's victory on the Brands Hatch circuit in
August - the first ever win for a female in the
seven-decade history of British F3. Chadwick was already a podium
finisher in her two seasons in the series, and finally clinched her
first win on one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar.
She started from fourth on the grid, made a good start to climb to
third, passed the third placed driver at Westfield and then claimed
the lead when the leading driver was penalised for a jump-start. As
she crossed the line, she created history, and once more, British
F3 went worldwide!
DTM returns to Brands Hatch (11-12
August)
Germany's DTM high performance touring car championship returned
to the UK in anger in August with a double-header on the legendary
full Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. The DTM enjoyed its best ever
Brands Hatch action across the weekend, with highlights including
Mike Rockenfeller's three-wide pass on Jamie Green and Timo Glock
on the approach to Hawthorns, and
Paul Di Resta leading home Gary Paffett in a British one-two
following a side-by-side duel. Daniel Juncadella was the other
winner, as the world's fastest touring cars thrilled on their Kent
return. A number of big names from the world of motorsport were
also in attendance, including Gerhard Berger and 1996 F1 World
Champion Damon Hill.
Bennetts BSB thrills at Cadwell Park (19
August)
A monster crowd descended on Lincolnshire in August for the annual
visit from the world's top domestic Superbike category. Hoardes of
fans were present to witness
Leon Haslam storm to an impressive double win on his way to a
maiden Bennetts British Superbike crown, while young chargers Jake
Dixon and Bradley Ray took podium finishes as both propelled
themselves to stardom in 2018. Lincolnshire's biggest and most
dramatic sporting event of the year took place at the height of the
British heatwave, with tens of thousands of superbike fans enjoying
one of the hottest rounds of the season.
Porsche Festival at Brands Hatch
(September)
The legendary Porsche marque was celebrated at Brands Hatch in
September, with an epic day of racing and displays. One of the main
highlights was the appearance of the Le Mans-winning Porsche 919,
which blasted round the Brands Hatch Indy in a stunning lap time of
38.16 seconds. Racing action came from a number of Porsche
categories including the Porsche Club Championship, while there
were additional demonstrations from special vehicles from the
German manufacturer and apperances from Porsche legends Derek Bell
and Nick Tandy.
All-time great BTCC races at Brands Hatch (April &
September)
Brands Hatch hosted two of the greatest races in recent British
Touring Car Championship history this year. The second race of the
season was an absolute corker with
Senna Proctor taking his maiden win for Vauxhall, prevailing
with an epic charge through the pack from 27th on the grid in
changeable weather conditions. If that wasn't enough, his fellow
podium finishers Jake Hill and Ollie Jackson had started 25th and
12th! The final race of the year was an absolute belter too,
as Josh Cook (Vauxhall) and Ashley Sutton (Subaru) swapped
position time and time again on the Grand Prix circuit before
the latter prevailed in a drag to the line. Once more the season
came to a conclusion at Brands Hatch, with Colin Turkington
claiming his third title.
Haslam finally wins BSB title at Brands Hatch (13
October)
Leon Haslam had been the nearly man in his first two seasons back
in Bennetts British Superbikes - narrowly missing out on the title
in 2016 and then losing it in unbelievable fashion in 2017 when a
technical failure forced him to ditch his bike at near full speed
in the season finale. It was third time lucky in 2018 though, as a
dominant
Haslam secured the title at the final round of the year in
front of a massive crowd at Brands Hatch. In all, the East
Midlander claimed 15 wins across the season, and the son of the
legendary 'Rocket' Ron Haslam finally won his first major title,
after a near perfect season.
You can enjoy many more great moments with MSV's range
of 2019 Season Passes, available from £89. Click here for more information or to purchase a
pass.
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