Wednesday, August 15 2012

If you're heading to Brands Hatch for the Lotus Festival this weekend, here is some important information to help you make the most of your trip to the circuit.

Gate opening times
Public admission to the circuit is from 8am on both days.

Southbank Parking
Southbank (the grass slope adjacent to Cooper Straight) is available free of charge for car parking for Lotus owners. For other vehicles wishing to park on Southbank the charge is £2 per car on Saturday and £5 on Sunday. A shuttle bus service will ferry owners between the Southbank and Colin Chapman Way near the Pit Straight grandstand.

Tickets
Tickets are available on the gate for £21 per day on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free for children aged 12 and under.

Advance ticket holders will need to bring their original tickets to the circuit as copies and receipts are not accepted. All advance tickets have now been dispatched and were sent by either Recorded or Special Delivery, meaning a signature is required.

In the rare instance that your tickets have not arrived in time you will need to purchase them at the gate price and obtain a refund after the event by returning the gate ticket stubs and your original tickets to the venue office.

Advance ticket holders will need to have their tickets separated before arriving at the gate.

Grandstand seats
Grandstand seating is still available in the Paddock Hill Bend grandstand. Access costs £5 per day on both days. Tickets can be purchased from the Megastore opposite the Kentagon restaurant.

Viewing upgrades
Superview upgrade for raceday only. Watch the action from a Brabham/Stewart suite that overlooks the start/finish straight! Live timing screens and audio commentary are included along with tea and coffee all day. Available for just £30.

Directors' Terrace upgrade. Sample some of the best views of the circuit in style, as you enjoy the action from above the crowds on the exclusive Directors' Terrace on the start/finish straight. The terrace has its own dedicated bar with hot and cold drinks and light snacks available to purchase throughout the day. Available for just £20 on both days.
Access to both can be purchased from the Megastore opposite the Kentagon restaurant.

Programmes
Official event programmes are on sale from the main entrance gates and the Megastore for £5. Each programme features in-depth articles on the Lotus Festival along with entry lists and information on the racing timetable.

Weekend Camping
The campsite will open at midday on Friday 17 August and will close at 9pm on Sunday 19 August. You may remain after this time but services will be unavailable and campers remain by their own volition. Camping is free but there are no facilities on site.

On track demonstrations
There will be parades on track from Elan and Lotus owners at 1:35pm on Saturday, whilst Formula 1 and Lotus Racing cars will be lapping the circuit on Sunday at 1:20pm, with a further F1 demo at 4:45pm.

Off track entertainment
There will be demonstrations from Lotus rally cars on the tarmac stage located behind Hailwoods Restaurant. Super rides in MSV's 206 and Escort Cosworth rally cars can also be booked for £25 on the day from Hailwoods.

There will be live music from 7pm on Saturday evening in the SELOC campsite located behind the Kentagon. There will also be a disco in the Kentagon on Saturday evening.

There will be trade stands and a Lotus autojumble and sales area located along Colin Chapman Way, which runs parallel to the start/finish straight. Owners' club stands can also be located here. There will also be a display of Exige Cup cars in the upper paddock.

Lotus Cars, Lotus Racing and Classic Team Lotus will both have displays opposite the Brabham/Stewart hospitality suites.

Go karting courtesy of Buckmore Park is available for those aged 10+ at a cost of £12 for ten minutes, payable at the karting circuit beside the Kentagon restaurant.

Click here to download a map of the event.

Radio Brands 87.7FM
Radio Brands will be broadcasting live commentary, interviews and spectator information throughout the weekend. Earpiece radios will be on sale from the Megastore for £5.

Timetable
Click here to download a timetable for this weekend's event.

Tickets for the Lotus Festival at Brands Hatch this weekend are available on the gate for £21, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. For more information call 0843 453 9000 or click here.