BRANDS Hatch will be awash with Aston Martins this weekend as the prestigious sportscar manufacturer celebrates its centenary year at the Kent circuit.

A full programme of racing over the weekend will be headlined by two special centenary races on Sunday on the full Grand Prix circuit.

This includes a full grid of GT cars representing Aston Martin's racing efforts from the last decade.

Aston Martin chairman David Richards will be racing with team-mate and celebrity chef James Martin, who won his first motor race at Brands Hatch recently.

John Gaw, Aston Martin’s racing managing director, will also be taking the opportunity to compete in one of the company cars, while Lord Drayson, fresh from claiming the electric land speed record, will be taking part too.

Meanwhile, the current Aston Martin GTE, complete with iconic Gulf Oil livery, will be driven around the Grand Prix circuit by Bruno Senna on Sunday.

The former F1 star, a nephew of Ayrton Senna, and current Aston Martin racer will also be taking part in autograph sessions on the day.

Aston Martin’s rich and illustrious history at Le Mans will also be on display both on and off track, including the 1980s Aston Martin Nimrod, with Ray Mallock, one of the original drivers, at the wheel.

It will be joined on display by the AMR1, which was built by the factory for the 1989 world sports prototype championship.

The company’s 21st century return to La Sarthe will be represented by the six litre, V12-powered DBR9 GT1 which claimed the marque’s first class win since its return and the Lola-Aston Martin B10/60 from 2011, completed with mud and oil from the race!

A works Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, one of only 19 cars built, will be one of the on-track highlights.

2 VEV is one of only two cars that raced in the 1961 event, and later took a win at the British Grand Prix support race.

The road-going versions are already valued at over £1 million and with winning history, this car is almost priceless.

Another rare car, the DB7 GT, one of only two prototypes made and the only one still in existence, will also be on display.

Known as the gentleman’s racer, the car was developed by Prodrive and Aston Martin Lagonda, and tested by Sir Stirling Moss and 1988 Le Mans winner Andy Wallace.

Hundreds of Aston Martin owners are expected to attend the event in their road cars, while there will be a unique centenary timeline forming part of the off-track display.

The James Bond connection will also be celebrated with the Die Another Day Vanquish, plus DB5 and DBS replicas.

Echoing last year’s Olympic opening ceremony, the Red Devils will also be appearing to perform a Bond-style parachute jump.

Tickets for the Aston Martin centenary meeting at Brands Hatch on July 6 and July 7 are available on the gate from £17 with free entry for children aged 12 and under.

For more information, call 0843 453 9000 or visit astonmartinfestival.co.uk

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