THE 2010 Brands Hatch racing season reaches its climax this autumn with two exciting endurance sportscar events early next month.

Kicking off this season finale is the Lotus 1,000km sportscar race on November 6, the first endurance thriller of this length to take place at the West Kingsdown circuit since 1988.

More than 30 Lotus Elises will line-up for an almighty nine hour race, during which cars will complete a head-spinning 519 laps of the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

Each sportscar will be piloted by teams of two or three drivers running up to three cars in alternating stints, with each squad completing at least eight mandatory pit stops and driver swaps.

The last 1,000km race at Brands Hatch, a world sports car championship event, was clinched more than two decades ago by Martin Brundle and his team-mates Andy Wallace and John Nielsen in a Silk Cut Jaguar.

This year another former Grand Prix driver is hoping to triumph at the Kent venue, as ex-Lotus F1 racer Martin Donnelly will be among the competitors taking to the track with his team-mates Gavin Kirby and Brands Hatch circuit hire manager Ian Berry.

Then on November 13, the beaming headlights of GT and production saloons will illuminate the tight and twisty Indy circuit at the Britcar ‘into the night’ race, Brands Hatch’s only event to take place in the dark.

The 90 minute endurance event, which starts in the light and continues through dusk to finish in darkness, will feature an impressive grid of powerful supercars including Ferraris, Porsches, Moslers and Ginetta G50s.

In addition, the ‘into the night’ race will feature a production class competition for saloons such as SEAT Cupras and BMW E46s, and there will also be support action from the Britsports Caterham Masters Winter Series.

Advance tickets for the Lotus 1,000km race on November 6 and Britcar ‘into the night’ race on November 13 cost £10 each for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under.

For more information, call 0870 950 900 or visit brandshatch.co.uk