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Brands Hatch circuit wants to hear from motor sport enthusiasts who
witnessed the dramatic end to the first-ever British Touring Car
Championship season in 1958.
Finals Day that year,
held on 5 October, resulted in Jack Sears and Tommy Sopwith tying on
points so the title was decided by two short races in identical 1.5
Rileys with their times added together. Sears ultimately took the title
by 1.6 seconds.
It was a wet day and Brands Hatch – as can be seen from the poignant
photo to the right with Sears and Sopwith lined up on the grid – bore little
resemblance to the state-of-the-art venue it is today. Indeed, the pit
lane, race control and infield BTCC paddock as fans now know it didn’t
even exist back then!
Now, as the BTCC enters its
50th anniversary year, Brands Hatch owner MotorSport Vision is on the
search for anyone – spectators, officials or circuit workers – who
spectated that day and who are willing to share their memories of a
quite unique sporting moment.
"The day really
captured people's imaginations," says Sears, reflecting on his victory.
"There was a lot of excitement. People still come up to me and say 'I
was at Brands when you and Tommy Sopwith had that shoot-out'."
Those
with memories to share of the BTCC finale at Brands Hatch on 5 October
1958 are urged to contact the MotorSport Vision Press Office on 01474
875208.
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