The GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS returns to Brands Hatch for the flagship international car racing fixture of the circuit’s celebratory ‘Century of Power’ season on 2/3 May.

Mouth-watering GT3 machines from many of the planet’s most prestigious manufacturers will star in two Sunday races on the full Grand Prix circuit. These contests will be the first of the season to run to the Sprint Cup format, where competitors battle on-track for an hour, with pit stops, driver changes and strategy as the intrigue of endurance racing is compressed into a more compact offering.

The cars are real stars, with GT3 cars from Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin and more expected to feature. And the drivers are high calibre too. MotoGP megastar Valentino Rossi is among the most eye-catching names, but he’s alongside a field of serious GT talents. These include Maro Engel, who has won on all four of his previous Sprint Cup visits to Brands Hatch, and his co-driver Lucas Auer who shared in each of the last two.

Other well known names which might be noticed include that of Arthur Leclerc, brother of F1 icon Charles, while the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing outfit races under the name of another Grand Prix hero. That entry will include British driver Chris Lulham, one of a handful of Brits taking on the challenge at Brands Hatch.

Additional homegrown chargers to cheer on will include Mikey Porter, Jamie Day, Thomas Fleming, Dean Macdonald, Ben Green and James Kell.

This meeting not only acts as a major date during Brands Hatch’s centenary calendar, but also marks 30 years since the first ever SRO-run international GT event at the circuit in 1996. In celebration, a special 90s supercar demo will take place during the Sunday lunchbreak, featuring roadgoing versions of cars that participated in that race.

The full programme includes two GT World Challenge Powered by AWS practice sessions on Saturday ahead of the knockout qualifying later in the afternoon. Sunday’s double-header includes a race in the morning, followed by another in the afternoon. Prior to that, fans can meet the drivers in a pit walk and autograph session in the morning.

Other circuit action across the weekend includes Radical Cup UK, Miata Trophy, the Legends Cars Championship, the Sports 2000 Championship and the 750 Motor Club Roadsports Championship. Click here to view a full timetable.