As we draw towards the close of 2024, we’re turning the clocks back 60 years to 1964, when the Formula One World Championship visited the Kent venue for the first time…

“When the Brands Hatch car race circuit was first opened in 1950, I doubt if any of the spectators watching those eager little 500s buzzing around the circuit ever dreamed that one day, a Grand Prix, and a European Grand Prix at that, would be staged there.” – extract from the 1964 European Grand Prix official programme.

Brands Hatch may have only been tarmacked for the first time just 14 years prior, but British motorsport was already enjoying a golden age when Formula 1 first visited the Kent venue for its first World Championship Grand Prix in 1964 – the circuit had hosted non-championship races as early as 1960.

Jim Clark was crowned World Champion for the first time at the end of the previous year at the wheel of the Colin Chapman penned Lotus 25, Graham Hill was at the peak of his powers with BRM and John Surtees led the charge for Ferrari whilst the likes of Bruce McLaren, Lorenzo Bandini and Jack Brabham rounded out a grid packed with talent.

By the time the fifth round of the 1964 Formula One World Championship rolled around, Clark and Hill were both enjoying strong seasons, sharing the spoils in each of the first three Grands Prix of the year, with American Dan Gurney the other victor by the time the circus arrived at Brands Hatch. The arrival of Hill’s BRM P261, the team’s first with a full-monocoque chassis, brought the moustachioed icon closer to the all-conquering pairing of the Lotus 25 and Clark, so British hopes would undoubtedly have been high ahead of the Kent circuit’s World Championship bow.

The venue’s maiden points-scoring F1 race was also awarded the ceremonial title of European Grand Prix with the round drawing a strong entry including 11 British drivers. Unsurprisingly, practice times saw the pair of Clark and Hill take the top two slots on the starting grid.

When the flag dropped at 2.30 pm on Saturday 11 July, drama immediately followed as Frank Gardner and Jo Siffert made contact off the line. Up front, Clark surged into the lead, while Hill initially fell back after a poor start. The ‘Flying Scotsman’ was followed by the Brabham of Gurney and the Ferrari of Bandini but it didn’t take long for Hill to recover.

In one swift move, Hill overtook Bandini, McLaren and Surtees into Bottom Bend (now renamed in his honour) to rise back up to third before the first lap had even been completed. Gurney held second, splitting the Brits in the early stages of the race. However his strong pace would be in vain as mechanical issues forced the American into an early retirement, leaving Clark and Hill to contest the victory.

And so, a fierce duel began between two of the grid’s standout talents, with Hill’s Brabham hounding Clark’s Lotus lap after lap. The pair’s incredible pace resulted in them lapping the entire grid up to Bandini in fourth place.

Clark faultlessly resisted the pressure throughout however, driving home to cross the line just 2.8 seconds ahead of Hill. That year’s ultimate champion-in-waiting, John Surtees, finished a further minute behind in third, securing an all-British podium to the delight of the Brands Hatch crowd.

The event programme shows that spectators on the day were treated to music from the Chris Barber Jazz Band on top of the start line tower, with attendees invited onto the track for dancing. Souvenir editions of the Evening News were available, with a number of military displays also entertaining the crowds.

Grand Prix racing’s official first visit to Brands Hatch had been a resounding success, with the circuit going on to host a further 13 events. During that time, Niki Lauda and Nigel Mansell were amongst those to enjoy ample success at the circuit, each winning multiple times, with the latter claiming the spoils in the final Formula 1 Grand Prix at the venue in 1986.