Legendary Brands Hatch Catering Team Leader Mandy Scott will leave her position at Brands Hatch this off-season, following a stellar career at the circuit spanning almost four decades. A consistent presence within the catering team at Brands Hatch throughout changing eras, Mandy hangs up her apron as one of the circuit’s best loved off-circuit personalities.

After initially joining the team on a more casual basis in 1986, Mandy first became part of the catering machine at the Kent circuit during its final days as a Grand Prix venue, and she stepped up to a full-time position the following spring. Though she wasn’t sure if the offer was serious or not initially, as the opening arose on 1 April!

Throughout Mandy’s time at Brands Hatch, she has acted as a caterer not just for the paying customers using the circuit’s iconic Kentagon restaurant, but also for notable visitors including Grand Prix superstars Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. Indeed, there was a time when many of motorsport’s biggest stars would have known that Mandy was who they needed to go and see for a traditional Brands Hatch sausage, chips and beans.

Some of Mandy’s more famous regular customers have included Mark Webber, David Coulthard and Eddie Irvine, alongside other members of the Irish contingent who have travelled annually to Brands Hatch for the Formula Ford Festival. Other star visitors greeted by Mandy over the years include Hollywood superstar Keanu Reeves and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, whilst she was the first to welcome former colleague Lizzy Yarnold back to the venue as Winter Olympic Skeleton Gold Medalist.

Mandy’s time at Brands Hatch began during the late John Webb’s time as the circuit’s Chief Executive before moving through the ‘90s period overseen by Nicola Foulston. Mandy continued into the MSV era under Jonathan Palmer’s MotorSport Vision Group as Catering Team Leader, admired by fellow staff members and beloved by returning customers and competitors.

For regular visitors to Brands Hatch, Mandy will forever be associated with the Kentagon, but her role expanded far beyond the regular operation of that restaurant and bar.

Indeed, during Mandy’s time at Brands Hatch she frequently supported the other circuits in the group, as well as the catering effort at Brands Hatch for specialist launches, corporate events, raceday hospitality and one-off special occasions which could often stretch her team to the limit of its capabilities. But time and time again, Mandy and her colleagues would deliver, as was her pleasure.

MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer said: “With the chequered flag having finally fallen on Mandy’s extraordinary work at Brands Hatch with her retirement we really are at the end of an era! Mandy has been an incredible and much-loved part of the Brands Hatch team for decades, and has worked well beyond the age when most people retire.

“I first knew Mandy as a race driver long before MSV bought the Brands Hatch group of circuits and since we took over in 2004, Mandy has been wonderfully committed to providing our Brands Hatch customers with great catering. Whether it is food in the Kentagon, in the MSV Centre hospitality or Brabham Stewart suites including my own P20 suite, Mandy has always made sure our customers enjoy eating at Brands Hatch. The word tirelessly is much abused these days, but there is no doubt Mandy has worked tirelessly and quite how she has kept all the catering balls in the air, especially at a heaving BSB event, none of us quite know!

“Mandy Scott has been nearly as much part of Brands Hatch as John Webb over the decades, and leaves big shoes to fill. I very much hope she will finally relax in her retirement and thank her so much for all her phenomenal hard work.”

From the end of this month, Mandy will no longer be spotted serving in the Kentagon, nor making runs up and down Colin Chapman Way in her distinctive catering buggy. But she will remain firmly a part of the Brands Hatch story, missed by customers and colleagues alike. And everybody at Brands Hatch wishes her a deserved, enjoyable retirement as she moves forward into the next phase of her life.