THE annual Historic Superprix comes to Brands Hatch this weekend and will see the largest grid of Formula 5000 machines ever assembled in this country.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, five-litre Formula 5000 cars were the fastest single-seaters of their day, with 500bhp at their disposal, little in the way of aerodynamic downforce and thick, slick tyres.

Nine cars have been shipped across from New Zealand to add to the UK entrants for the event, and the sight of a full grid of these machines heading into the first corner should be awesome.

The Orwell Supersports Cup promises to dispel the image of historic racing being gentleman racers driving old, expensive cars carefully to avoid damage.

And there will be plenty of local drivers helping to keep the crowds entertained.

Ashford's Richard Piper will be racing in a 1971 McLaren M8F, which pumps out close to 900 horsepower and should make a fantastic sight and sound as it races round the 2.6-mile circuit.

Sittingbourne’s Mike Scott will also compete in the Orwell Supersports Cup, in a Class D Gropa CMC.

David Brown, from Ashford, will drive a Lola Mk5A in the Historic Formula Junior category, where Formula One drivers of the 1950s learned their craft.

Warren Moye, another Ashford-based driver, will drive a Delta T79 in the Classic Formula 3 Championship, with Sevenoaks’ Adrian Van Der Kroft competing against

McLaren Formula One designer Adrian Newey in the Classic Sports Car Championship.

Tickets cost £12 per adult with parking, paddock access and children under 13 all free of charge.

Seven races will take place on Saturday and eight on Sunday.

Qualifying starts at 9.00am on Saturday and 10.00am Sunday. Racing starts at 1.40pm on Sunday, and 10 minutes earlier on Saturday.