Brands to host next season's finale

The track, which hosted the championship's maiden round last September, has a three-year deal with the series to host a race each season, but not necessarily every calendar year.

A1 Grand Prix requested a later date than the original August date planned for the season opener, which Brands Hatch was unable to accommodate, having already made arrangements with the British F3 and GT championship as supporting events.

It means that the round, originally pencilled in for August 27, 2006, will now move to April 2007.

Brands Hatch owner's MotorSport Vision chief executive Jonathan Palmer said: "A1 Grand Prix was a huge success for both Brands Hatch and A1 GP last September and we are eager to build on the event and make it bigger still for next season's race.

"Originally A1 GP confirmed 27 August with us and our race calendar was obviously finalised around this date with the race being supported by the F3/GT championship.

"Following A1 GP personnel changes in December we have been working closely with the new chief executive, David Clare, to find a way of helping in his quest to move to a later date.

"We were however anxious to respect the agreements made with all the clubs, events and races on our 2006 calendar so have agreed with David that the second season will end, rather than begin, at Brands Hatch.

"We are all very excited by this as the race will now take place at the traditional time of one of the great Brands Hatch single seater races, the Race of Champions.

"British fans can follow the build up through the winter racing drought as the 2006/7 A1 GP title chase reaches a climax and look forward to kicking off the 2007 year with another spectacular event".

The inaugural meeting at the British circuit last September was a success with more than 70,000 people attending over the two-day meeting.