Lotus complete landmark Brands Hatch filming day

Former British Grand Prix venue Brands Hatch hosted contemporary Formula One machinery for the first time in seven years on Monday as Lotus completed a filming day at the famous circuit.

Romain Grosjean, Pastor Maldonado and reserve driver Jolyon Palmer were all in action as the team rolled out their 2015 challenger, the E23 Hybrid, and also the iconic Lotus 72E, which claimed eight Grand Prix victories between 1973 and 1974 in the hands of Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson.

Both cars ran together in the afternoon, after Lotus dedicated the majority of the morning to filming duties split between on-track runs, pit stops and practice starts. The team also opened up the pit lane to fans during their lunch break, and conducted a number of hot laps in road-going Lotuses.

The occasion marked the first time modern F1 machinery has run at Brands Hatch since Lewis Hamilton drove his title-winning 2008 McLaren MP4-23 in a demonstration run at that year's DTM event.

The last Grand Prix to be held at the track was in 1986, when Nigel Mansell thrilled the home crowd by leading Nelson Piquet home for a Williams one-two. In total, 14 world championship Formula One races were staged at the circuit, which had a regular biennial slot on the F1 calendar between 1964 and 1982.

Main image © Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic