The world's best sportscars will come to Kent this weekend when the prestigious Blancpain GT Series rolls into Brands Hatch.

For the first time since 1996, top level international sportscar racing returns to the impressive Grand Prix circuit, which will see the likes of McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini marques in action.

The grid of impressive GT machinery has been extended for this round with 22 cars representing seven supercar manufacturers.

The teams will participate in two one-hour races featuring pitstops for the second round of the series, which started at the Nogaro circuit in France.

The opening round showed that the field is very close, making it tough to predict a winner this weekend.

A number of former F1 grand prix drivers will take part, but all eyes will be on Brands Hatch hero Alex Zanardi, who returns to the venue where he took two gold medals at the London Paralympics.

He won both the road race and time trial in the H4 handbike competition in 2012 - but will be back on four wheels this weekend aboard a powerful BMW Z4.

Meanwhile, British hopes lie with the Porsche 997 GT3R of Farnbacher Racing, which will be handled by GT ace Nick Tandy.

He will be one of four home favourites, with category specialist Ben Hetherington, rising star Daniel Lloyd and London’s Alessandro Latif.

Support race action will come from the BRDC Formula 4 Championship, including Chart Sutton's Tom Jackson, GT Cup and Radical European Masters.

Qualifying for the Blancpain GT Series will take place on Saturday, before two races on Sunday.

For tickets and the full schedule, visit www.brandshatch.co.uk.