Donington National
Schedule
Donington Park National Circuit – 1.979 miles
Qualifying – 420R – Saturday 2nd April – 10:30 – 10:45
Qualifying – 1600 – Saturday 2nd April – 11:55 – 12:10
Race 1 – 420R – Saturday 2nd April – 13:35 – 14:05
Race 1 – 1600 – Saturday 2nd April – 17:20 – 17:50
Race 2 – 420R – Sunday 3rd April – 09:45 – 10:10
Race 2 – 1600 – Sunday 3rd April – 12:15 – 12:40
ACCOMMODATION
Here we are recommending the three hotels that are all next to each other by East Midlands Airport on the Pegasus Business Park.
This event is local for us, so we won’t be staying over. We will be having a few beers in the Radisson Blu bar on Saturday evening.
The Radisson Blu: Radisson Blu – East Midlands – Link
Holiday Inn: Holiday Inn Express – East Midlands – Link
Premier Inn: Premier Inn – East Midlands – Link
Results
CIRCUIT INFORMATION
One of the most internationally-renowned and historically significant circuits in the world, Donington Park continues to host major national and international events and has benefitted from a multi-million pound programme of improvements from new operator MSV.
Donington Park is the oldest motorsport circuit in the UK still in operation. Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was first used for motorsport on Whit Monday in 1931 on the narrow lanes that formed the access roads of the hall. The track was widened in 1933, made permanent and became a venue for Grand Prix car racing, with the final pre-war races featuring the legendary Auto Union Silver Arrows driven by Bernd Rosemeyer and Tazio Nuvolari.
The circuit was closed at the outbreak of World War II, and was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence to be used as a military vehicle depot. The land was purchased by businessman Tom Wheatcroft in 1971, who rebuilt the circuit and established the famous Grand Prix Collection at the site.
Racing returned in 1977 and the circuit quickly became one of Europe’s premier venues. With the addition of the Melbourne Loop section in 1985 came Grand Prix motorcycle racing with the first World Championship Grand Prix event in 1987. Eventually becoming known as MotoGP, Donington was the host venue for 23 years, and was also the location for the debut round of World Superbikes in 1988, an event still held at the circuit today. One of the most famous events at the restored circuit was the 1993 European Formula One Grand Prix, which was dominated by Ayrton Senna and featured the legendary opening lap, still described by many as the best in F1’s history.
Under new ownership, ambitious plans to host the Formula One British Grand Prix from 2010 onwards were left unrealised and, with the circuit in a state of disrepair, racing ceased once more at the end of 2009. History repeated itself in 2010 when Kevin Wheatcroft, son of Tom, rescued the circuit and rebuilt the areas left heavily damaged by the previous leaseholders.
Motorsport returned to the circuit once more in the autumn of 2010 and MSV acquired the circuit in 2017, making significant improvements following a winter programme of major investment. The future of this circuit is now assured and its reputation grows by the day.