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Croft

The Current Croft Layout

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Donington Park is one of the UK's premier Motorsport venues and is located approximately 12 miles from Nottingham yet resides in Leicestershire and partly in Derbyshire next to the East Midlands Airport. The National circuit configuration is 1.9 miles long, whilst the longer version, which features the Melbourne hairpin, is 2.5 miles long. Donington Park first held a race meeting in 1931 - on a 2 mile dirt circuit for motorcycle racing. This first race was organized by Fred Craner, who set about establishing a top venue for motorcycle racing as he had been a racer himself until a crash ended his career. After extensive negotiations with the Shields family, who owned the estate, an agreement was achieved and the first races began to take place.

Above: Martyn Bell heads into the Craner Curves. Image: Marc W

The circuit soon improved and by 1933 the widening of corners and laying of asphalt of the whole track allowed car racing to become possible - up until this point all the circuit had hosted was motorcycle races. Four racers took to the track for a Le Mans-style event on the Saturday 25th March that year, a far cry from the number of entrants in Motorsport today.

The following year saw an extension to the circuit's length by 650 yards as well as to its calendar of racing, which was now up to five car meetings. By 1935 the circuit was really being recognized, as Grand Prix cars visited the track for the first time. At this time, the track was still primitive by today's standards and parts even ran through Coppice Wood hence the name Coppice corner. 1936 saw the circuit's calendar begin to look a bit busier, as the British Empire Trophy, a 100 lap event, was run for the first time along with the circuit's second Grand Prix.

With the Grand Prix's continuing to come to Donington Park, more changes were made to the circuit. The track was extended down to the Melbourne corner and again increasing the length of the circuit, this time to 3.22 miles - bringing the track into Derbyshire for the first time! The spectacle of grand Prix cars racing on this now longer circuit, racing through the woods at 170mph is what kept the public coming back to Donington, and the circuit managed to rake in £10,000 gate money compared to the £3,500 starting money it had to pay to the German teams of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union.

The popularity of the circuit and Grand Prix racing in the 30's can be seen when one looks at the attendance figures: 60,000 people attended the 1938 Donington Park Grand Prix.

The circuit stopped holding races during the Second World War as it was requisitioned by the Government for military use. Up to half a million vehicles were stored at the track during this long period of war.

Travel and Location

The circuit is located right next to the East Midlands Airport and following signs for the airport is accurate enough until getting close to the circuit. Situated just off the M1 but also very near the A50 and M42, finding the circuit is relatively easy. By road you should leave the M1 at Junction 23a and follow the A453 and brown signs to the circuit. Note that on busy racedays such as the BTCC it is advisable to allow plenty of time for this short stretch along the A453 as queues can easily build up all the way back to the M1 slip road due to the volume of traffic for the circuit plus additional airport and merging traffic.

Donington Park offers detailed travel advice on their website at www.donington-park.co.uk.