"One of the most internationally renowned and historically significant circuits in the world, Donington Park has been revitalised in recent years and hosts numerous major national and international events.
The circuit's premier event is the annual visit of the FIM Superbike World Championship, while firm fan favourites include the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Other large events include British GT and F3, British Truck Racing, the Donington Historic Festival and the Classic Motorcycle Festival, with dozens of club car and bike meetings throughout the season. Donington is also the established venue for the BTCC Season Launch day, offering thousands of fans the first opportunity to see their favourite drivers in action each year.
As well as a famous motorsport venue, Donington is also celebrated as the host of the Download rock festival, which attracts tens of thousands of music fans each year. The venue also holds a wide variety of exhibitions, shows and other music concerts all year round.
Donington Park is superbly located, with major cities Derby, Nottingham and Leicester nearby, and Birmingham less than an hour away. The circuit can be accessed from the nearby M1, A50 and A42 roads while international visitors can fly in to the neighbouring East Midlands Airport, with the main terminal just two miles from the circuit.
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 as 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 the circuit is again held in the highest regard by competitors, spectators and officials."
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