Donington gets race OK

The final green light for the return of racing to Donington Park was given on August 6, when delegates from the FIA and MSA allowed permission for the new circuit operators to complete planned safety works at the East Midlands venue.

The work is being completed by the Adroit Group through its new subsidiary Donington Park Limited, and racing will return with the Masters Donington Revived meeting on September 3-5.

Steve Watton, DPL operations director, said: “This was a historic day, even in the context of the rich history of this place. I would like to thank everyone who has expressed messages of support through the difficult months. But Donington is back! I now ask the many British motor racing fans out there to show their support by coming to see our races.”

The first meeting will feature 14 races covering all of the Masters classes and headlined by Grand Prix Masters and World Sportscar Masters. The Gentleman Drivers grid will be split at the 3-litre mark, with cars over 3 litres taking part in a two-hour race which will start at 5pm on Saturday and run on into the evening.

In addition to the race programme, which will be the first at Donington for a year, special demonstration sessions will be held on Saturday and Sunday headed by cars from the Donington Collection. The demo runs will cover three groups: Pre-War Donington racers, race cars of 1977 and Gods of the Track.