The timetable for the Donington Historic Festival 2016 will feature 17 races showcasing competition cars from the 1920s to the 1990s, as Donington Park drives back in time from Saturday 30th April to 2nd Monday May over the Bank Holiday weekend.
With three full days of racing, each featuring a mix of grids across a range of eras from pre-War to the 1990s, the Donington Historic Festival aims to offer something for everyone.Die-hard World Sportscar fans have a whole 180 minutes of racing to revel in with Saturday’s ‘1000km’, while lovers of early Grand Prix racing have two HGPCA Nuvolari Trophy races. Touring Car, sports car and GT enthusiasts have grids awaiting them, Jaguar purists have the Jaguar Classic Challenge, and those who believe racing cars are best with just one seat can enjoy two HSCC Historic Formula 2 races as well as the aforementioned Nuvolari Trophy.
Special track parades and demonstrations, including historic Formula 1 cars on the Saturday and Sunday and tyre-squealing Group B and Historic Rally Car Register and period karting displays on all three days, add to the non-stop action, while spectators can also visit the open-access race and rally car paddocks or soak up the fabulous racetrack views while wandering around the car club displays in the infield.
Not all the action is reserved for Donington Park itself. On the Saturday evening, a selection of some 30 world-class competition cars head to Castle Donington village, where they will entertain thousands of locals and visitors, parading round the local streets before parking up to form a highly photogenic display.
Donington Historic Festival 2016 – Schedule of Events
Saturday, 30th April
09:10-12:50 – Qualifying
12:50-13:50 – Lunch Break / Parades and Demonstrations
13:50-14:15 – HSCC Historic Formula 2 International Series, Race 1
14:30-15:20 – Historic Touring Car Challenge for pre-91 Touring Cars
15:35-15:55 – HGPCA Nuvolari Trophy for pre-50 Grand Prix cars, Race 1
16:10-19:10 – ‘1000km’ for 1964-71 World Sportscar Championship Sports, Touring and GT Cars
Sunday, 1st May
09:10-10:50 – Qualifying
11:05-12:35 – GT & Sports Car Cup for Pre-66 GT and Pre-63 Sportscars
12:35-13:35 – Lunch Break / Parades and Demonstrations
13:35-13:55 – HGPCA Nuvolari Trophy for pre-50 Grand Prix cars, Race 2
14:10-15:10 – U2TC for pre-66 under two-litre Touring Cars
15:25-15:50 – HSCC Historic Formula 2 International Series, Race 2
16:05-17:05 – Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for pre-56 sportscars
17:20-17:40 – HSCC Super Touring Car Trophy for Touring Cars from the Group A and Super Touring era, Race 1
17:55-18:55 – Pre-80 Endurance for sports racing, GT and Touring Cars
Monday, 2nd May
09:10-12:00 – Qualifying
12:00-13:00 – Lunch Break / Parades and Demonstrations
13:00-13:45 – HRDC ‘Touring Greats’ for pre-60 Touring Cars
14:00-14:40 – Jaguar Classic Challenge for pre-66 Jaguar cars
14:55-15:55 – Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-61 sportscars
16:10-16:30 – HSCC Super Touring Car Trophy for Touring Cars from the Group A and Super Touring era, Race 2
16:45-17:25 – ‘Mad Jack’ for pre-War sports cars
17:40-18:25 – HRDC ‘BTCC Celebration 1958-1966’
Advance discounted tickets
A single-day advance discounted ticket for the Donington Historic Festival costs £21 and a two-day ticket £34, while a three-day weekend ticket costs just £48 (on-the-gate prices will be £28, £45 and £65, respectively). Children aged under 16 are admitted for free. Advance discounted tickets can be bought via DoningtonHistoric.com and through the 24-hour ticket hotline 0844 873 7355.
[Source: Donington Historics; photo: John Retter]
