Two fascinating characters from the early days of motor racing will be honored at this year’s Donington Historic Festival, set for April 30-May 2 on the grounds of England’s Castle Donington. Tazio Nuvolari will be celebrated with the HGPCA’s Nuvolari Trophy race for pre-1950 Grand Prix cars, while daredevil aviator and racing driver Richard “Mad Jack” Shuttleworth will be honored with Motor Racing Legends’ “Mad Jack” race for pre-War sports cars.
Nuvolari is considered one of the greatest drivers of all time, as the “Flying Mantuan” was a motorcycle racing champion before moving into cars, famously winning at Donington Park in 1938 in an Auto Union. Drivers and cars are coming from Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the USA to honor Nuvolari by taking part. The race also celebrates the 80th anniversary of the 1936 Grand Prix at Donington Park, at which Richard Seaman and Hans Ruesch took the checkered flag in an ex-Nuvolari Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo Tipo 8C-35.
Marques represented in the HGPCA Nuvolari Trophy will include Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, ERA, Maserati, MG and Talbot Lago. There will also be at least two unique entries, the Alta Norris Special and the Parnell MG, both of which competed at Donington Park in the late 1930s.
Motor Racing Legends’ “Mad Jack” race will, naturally, be suitably adventurous, promising 40 minutes of exhilaration with a driver change in the middle. Spectators can expect to see a pack of monster Bentleys at the front of the grid, battling against the Invicta, the Alvis Speed 20 and Jaguar SS100 with its extraordinary double rear wheels.
Away from the competitive action, the ever-popular historic rally cars will entertain the crowds with both mighty Group B machines and the cars of the Historic Rally Car Register. Historic karts will also return to Donington for the event, as will the dozens of car clubs gathered in the Club Village in the infield. The race and rally paddocks are both open-access and always draw big crowds.
A single-day advance discounted ticket for the Donington Historic Festival costs £21, a two-day ticket £34, while a three-day weekend ticket costs just £48, with at-the-gate prices of £28, £45 and £65, respectively. Children under 16 are admitted for free. Advance discounted tickets can be purchased by visiting www.doningtonhistoric.com
