Located just off Jct 23a of the M1 Donington Park is easy
to find and is situated right next to East Midlands Airport.
The circuit is one of the truly great circuits in Europe
with a mix of fast and slow corners and with one of the most
famous sections in the world, the Craner Curves. Highlights
in the circuits history include the 1993 European Grand Prix
which is probably the most famous race won by Ayrton Senna.
The circuit was due to become the home of Formula One in the
UK from 2010 but after the circuit failed to secure funds
the event has returned to its traditional home of
Silverstone. The
Click For Larger Map
circuit is due to be up and running again in 2010 and will hopefully
return to its former glory as the jewel in the national
racing crown.
Facilities at the circuit have been greatly improved over
recent years with the pit complex having received a much
needed rebuild. The onsite restaurant is good (????) and
there is even a newsagents on site.
Redgate is the first corner and is essentially a hairpin.
The braking reference is the end of the chevrons at the end
of the pit lane exit. Turn in is very late as is the apex,
you can use the flat kerb on the inside and the exit of the
corner to give you a little more room to carry more speed.
At the top of the Craner Curves the first part is called
Hollywood but is usually forgotten about: this should be
approached from the middle of the track and the car should
be eased to the right gently to arrive on the right hand
side just as the circuit straightens out. A slight dab of
the brakes will settle the car before the left in the centre
of the Craner Curves. You can use the kerb on the inside. It
is important to let the car run out to the right hand side
of the circuit in order to not to load the car more than is
necessary. At this point you should be aiming towards about
two thirds of the way along the kerb on the left hand side.
This is your turn point as you will be approaching this
diagonally across the track and braking in a straight line
across the track to your turn in point for the Old Hairpin.
The apex kerb can be vicious if you take too much, so you
will need to use all the road on the exit of the Old
Hairpin. You only need to come two thirds of the way back
across for Starkeys as you will need to use all the kerb on
the left hand side. After this you will be looking up hill
to the right; at the top you will turn in at the end of the
kerb which gives you a straight line through Schwantz. If
you take the kerb on the inside this gives you a good
straight line brake for Mcleans. A late turn in here, and
lots of the apex kerb, is the fastest way. Using the kerb on
the exit is fine, it is just a little bumpy.
The
run up to Coppice is steep so helps with braking; a good
reference point is the kerb on the left hand side or the
seem in the tarmac that runs across the track. The turn is
very difficult to spot but its actually just as the circuit
crests. It is essential to take as much of the apex kerb as
possible as the corner continues to open all the way
through. The run down the back straight is very featureless
even more so now with the loss of the iconic Dunlop Bridge.
Braking for the Goddards is bumpy and your reference point
is the chicane that would take you onto the GP loop. The
turn in is at the start of the concrete that is right by the
marshals box, Once you have turned in, take a tight first
apex and a shallow second apex to give you a good run onto
the pit straight.
The longer GP Circuit leaves the main
track just before Goddards so on approach down the back
straight you will be on the right hand side of the track and
braking will be just before the crest in the road. Foggartys
chicane is very tight but important for a good run down the
hill to the Melbourne hairpin. Braking for the hairpin is
tricky because of the down hill approach use the kerb on the
left side to judge your braking distance and then turn late
and take a late apex to make the exit as straight as
possible. The final hairpin is difficult as it seems to get
tighter all the way through. The turn in point is around the
final grid space which you can see painted on the track. It
is important to be careful here as too much power to soon
will either force you wide or cause you to spin. Words
kindly provided by
Jamie
Stanley
Closest Fuel Station
Is available on site or at the service station just off
the M1 Motorway.
Accommodation in the Area
There are loads to choose from local, there is a Premier
Inn, Holiday Inn and Travel lodge all between the M1 and
the circuit and if you're looking for somewhere better
there is the thistle or the Hilton within a few minutes
drive of the circuit.