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Historic Racing

2026 Donington Historic Festival

Donington Park Circuit, Castle Donington, United Kingdom1–3 May 2026Weekend

This event has finished.

The 2027 edition runs 30 April to 2 May.

See the 2027 event

Why You Should Go

The season-opening round of Motor Racing Legends spans ten decades of racing machinery.

Format

3-day race weekend

Crowd

petrolheads & families

Vibe

Family-friendly, Festival

About This Event

The curtain-raiser for the Motor Racing Legends racing season since 2012, held on the 1.98-mile National Circuit — ten corners through the Donington Hall grounds including the celebrated Craner Curves. Eighteen races over three days, with free paddock access to pre-war sports cars, single-seaters, GT machinery and touring cars spanning ten decades.

1What to Expect

Fifteenth edition of Donington Park's showpiece historic fixture
Mad Jack race celebrates Richard 'Mad Jack' Shuttleworth, who won the first British Grand Prix here in 1935
GT3 Legends celebrates the 20th anniversary of the GT3 category
Show all 6
Five classic F1 cars on display with dedicated demonstration laps on Saturday and Sunday
Over 60 car clubs displaying well-loved retro machines on the infield
GT3 Legends pit lane walkabouts on all three days

2Best Way to Experience It

  • Inside of Redgate offers great views of race starts and drivers fighting to control machinery
  • Hard standing in the circuit centre offers views from the Craner Curves to the Maclean's
  • Hollywood Grandstand open Saturday and Sunday provides views of well over a third of the circuit

About the Venue

Race Tracks

Donington Park Circuit

  • 4.02 km
See the venue guideDirections

3Logistics

  • General public parking is free of charge
  • Starkey's Parking overlooks the Craner Curves, Old Hairpin and Schwantz sequence
  • Infield access available through tunnels in the paddock, Esses and at Coppice
  • Small open-fronted tents permitted in general spectator areas
  • Castle Donington sits in Leicestershire countryside with May typically offering mild spring conditions

4Frequently Asked Questions

  • Best fit if you enjoy championship racing: Motor Racing Legends season opener features 18 races spanning 1920s pre-war sports cars through 2010s GT3 Legends, 350+ racing cars across ten decades.
  • Best fit if you value historic venues: UK's oldest operational former Grand Prix circuit, 1.98-mile National Circuit flows downhill through Hollywood, uphill through celebrated Craner Curves on Donington Hall grounds since 1931.
  • Best fit if you like accessible spectator experiences: free paddock access walks among 350+ racing cars, under-13s enter free, East Midlands Airport bus stop directly at venue entrance.
  • Not ideal if you prefer static shows: 18 championship races across pre-war through GT3 rather than concours judging or restoration displays, emphasizes wheel-to-wheel competition over vehicle presentation.

Tags

Permanent CircuitCar DisplaysCampingMulti Day EventPublic TransportShoppingFirst TimersCruiseVIP HospitalityWheelchair UsersHave a Goclub stand / car club areaSupercarsFood and DrinkHistoric Racing
and 3 more
Behind the ScenesFan FestivalFamilies

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See the 2027 event