The Donington Historic Festival returns this weekend (29/30 April) for two days of retro racing action, as well as a dedicated 1993 European Grand Prix celebration. Here's everything you need to know to make the most out of your trip to the circuit.

Gate opening times

Public admission to the circuit is from 7.30am on both days. 

Timetable

Click here to download a timetable for this weekend's event.

How to find us

Please click here for directions to the venue.

Venue map

Please click here to download a map of the circuit.

Tickets

Additional tickets are available upon arrival at the venue. Adult tickets are £30 on Saturday and Sunday with entry for 13-15-year-olds £19 on each day.

Weekend tickets are also available on the gate, priced at £50 for adults and £30 for 13-15-year-olds.

Children under-13 get free entry all weekend.

If you have chosen to have tickets posted you will need to bring the originals to the circuit as copies and receipts are not accepted.

All advance tickets have now been dispatched and were sent by either Recorded or Special Delivery, meaning a signature is required. If you haven't received them, contact us urgently during office opening hours at [email protected].

Print-at-home/e-tickets are emailed on the day of purchase. If you haven't received yours, log in to your MSV account to access them - your order confirmation email will not gain you admission to the venue. All e-tickets can be printed or scanned from a mobile device; turn up the screen brightness if you can!

Please have any printed tickets separated before arriving at the gate.

Weekend camping

Donington Park Farmhouse is located conveniently next to Donington Park Race Track and has direct pedestrian access to the pits and paddock entrance. Please note the farmhouse is not operated by Donington Park, so please visit their website for booking details.

Parking

This weekend, spectator and hospitality parking will be on the Tarmac Lake and Heritage Loop areas of the site.

These will be accessed from our Western Gate. Please follow the roadside signage for public parking, which will direct you there.

Once in the venue, you'll have the rare chance to drive up the old 1930s Grand Prix circuit before being parked by a member of our team!

Marshals can direct you to the nearest pedestrian entrance. The ticket booth at Hollywood will be in use on both Saturday and Sunday - follow the flags to get there.

Guests using Starkey's parking and trackside disabled parking for blue badge holders should head to the East Entrance as normal - postcode DE74 2RP. Car clubs will use the Paddock Entrance - follow the roadside signage and use postcode DE74 2BN.

Programmes

Souvenir programmes will be available for purchase around the venue for £10. Programmes will be sold from the ticket booths, the Megastore, Paddock newsagent and the Hollywood Grandstand.

If you have pre-purchased a programme voucher, you can redeem it when you arrive at the circuit from the programme booths or circuit shops.

Starkey's Parking

Starkey's Parking, overlooking the Craner Curves, Old Hairpin and Schwantz sequence, is available for £8 per car on Saturday or Sunday, subject to availability. All persons will require a valid entry ticket. A car hanger will be provided to all parking purchasers, and must be displayed in your vehicle.

Disabled Parking

There will be a dedicated parking and viewing area at Coppice corner. Please present your blue badge when you arrive and you'll be directed to the correct location, via the Coppice gate.

Food and drink

The Garage 39 restaurant, bar and café will be open throughout the event serving a variety of food and refreshments. A number of other outlets will be operating around the venue in the most popular spectator areas.

Infield access

Infield access this weekend will be available through the tunnels in the paddock, the Esses and at Coppice.

Grandstand seating

Seating in the Hollywood Grandstand will be available to purchase on the day priced at £15 for adults. Discounted rates are available for under-16s. Grandstand tickets will be available from the booths at the grandstand and the Megastore in the paddock.

Trade and merchandise

The MSV Megastore in the paddock will be open, offering a range of Donington Park memorabilia and gift ideas. There will also be a dedicated trade area in the paddock near Redgate corner, with an assortment of motorsport memorabilia and attractions available.

1993 European Grand Prix Anniversary

This year's Donington Historic Festival marks 30 years since Ayrton Senna's extraordinary victory at the 1993 European Grand Prix. His famous 'lap of the Gods' on the opening lap of the race is part of F1 legend.

To celebrate the iconic race, period F1 cars will take to the circuit for special demonstration laps on both days, with more on display around the venue. 

The F1 cars scheduled to appear include:

• 1993 Williams FW15C (static) - driven to wins by Alain Prost and Damon Hill
• 1993 Benetton-Ford B193 (track demo) - driven by Michael Schumacher and Ricardo Patrese during the 1993 season
• 1992 McLaren MP4/7A (static) - driven to wins by Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger
• 1990 Benetton-Ford B190 (track demo) - driven to victory by Nelson Piquet
• 1984 Toleman TG-184 (track demo) - driven by Ayrton Senna in the 1984 Detroit GP and in qualifying for that year's Monaco and Brands Hatch Grands Prix
• 1998 Minardi M198 (track demo) - raced in period by Shinji Nakano 

The Exhibition

There will be a special exhibition in the Pit Lane Suite (by Garage 39 restaurant). The brand new feature to the event will include artwork and memorabilia from Donington's history and from the 1993 European Grand Prix.

In the exhibition, there will be two exclusive Q and As across the weekend hosted by Andrew Marriott. The Saturday Q and A takes place at 16:00 and will feature British Touring Car Champions Matt Neal, Colin Turkington, and West Surrey Racing Team Manager Dick Bennetts. The panel, led by Andrew Marriott, will have the trio recount their memories from 1993 and the British Touring Car Championship.

The second Q and A will be at 1pm on Sunday afternoon and will focus on the 1993 European Grand Prix itself. It will feature McLaren Chief Designer Neil Oatley, Ayrton Senna's F3 championship-winning team manager Dick Bennetts and clerk of the course David Scott.

Car displays and track parades

The venue will be packed with well-loved retro machines from 72 car clubs. On lunchtime on both days there will be a track parade featuring cars from the displays. on Saturday, 50 Porsches from the Porsche Club GB and the independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club will head up the parade.

There will also be a special Honda NSX display to celebrate Ayrton Senna. The F1 champion was famously heavily involved in the development of the NSX and one of the cars present has a paint scheme dedicated to him.

A full list of car clubs involved with the event can be found in the programme. 

Radio Donington

Radio Donington will be broadcasting live commentary, interviews and spectator information throughout the weekend on the new frequency of 94.3FM. Earpiece radios can be purchased from the Donington Park Megastore, ticket booths and at the Hollywood Grandstand, priced at £12.

Here to help

Excellent customer service is important to us, and all our staff are trained to help you make the most of your visit to the circuit. Whether you need assistance to find a lost child or to locate a disabled toilet, please ask one of the many uniformed staff you will see throughout the venue.

Security

The safety and security of all our visitors is paramount, so please be aware you may be subject to bag searches and security checks at our venue. We would also politely ask, as an additional security measure, that you put luggage tags on all of your bags detailing your name and mobile number, so that it can be easily identified. Please do not leave your bag or personal belongings unattended at any time.

Scooters/bicycles - prohibited in public areas

Please note that use of personal two-wheeled vehicles, including scooters, e-scooters and bicycles is strictly prohibited within public areas of the venue.

Please respect our neighbours

We kindly ask that all ticketholders driving to the circuit this weekend drive or ride carefully and considerately both when travelling to and leaving the venue.