Vintage and Historic Racing Festival with a Tribute to Ayrton Senna
plus - Pleasure Flights from East Midlands Airport
Donington Park, 21-22 July 2003

10 Jun 2003

What was arguably the finest race in the career of the late, legendary World Champion Ayrton Senna will be remembered, ten years on, at Donington Park's Vintage and Historic Racing Festival over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 21/22 June.

The Brazilian produced a spectacular winning drive, in McLaren MP4/8, on a rain-lashed track to take the victory in the 1993 Grand Prix of Europe at the Leicestershire parkland circuit. That victorious car will be on display, together with a number of other Formula 1 cars driven by Senna, including the Williams FW08C in which he had his first ever test-drive, at Donington Park in 1983. Also at the circuit will be the Toleman that he drove in his first season of Grand Prix action, and several Lotus of the late 1980s in which he had considerable success.

The event organisers, the Vintage Sports Car Club, intend not only to have these cars on show in the paddock, but also that they will be driven on track on each afternoon, with further demonstration laps by Ferrari F1 cars of a past era. Demonstrations are just a part, however, of a major race meeting that promises instant nostalgia as priceless racing machines, both cars and motorcycles, are put through their paces, with the added bonus for racegoers of being able to see these superb vehicles being prepared in the paddock area.

New to this year's annual festival is the only British round of the Shell Historic Ferrari Maserati Challenge. This series brings the cream of Italy's finest 1950s and 1960s "red" racing and sports cars into action with a hectic schedule of three races on each day. These are additional to the traditional vintage events. The Richard Seaman Trophy race, commemorating the young English driver who raced for the mighty "Silver Arrows" Mercedes team in pre-war days, is for pre-1941 racing cars, while the Goddard Trophy race is for original cars that raced at Brooklands deep into the last century.

Expect to see marques such as Bentley, Frazer Nash and ERA doing battle - some of the cars that will be race are quite incredible. They are powered by aero-engines, and have no front brakes! Add to these the more modern cars taking part in the VSCC 1950s Sportscar race, featuring no doubt Jaguars, and on Sunday afternoon a race for vintage bikes and there is plenty of sporting appeal, amid a leisurely atmosphere.

Racing on Saturday (nine events) is from 13.05, following practice from 09.10, and on Sunday's ten race programe is from 13.30 following practice and demonstrations from 09.10. Adult admission each day is £15, with accompanied children aged 15 years and under admitted FREE of charge.
For the annual Vintage and Historic Festival Donington Park has teamed up with Air Atlantique and the East Midlands Airport to provide an extremely memorable weekend.

Arrive in style! We have created a VIP Hospitality package which includes flights to and from the event in a classic DC3 Dakota and a day in our VIP Hospitality Suite overlooking the race track, all for £150 per person.

Pleasure flights will also operate out of East Midlands Airport throughout the day, bookings onsite or in advance.

See events calendar for Donington Park