Donington Historic Festival 2019 Grids

The Donington Historic Festival 2019 has a fantastic array of grids for you to enjoy over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Here we put the spotlight on some of them…

HGPCA NUVOLARI AND ASCARI TROPHY RACES

The Nuvolari and Ascari Trophy Races for pre-61 front-engined GP cars are organised by the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association and supported by Supagard and Hall & Hall. Remember the heady days when national pride and colours defined the appearance of racing cars, not sponsorship deals worth tens of millions of pounds? The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association does. Indeed, since 1979 its members have striven passionately to preserve the heritage of the titanic machines (and their courageous drivers) which made motor racing history at the highest level when it was a sport.

The HGPCA’s story revisits the great rivalries of five decades and replays the inter-marque battles between cars. In celebrating history and technical innovation, and educating new generations of motor racing fans about the past, they also focus on the heroic driving of William Grover Williams, Tazio Nuvolari, Giuseppe Farina, Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Jack Brabham, the Hills (Phil and Graham), Jim Clark and John Surtees in Grands Prix.

What to expect out on the track?
Beautiful pieces of motor racing history dating from 1925 to 1961, with fabulous machines that raced in period in the hands of the biggest stars of the day.

When to see them at DHF 2019?
You can see them qualifying at 16.50 on Friday, May 3 and racing at 11.00 on Saturday, May 4 and at 15.15 on Sunday, May 5.

HRDC ‘ALLSTARS’

Julius Thurgood’s Historic Racing Driver Club (HRDC) has always aimed to evoke the spirit of old school club racing – ‘no frills, just the thrills’, and it certainly succeeds.

The HRDC grids at Donington Historic Festival are packed with a fabulous variety of cars and are hugely entertaining. This year we’re delighted to welcome a third HRDC grid to the Festival line-up. The ‘Allstars’ feature pre-66 sports, GT and Touring Cars, which we suspect will be driven with the enthusiasm and brio that characterises all HRDC races.

What to expect out on the track?
Plenty of thrills from fabulous machines such as the TVR Griffith, Bill Thomas Cheetah, Austin-Healey Jamaican and Daimler 250SP ‘Dart’.

When to see them at DHF 2019?
You can see them qualifying at 14.25 on Friday, May 3 and kicking off the race action for Sunday, May 5, with an 09.10 start.

FJHRA/HSCC ‘SILVERLINE’ CHAMPIONSHIP FORMULA JUNIORS

We have masses of Formula Junior action for you at DHF 2019! These lovely little machines, developed for a racing formula that was introduced more than 60 years ago to train and bring on future Grand Prix drivers, always deliver outstanding and highly competitive racing.

What to expect out on the track?
Prepare to be thoroughly entertained as Elva 100 takes on Bond  FJ or Terrier Mk 4 and Merlyn Mk 2. Or how about Lotus 20/22 vs Brabham BT2?

When to see them at DHF 2019?
The  Front-Engined Formula Juniors will be qualifying at 16.20 on Friday 3rd May and opening the race action for us on Saturday 4th May at 09.10 and racing again at 10.10 on Sunday 5th May.

The Rear-Engined Formula Juniors qualify at 18.35 on Friday 3rd May, race at 14.40 on Saturday 4th May and close the Festival in great style with our last race, at 18.05 on Sunday 5th May.

ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB WOODCOTE TROPHY

Motor Racing Legends’ Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for pre-56 sportscars is firmly established within classic racing circles as the go-to series for competitive 50s racing.

What to expect out on the track?
The Woodcote Trophy features some of the most beautiful road-racing cars ever built. Leading the pack you can expect to see Cooper-Bristols battling with Cooper Jaguars and a rare Lotus Mk X. Look out also for such glorious models as D-type Jaguar, Aston Martin DB3S and Maserati 300S. Further down the field – but no less competitive in their class – you’ll find Austin-Healey 100s, Triumph TR2s and Jaguar XK120s. Brilliant stuff!

When to see them at DHF 2019?
Qualifying is at 09.55 on Friday 3rd May and the one-hour race starts at 11.35 on Saturday 4th May.

U2TC

Like Lotus Cortinas? You’ll be in seventh heaven at DHF 2019 when U2TC takes to the track. The Fords don’t have it all their own way, though, in this lively grid for pre-66 under two-litre Touring Cars.

What to expect out on the track?
There’s always stiff opposition for the Lotus Cortinas from such models as BMW 1800 TISA, Mini Cooper and Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA and, with names such as Steve Soper featuring in previous years, you can be sure of some fantastic battles out on track. It was so exciting last year that even the Dakota from the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight took a peek! The Alfaholics 1600 GTA took the chequered flag every year from 2014-17 and finished second overall in 2018 – we suspect they’ll be looking to regain supremacy this year!

When to see them at DHF 2019?
See the U2TC grid qualifying on Friday 3rd May at 10.35 and in a 60-minute race starting at 13.25 on Saturday 4th May.

HRDC ‘TOURING GREATS’

The HRDC ‘Touring Greats’ for pre-60 Touring Cars with invited ‘TC63’ features a massively entertaining and wildly diverse mix of tin-tops.

What to expect out on the track?
Entries range from Austin A35s and A40s to Ford Thunderbirds, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Ti Berlinas, Morris Minors, Mk1 Jaguars and Volvo Amazons. But we’re particularly fond of the Jowett Javelin!

When to see them at DHF 2019?
The Touring Greats will be qualifying at 11.15 on Friday 3rd May, and racing at 16.10 on Saturday 4th May.

GT & SPORTS CAR CUP

The GT & Sports Car Cup (GTSCC) is for genuine pre-66 GT cars and pre-63 sports-racing cars of a type that was raced in period in the World Endurance Championship.

What to expect out on the track?
On an ‘invitation only’ basis, the GTSCC attracts entries from owners of some of the most glamorous and spectacular cars. It’s big on quality and quantity and the grids are jam-packed with gorgeous machines… E-type Jaguars square up to AC Cobras while Lister Jaguars and Maserati T61 ‘Birdcages’ do battle with Lotus 15s. Also expect to see Austin-Healey 3000s, MGBs, 956 and 911 Porsches, Chevrolet Corvettes,Shelby Mustangs and TVR Granturas.

When to see them at DHF 2019?
Qualifying is at 13.35 on Friday 3rd May, followed by a fabulous, two-hour race starting at 17.10 on Saturday 4th May.

‘MAD JACK’ PRE-WAR SPORTS CARS

You’ve got to love the ‘Mad Jacks’! Motor Racing Legends’ longest-running race series; the Pre-War Sports Car Series is for all sports cars built before 1941. Cars must be close to original production specification; run in ‘road-going’ trim, with wings and lights; and run on ordinary pump fuel. They are raced with a vigour and competitiveness that belies their age and the ‘Mad Jack’ moniker is a tribute to Richard ‘Mad Jack’ Shuttleworth, aviator and racing driver, who won the first-ever Donington Park Grand Prix back in 1935.

What to expect out on the track?
All the famous pre-War marques are represented: Alfa Romeo, Alvis, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Frazer Nash, Lagonda, MG, Riley, Talbot and a host of other marques.

When to see them at DHF 2019?
See them qualifying at 11.50am on Friday 3rd May and in a 40-minute race on Saturday 4th May, starting at 15.15.

Tickets and timetable
Advance discounted tickets are available through the website, and you can view the Festival timetable here.