Donington Park Circuit Guide
And no... It's not spelt Donnington Park (with double 'n').
OWNER: MotorSport Vision (MSV)
CIRCUIT LENGTH: 2.49M (GP circuit) / 1.98 mile (National circuit)
NOISE LIMIT: Check our Circuit Noise Limits page
MOTORCYCLE CIRCUIT RECORD: Toprak Razgatlioglu (World Superbike) - 1.24:892 (2024)
TDA DIFFICULTY RATING: THREE (3/5)
Click here to jump to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Cadwell Park, e.g. are there garages/electrics, can you camp and is there any hook-up, can you buy fuel at the circuit or nearby?
Location & Directions📍
CIRCUIT ADDRESS: Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP
CIRCUIT LOCATION: Link to Google Maps
TDA Track Day Calendars
Check out the TDA Track Day Calendars for events to book at this circuit or any other UK or European circuit from the various track day organisers, all in one place for your convenience:
Circuit History
If you’re into your motorsports—two and four wheels—Donington Park (affectionately known as 'Donny') will be one of the first tracks you’ll say when asked to name a circuit.
“The place where Senna drove the wheels off an F1 car in the rain?” or “Where Steve Hislop rode his Ducati BSB bike faster than Valentino Rossi’s Honda MotoGP bike?” is what many people say when the Leicestershire track is mentioned. And it is one of those ribbons of tarmac that holds genuinely legendary status, hosting everything from pre-war Grand Prix giants to modern-day superbikes.
Wikipedia and the Official Donington Park Website have all the facts, figures and records, but here’s a short summary: Donington Park is the oldest UK motorsport circuit still in operation, with racing first taking place in 1931... (yes, nearly 100 years ago)!
Established on the narrow roads of the Donington Hall estate, it quickly became a permanent track and hosted the mighty Auto Union 'Silver Arrows' before WWII saw it converted into a military vehicle depot.
Rescued and rebuilt in the 1970s by the legendary Tom Wheatcroft, the circuit rose to international fame, hosting the British motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) for over two decades and, most famously, the 1993 European Formula One Grand Prix—where Ayrton Senna put on a wet-weather masterclass that is still talked about today.
It's now owned and operated by MotorSport Vision (MSV) - The same folk who operate Bedford Autodrome, Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton in the UK - as well as Circuito de Navarra in Spain - and is also home to the huge Download Festival rock event.
Circuit length and layout
Donington is a fast, flowing circuit that is famous for its massive elevation changes, particularly through the incredibly challenging Craner Curves (first time the left side of the tyre is used on the track and crashing here gives you membership to the ‘Craner Club’).
The circuit can be run in two key layouts:
- Grand Prix (GP) Circuit: At 2.498 mi (4.020 km) with 12 turns, this is the famous international layout. It includes the Melbourne Loop (added in 1985 to meet GP requirements), which adds crucial length and cornering complexity, particularly at the famous Goddards Chicane leading onto the start/finish straight.
- National Circuit: A shorter, 1.957 mi (3.149 km) version with 10 turns used for most national car and smaller events.
While Cadwell Park has 'The Mountain,' Donington has the incredible downhill run from Redgate, through the legendary Craner Curves, and into the Old Hairpin - it's a high-speed, heart-in-your-mouth section that perfectly demonstrates the circuit's beautiful, yet demanding, flow.
What’s the best bike to ride at Donington Park?
Anything with decent brakes and a good set of tyres! Donington is a fast circuit. Unlike some of the UK’s tighter tracks, you will actually be able to use the power of a litre bike, particularly down the back straight (there’s no Dunlop Bridge, anymore…) where you’ll get a bonus power wheelie.
But its flow means that lighter, smaller-capacity bikes can carry massive corner speed and punish a bigger machine that has to slow down too much for the fast corners. Given that the circuit hosts a round of the FIM Superbike World Championship (World SBK), it’s safe to say any machine is a pleasure to ride here (even 400cc supersport bikes).
Advice for riding fast round Donington Park
Donington is all about commitment, smoothness, and trusting your front tyre through the high-speed sweeping sections. From the exit of Redgate to Fogarty’s, it’s all about being smooth and maintaining speed and flow; it’s only the last part of the lap that is stop/start with heavy braking.
Booking in with an instructor on your first track day is always highly recommended. Most established track day companies will have highly experienced riders on hand to help unlock the secrets to a fast and safe lap.
Racing legend Mike ‘Spike’ Edwards offers a popular How I Ride - Video Guide for Donington Park and you can preview Mike Edward’s circuit guides on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeSpikeEdwards
Ultra experienced road tester, racer, and lovely fella, Michael Neeves, also created a ‘spiritual guide’ on how to go fast around Donington Park. You can watch that here:
Donington Park Circuit Facilities
Since being acquired by MSV, the facilities at Donington are, thankfully, top-notch. Garage 39 is the central hub to the venue and the food and coffee is pretty decent there.
The little newsagent is also still in operation and stocks most of what you may need for a day along with a bunch of printed media that you thought no longer existed.
Major investment has seen the infrastructure brought up to a high standard, including:
- New restaurant facilities
- Modern, clean toilet and shower blocks
- A large new grandstand to enhance the spectator experience
- Plenty of parking and hard standing in the paddock areas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there camping at Donington Park?
Donington is a venue built for crowds—it hosts the massive Download Festival every year - so it's certainly capable of handling campers!
While camping is routinely available for major race meetings, for track days it’s not possible to stay on site. The neighbouring Donington Park Farmhouse is your place to camp.
Can I get petrol at Donington Park?
While the circuit is a world-class venue, on-site fuel availability can sometimes be limited to specific hours and is often priced at an eye-watering and wallet-busting premium.
The good news is Donington is brilliantly located right by East Midlands Airport and close to the M1 motorway, meaning you are never far from alternative options. For off-site fuel (at a much better price per litre!), the nearby Moto services does that 24/7 along with providing all of the good and bad food you could ever need.
Are there garages at Donington Park?
Yes! Unlike the unique setup at Cadwell Park, Donington is a major international circuit with permanent pit garages situated beneath the paddock for major race events like World SBK and BTCC.
These pit garages are typically available on a first come, first occupied basis by track day providers. Even if you’re not in the queue first thing, the garages are massive and with plenty of electric sockets so you won’t struggle to find a spot and stay out of the weather!
If you're running out of a truck or motorhome, the large, modern paddock area offers excellent hard standing and you’re never far from a toilet block, either.
Is Donington Park in Leicestershire or Derbyshire?
Wars have been fought over less an argument, but the truth is it's in Leicestershire despite the fact that the venue has a Derbyshire postcode and telephone code! It is just a stone’s throw from the Derbyshire border and, of course, right next to East Midlands airport (EMA).
