It's back to business for the East Midlands circuit. Well, just about.
DONINGTON PARK has been given the green light to host national and international motorsport events after it successfully regained its racing licence.
The Leicestershire circuit passed a safety inspection carried out yesterday by representatives from the world motor racing governing body the FIA and the Motorsport Association, which governs all UK tracks.
The track had already been granted an ACU licence, which allows it to run motorbike races, but it will now be able to race cars as well.
It means that Donington Park Racing, the company operating the track, is free to host a full list of events for the remainder of the year, including the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race next month.
The granting of the licence marks a successful conclusion to an extensive £2m redevelopment programme carried out by Worcestershire-based Adroit Group.
The redevelopment began in May to restore the track after construction work being carried out as part of a failed bid to bring F1 to Donington was halted. Contractors have also reshaped the track’s famous Esses and lengthened the main straight at Goddards Corner.
Director of the project, Duncan Green, Partner at construction consultants Pick Everard, led the team responsible for the redevelopment work and welcomed the inspectors’ decision.
He said: “We have worked closely with the MSA and FIA to ensure that we do everything we need to ensure that the track is up to standard and I am delighted that they have granted us our racing licence.
“It is excellent news for everybody connected with the circuit and is testament to a great deal of hard work that has delivered a compliant track within such a tight timescale.”
Kevin Wheatcroft, Chairman of Donington Park Racing, said: “Reinstating the MSA and FIA track licence now allows us to develop and implement plans for the future of the circuit and for the Donington Park estate.
“There is still a great deal of work ahead of us but we already have a full line up of races over the next few months. We have an exciting future.”
Donington’s next event, which coincides with its grand re-opening, is the Masters Historic Racing Festival on September 3, 4 and 5, followed by the BTCC meeting on the weekend of September 18 and 19.
