Donington Grand Prix
{{Short description|Grand Prix auto race held in UK}}
{{F1 race
| Name = Donington Grand Prix
| Flag = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
| Circuit = Donington Park
| Circuit_image = Donington Park 1937.svg
| Laps = 80
| First_held = 1935
| Last_held = 1938
| Times_held = 4
| Circuit_length_km = 5
| Circuit_length_mi = 3.125
| Race_length_km = 400
| Race_length_mi = 250
| Most_wins_constructor = {{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Alfa Romeo (2)
{{flagicon|GER|1935}} Auto Union (2)
| Current_year = 1938
| Winner = {{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Tazio Nuvolari
| Winning_team = Auto Union
| Winning_time = 3hr06m22s
| Second = {{flagicon|GER|1935}} Hermann Lang
| Second_team = Mercedes-Benz
| Second_time = + 1m38s
| Third = {{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Seaman
| Third_team = Mercedes-Benz
| Third_time = +1 lap
| Pole_driver = {{flagicon|GER|1935}} Hermann Lang
| Pole_team = Mercedes-Benz
| Pole_time = 2:11.0
| Fastest_lap_driver = {{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Tazio Nuvolari
| Fastest_lap_team = Auto Union
| Fastest_lap = 2:14.4
}}
The Donington Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at the Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire, England, from 1935 to 1938.
The Donington Grand Prix was held just four times, but quickly rose to prominence as one of the most important races in Europe.{{cite book |last1=Nye |first1=Doug |title=The British Grand Prix 1926-1976 |date=1977}} A fifth race was planned for 1939 but was cancelled due to the start of World War II.
Winners
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| Year
! Driver ! Constructor ! Report |
|---|
| 1935
| {{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Shuttleworth | Report |
| 1936
| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Hans Rüesch | Report |
| 1937
| {{flagicon|Germany|1935}} Bernd Rosemeyer | Report |
| 1938
| {{flagicon|Italy|1861}} Tazio Nuvolari | Report |
| 1939
| style="background:#DDDDDD;" colspan=3 align=center | Race cancelled due to World War II |
History
The first edition of the Donington Grand Prix took place on 5 October 1935.{{Cite web|title=1935 Donington Grand Prix|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1935-donington-grand-prix/|access-date=23 November 2021|website=Motorsport Database - Motor Sport Magazine|language=en-GB}} Circuit renovations were undertaken in preparation for the event, these included improving the spectator lot, installing loud speakers, and erecting new bridges at Coppice-lane, Redgate Corner and the Starkey Hairpin.{{cite news|title=Donington Grand Prix|work=Lancashire Evening Post|page=11|date=2 October 1935|access-date=23 November 2021|url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19351002/289/0011|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}}
The 1939 edition of the race was originally scheduled for 30 September, with Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union cars scheduled to enter, but was cancelled on 8 September due to World War II.{{cite news|title=Grand Prix Off|work=Derby Daily Telegraph|page=5|date=8 September 1939|access-date=23 November 2021|url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19390908/060/0005|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}} The circuit was closed in 1939 due to the war, when it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence and was converted into a military vehicle depot.{{cite book |title=Hitler's GP in England |last=Wheatcroft |first=Tom |editor=Christopher Hilton |page=10 |year=1999 |ISBN=1-85960-630-X |publisher=Haynes Publishing }}
= Post-war =
{{See also|1993 European Grand Prix}}
The circuit reopened in 1977.{{Cite web|title=Donington Re-born|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1977/76/donington-re-born|date=June 1977|access-date=23 November 2021|website=Motor Sport Magazine|language=en-GB}} The Donington Grand Prix Collection was created at the circuit which included cars from the Pre-war races, including a 1939 Auto Union car, which did not compete at the circuit, but did mark the first time that an Auto Union car had returned to the circuit following the 1938 Grand Prix.{{cite news|title=Super chance for racing fans|work=Atherstone News and Herald|page=27|date=26 January 1979|access-date=23 November 2021|url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003383/19790126/408/0027|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}} Historic races were organised for 1979 and 1980, these included Pre-war events to commemorate the early Donington Grand Prix races.{{cite news|title=A nostalgic fixture|work=Long Eaton Advertiser|page=19|date=10 May 1979|access-date=23 November 2021|url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002508/19790510/305/0019|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}}{{cite news|title=Grand Prix cars of 1930's race at Donington|work=Long Eaton Advertiser|page=30|date=17 July 1980|access-date=23 November 2021|url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002508/19800717/547/0030|via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription}}
The circuit returned to hosting Grand Prix racing with the one-off 1993 European Grand Prix.{{Cite web|title=SEGA European Grand Prix - RACE RESULT|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html|access-date=23 November 2021|website=www.formula1.com|language=en}}
Legacy
Although not considered an official British Grand Prix, the Donington Grand Prix is widely regarded as being on a similar level of importance. It was the only major international Grand Prix held in the United Kingdom during the 1930s, and paved the way for the United Kingdom's rise to international prominence in Grand Prix Racing after the second World War.