The Donington Grand Prix was a
Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
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.
A fifth race was planned for
1939 but was cancelled due to the start of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
Winners
History
The first edition of the Donington Grand Prix took place on 5 October 1935. 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.
The 1939 edition of the race was originally scheduled for 30 September, with
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquartere ...
and
Auto Union
Auto Union AG, was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony. It is the immediate predecessor of Audi as it is known today.
As well as acting as an umbrella firm fo ...
cars scheduled to enter, but was cancelled on 8 September due to
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
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.
Post-war
The circuit reopened in 1977. 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. Historic races were organised for 1979 and 1980, these included Pre-war events to commemorate the early Donington Grand Prix races.
The circuit returned to hosting Grand Prix racing with the one-off
1993 European Grand Prix.
Legacy
Although not considered an official
British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a Grand Prix motor race organised in the United Kingdom by the Royal Automobile Club. First held in 1926, the British Grand Prix has been held annually since 1948 and has been a round of the FIA Formula One World Ch ...
, 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.
References
{{reflist
Pre-World Championship Grands Prix