Donington Historic Festival 2021 – A Full Grid But Empty Stands

Amon Cup Ford GT40 Start

The 2021 Donington Historic Festival was a little unusual, what with its capacity grids and empty stans. Due to the restrictions the race was allowed to go ahead but there were no spectators on site. The races were live streamed by Historic Motorsport TV (the first dedicated channel to historic racing) live on the 1st and 2nd May.

The tenth running of the festival at Donington Park was busy as far as the competitors were concerned with teams and vehicle arriving on the Frida before with many grids being oversubscribed. One exciting thing was the collection of 11 Ford GT40s that were there for an exclusive one model race.

The event opened with 32 Jaguar E-Types taking part in the Jaguar Classic Challenge for pre 1966 Jaguars. The victory going to Gary Pearson after quite a battle.

The 2021 Donington Historic Festival was a little unusual, what with its capacity grids and empty stans. Due to the restrictions the race was allowed to go ahead but there were no spectators on site. The races were live streamed by Historic Motorsport TV (the first dedicated channel to historic racing) live on the 1st and 2nd May.

The tenth running of the festival at Donington Park was busy as far as the competitors were concerned with teams and vehicle arriving on the Frida before with many grids being oversubscribed. One exciting thing was the collection of 11 Ford GT40s that were there for an exclusive one model race.

The event opened with 32 Jaguar E-Types taking part in the Jaguar Classic Challenge for pre 1966 Jaguars. The victory going to Gary Pearson after quite a battle.

The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association brought two full grids for Grand Prix and Formula One racing cars manufactured before 1966. Such machines as the Maserati 250F were taking part, but it was Will Nuthall taking the chequered flag in his Cooper T53 both times.

The FJHRA / HSCC Silverline Formula junior Championship had three full grids for each of the races. The 1958 – 1960 cars round was closely fought with only 0.7 of a second covering the winner Christopher Drake in his Terrier T4 and second place Ray Mallock in his U2 Mk2.

The second round for 1960 – 1963 cars was won by Richard Bradley in his Brabham B2 who went on to win the third combined race too.

The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association brought two full grids for Grand Prix and Formula One racing cars manufactured before 1966. Such machines as the Maserati 250F were taking part, but it was Will Nuthall taking the chequered flag in his Cooper T53 both times.

The FJHRA / HSCC Silverline Formula junior Championship had three full grids for each of the races. The 1958 – 1960 cars round was closely fought with only 0.7 of a second covering the winner Christopher Drake in his Terrier T4 and second place Ray Mallock in his U2 Mk2.

The second round for 1960 – 1963 cars was won by Richard Bradley in his Brabham B2 who went on to win the third combined race too.

The Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy race were combined and brought together a collection of pre 1956 and pre 1961 sports cars. Olly Bryant and James Cottingham came first in their Tojeiro Ecosse Jaguar taking the Woodcote Trophy honours. the Stirling Moss Trophy was won by the Jaguar HWM of Gregor Fisken and Sam Hancock.

HGPCA10-03
FJHRA Start - Donington Historic Festival 2021

Saturday’s racing concluded with a spectacular first. The debut of the Motoring Racing Legends’ Amon Cup for Ford GT40s. This would have proved extremely popular with spectators, if there were any, as the sight of 11 Ford GT40s side by side in the paddock would have been quite the sight. To see and hear them head out and race competitively was incredible. A mini Le Mans feel came to Donington, especially as the sun started to set.

The 80 minute long race had close competition and thankfully avoided the threatening rain clouds. Gordon Sheddon and Miles Griffiths took the chequered flag.

Sunday saw the action start with the oldest of the cars at the festival competing in the Mad Jack for Pre-War Sports Cars race. One car being 100 years old and many others getting very close. One was a returning competitor; Richard Pilkington’s 1937 Talbot T26 SS had raced at Donington Park 83 years ago. Father-and-son pairing Justin and Ben Maeers made it across the line first in their nimble 1926 GN Parker.

For tin top fans the Histoic Touring Car Challenge with Tony Dron Trophy, the Sixties Touring Car Challenge and the U2TC for 60s, 70s and 80s Touring Cars provided a huge line-up. The winning team of Andy Middlehurst and Jonathan Bailey in their ‘Godzilla’ Nissan R32 GTR Skyline beating Craig Davies and Steve Soper in their Sierra Cosworth RS500.

The Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall Cup for pre -1966 GT and Touring Cars, pre ’63 GTs and pre ’60 Sports Cars was packed. The largest grid the race has seen in the event’s history. Lotus XV vs Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe vs Jaguar E-type vs Ford Mustang vs Jaguar C-type vs Porsche 911 and more. The Donington Historic Festival finished with an epic three-hour race, Roger Wills and Tim Harvey victorious in the beautiful Lotus XV.

Pall Mall 7 Start 01 - Donington Historic Festival 2021

Donington Historic Festival organiser, Richard Grafton, said, “It’s been an exhilarating weekend. We are enormously grateful to everybody involved, from the owners, drivers and preparers who brought their precious machines to Donington Park and then raced them with such enthusiasm, to our event partners Dunlop/Goodyear and Silverstone Auctions, the Orange Army of marshals who gave their time and expertise to make everything run smoothly, and the Donington Park, MotorSport Vision and MSVR teams who did everything possible to make the event safe for all participants. We look forward to the return of spectators for DHF 2022.”

Many thanks to the Donington Historuc Festival for the images.

Simon

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