Donington Park is a motorsport circuit located near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.
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25 Facts About Donington Park
2.
Donington Park motor racing circuit was the first permanent park circuit in England, which ended the race circuit monopoly that Brooklands had held since 1907.
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3.
Circuit at Donington Park was closed in 1939 due to World War II, when it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence and was converted into a military vehicle depot.
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4.
In recent times Donington Park has held meetings of MotoGP, the British Touring Car Championship and British Superbike Championship, as well as the 1993 European Grand Prix.
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5.
The legal action put the future of the British Grand Prix in doubt, with Bernie Ecclestone restating that if Donington Park did not meet required standards to host the event, there will be no British Grand Prix from 2010.
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6.
Wheatcroft-owned company Donington Park Racing took control of the circuit in late 2010, gaining events from both World Touring Cars and the World Superbikes, plus the inaugural Donington Historic Festival.
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7.
Donington Park has been host to the annual Season Launch for the BTCC since 2013, while the British Superbike Championship holds major test days at the circuit.
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8.
All teams in the electric series were based at the venue, and Donington Park hosted several pre-season test dates before each season, some of which were open to spectators.
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9.
Donington Park has long been home to many prestigious motorsport events including BTCC, British F3, British Superbike Championship, WorldSBK, Superleague Formula, Truck Racing.
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10.
Donington Park was the host of the 1993 European Grand Prix on 11 April 1993, which was affected by rain.
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11.
On 4 July 2008, Bernie Ecclestone announced that Donington Park would hold the British Grand Prix from 2010 onwards in a 17-year deal, having been hosted exclusively by Silverstone since 1987.
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12.
Donington Park was given an extended two-week deadline to prove it had the funds to host the 2010 British Grand Prix on 22 October 2009, fundraising attempts fell through.
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13.
On 18 November 2009, less than one month after it was confirmed that the Donington Park had lost the right to host the British Grand Prix, circuit owner Donington Park Ventures Leisure Limited was placed into administration.
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14.
Donington Park was proposed to host the British Grand Prix as an alternative venue chosen for 2015, since the Circuit of Wales, having won the Dorna contract from 2015, was a failed proposal.
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15.
However, in February 2015, it was announced that Donington Park had called off the deal, and that 2015 Grands Prix would likely remain at Silverstone.
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16.
Donington Park has been a mainstay of the BTCC calendar, since the series was created in 1987.
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17.
In 1999 Donington Park was the location of one of the standout events from the BTCC's Super Touring era.
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18.
Donington Park is the venue for two rallies, with one of the events being a round of the MSN Circuit Rally Championship.
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19.
Donington Park was one of the venues for the 2001 European Le Mans Series season.
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20.
The Donington Park winner was Audi Sport Team Joest with drivers Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello.
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21.
Donington Park was a venue for races in the FIA GT Championship from 1997 to 1999 and then 2002 to 2004.
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22.
Donington Park was the venue for the biggest rave to ever take place in the United Kingdom, when music promotor Fantazia held their 'One Step Beyond' event there in 1992.
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23.
Donington Park Hall was, for a time, the HQ of the airline British Midland International.
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24.
Donington Park has been simulated and can be driven in several racing simulations, such as Spirit of Speed 1937.
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