Thursday, February 22 2018

Donington Park has confirmed its event calendar for the venue's first full season under MotorSport Vision ownership. Highlights include the only UK round of World Superbikes, as well as the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on Easter weekend, plus major national and international categories. 

Tickets for the majority of events are now on sale priced from £12, with free admission for under-13s, and specially priced admission for teenagers aged 13-15. 

Leading championships to energise the East Midlands

Donington once more hosts the only UK round of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, taking place on May 25-27. British riders are expected to lead the way once more, though new regulations should mean series dominator Jonathan Rea faces a much tougher defence of his title. Team mate Tom Sykes always pushes him hard, while Ducati's Chaz Davies has come closest to usurping Rea in recent years. Other British riders to cheer on will include Leon Camier on his new Red Bull Honda and Donington local Alex Lowes with Pata Yamaha.

The circuit also hosts rounds for every major British championship, including the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season opener over Easter weekend (31 March - 2 April), where Shane 'Shakey' Byrne, Derbyshire's Leon Haslam and Aussie Josh Brookes are certain to be leading the charge.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship features another massive grid, with returning heroes and a selection of talented new faces. All will make their first appearances on track together at the Season Launch Day on 27 March, which is free to spectators, before the Donington rounds on 28-29 April.

The epic Convoy in the Park truck festival returns on 21-22 July, with British Truck Racing headlining action on the track. The event includes a huge off-track show that features show truck displays, live music and endless family entertainment. 

Meanwhile, champions will be crowned in the British GT Championship and BRDC British F3 Championship season finale on 22-23 September. With a double bill of stunning supercars and Grand Prix hopefuls, it's set to be the perfect end to the summer season.

Major historic festivals for fans of cars and bikes

The Donington Historic Festival returns to the circuit on 4-6 May, with a huge selection of rare and exotic machinery brought back to life over a glorious weekend. With vehicles spanning nine decades and racing from single seaters, pre-war sports cars, Le Mans Prototypes, Super Tourers and more, the festival has become one of Europe's grandest events for historic cars. It will be joined by a new event for 2018, the Vintage Motorsport Festival on 24 June. Rolling the years back even further, this will pitch cars into battle from the very cradle of the sport, providing a fitting throwback to Donington's famous 1930s Grands Prix. 

The popular Endurance Legends event returns on the 12-13 May, and will feature the UK's only four hour classic endurance race, attracting a number of star guests and famous bikes, while the Donington Classic Motorcycle Festival is set to thrill two-wheeled fans on 3-5 August.

Meanwhile, a number of themed premier car shows will take place during the summer months, all boasting demonstrations, track time, competitions and displays. Japfest on 30 June will boast a line-up from some of the Far East's premier manufacturers, while the French Car Show and VAG Tuner Live event on 7-8 July will showcase the best of continental European motoring. The Ford RS Owner's Club also makes a Donington reappearance on 26 August. 

In addition to all of the above, there's a huge variety of national-level club racing fixtures for cars and bikes taking place from early March until late October. Each offers superb value for money with tickets priced from just £12, with under-13s going free to every event. 

Rock fans set to flock to Download Festival

In addition to a full programme of motor racing events, Donington Park's reputation amongst the rock music fraternity continues with the hugely-popular Download Festival on 8-10 June. This year's event will be headlined by legends of the genre Guns 'n' Roses and Ozzy Osbourne, plus Avenged Sevenfold.

Donington Park 2018 event highlights
Thurs 8 Mar - British GT Media Day (Grand Prix Circuit) - free spectator entry
Tues 20 Mar - Pre-season BSB Test Day (Grand Prix Circuit) - free spectator entry
Tues 27 Mar - BTCC Season Launch (National Circuit) - free spectator entry
Sat 31 Mar-Mon 2 Apr - Bennetts British Superbike Championship (Grand Prix Circuit)
Sat 28-Sun 29 Apr - Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (National Circuit)
Fri 4-Sun 6 May - Donington Historic Festival (National Circuit)
Sat 12-Sun 13 May - Endurance Legends (National Circuit)
Fri 25-Sun 27 May - Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (Grand Prix Circuit)
Fri 8-Sun 10 Jun - Download Festival (Music)
Sun 24 Jun - Vintage Motorsport Festival (National Circuit)
Sat 30 Jun - Japfest (National Circuit)
Sat 7-Sun 8 Jul - French Car Show/VAG Tuner (National Circuit)
Sat 21-Sun 22 Jul - Convoy in the Park featuring Truck Racing (National Circuit)
Fri 3-Sun 5 Aug - Donington Classic Motorcycle Festival
Sun 26 Aug - RS Owner's Club (National Circuit)
Sat 22-Sun 23 Sep - British GT and BRDC British F3 Championships (Grand Prix Circuit)

Tickets for many of these events are now on sale from £12 in advance. For more information click here.

Additional images: PSP Images, BSB, Edd Hartley and Aaron Lupton